It's Been a Rough One

I really try to keep this blog positive.  I mean, how can you not with Emma and Abigail.  This is one of those times, however, where I just need to write to make me feel better.  So, please, bear with me.  
I have never been so sick at the beginning of the school year.  This past week I was hit with an upper respiratory, sinus infection thing.  On top of that, with the recent election, we have had students saying that they are going to have to go back to Mexico.  (Side notes:  1)  I am not going into politics.  2) I have no idea (nor do I need to know) who is documented and undocumented in my classroom.) But the real downer came today.  Let me back up a few days.  At the beginning of the week, I learned that the mom of one of my students had a federal warrant for her arrest.  Come to find out, she was dealing (and, possibly, to high school students).  Cops have been hanging around the parking lot but, from what we understand, she fled to somewhere earlier in the week and left a friend to take care of her kids (7, 9, 15).  The boys were at school on Wednesday but on Wednesday night, a man (one of the mom's "men" we think) showed up at their door and took the boys.  We have no idea where they are at and I am devastated.  This boy has had such a rough home life and I was so happy to have him under my wing.  I can only hope that the boys are safe and they miraculously end up back at our school.  Please keep them in your thoughts.

Now, to end on a happy note...

Abby has been practicing her writing a lot lately.

We were impressed!

I love it when mornings go like this...

a writing sample from Emma--always impressive

I just don't have any words sometimes...

Finally, I'd like to introduce you to our "new" downstairs bathroom!!

                                                                             before                                                                            

after

before

after

   

Halloween 2016

I had a "mom moment" on the morning of Halloween this year.  As I dropped Abigail off at school, with her butterfly costume, her teacher from last year said, "I remember those wings."  Huh?  Where had she seen these wings before?  Then it hit me.  I think Abigail was the same butterfly last year.   For goodness sakes.  There was nothing I could now.  She would be a butterfly 2 years in a row.  (I, actually, think she had 2 costumes last year--a butterfly and a cow.)

We went to Papa and Grandma's house to do some Halloween crafts.

Halloween morning

Our 2nd grade team dressed up as the 3 little pigs and the big, bad wolf.

Our school has a Halloween parade each year.  Emma wanted to dress up at Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman.

Abby's school always comes over for the Halloween parade.

trick or treating on Main Street

I sent this photo to Ree and heard back from her assistant within a couple of days.  Ree wanted to send something to Emma so now Emma is anxiously awaiting to find out what it will be.

Emma performed in the Thriller dance on Main Street.  Andy did some great zombie make-up.

Of course, Abigail had to get her face painted, as well.

What do you do with all of the chocolate your kids get at Halloween?  Put it in the freezer to take along when you go skiing with the kiddos.

working on her CVC words

We went and got the kids' boots and skis exchanged for the upcoming ski season.  Abby did not want to take off her boots (especially as she ate beans out of a can).

We have been having some unusually warm days lately.  Ski resorts were supposed to open before Thanksgiving but, at this rate, it's so warm they can't even make snow.

checking out a gigantic red ant hill