So hard to take

Keaton when to Kindergarten activity days, last week, where they go to the grade school and meet some of the Kindergarten teachers, it was two days from 8 to 11, and they have the kids do all sorts of activities and projects and reading time and music time, and see how the kids are developing mentally and socially. Keaton wasn't sure what was happening when I took him to a different school other than his preschool, but he seemed fine with it, and was excited when he saw two of his preschool classmates in the same room as him. After the two days the teacher called me that afternoon and wanted to talk with me about Keaton. I was wondering a bit, what had he done? What was the problem? All those things go through your mind. So when I sat down opposite the two kindergarten teachers that worked with Keaton, one I knew, she had been Sam's teacher, and the other I had just met. They showed me some of the drawings of people that Keaton had done and some of the papers that he worked on, which I thought were pretty good, he's only 4 after all. But they said they had a really hard time getting Keaton to talk to them and to listen to directions and do what he was asked, and he didn't participate in any of the songs or do the hand motions, he mostly just sat there quietly and observed everyone else. And from looking at his people drawings they weren't as good as most of the other kids, meaning he had just drawn a head with eyes and a mouth, with arms and legs coming out of the head. The other kids drawings had heads and body's and legs and some even had hands and feet. Over the many years of going by these drawings they have discovered that it shows a child's maturity level and that Keaton's show, along with the other things they observed about him, that he might not be ready to start kindergarten this fall. I was crushed. I've been so looking forward to the fall where all my kids would be in school and I'd have the house to myself for the day to get things done un-interrupted and maybe start on my art again, and all of that would have to wait another year? Keaton also gets so bored without his brothers around that he's always asking me "Is it time get Ben and Sam yet?" Or "When do I get to go to Sam's school?" So all of this was going on in my mind and I wasn't very happy. I knew I had to do what was best for Keaton. I didn't want him to be the youngest in his class and maybe struggle with school. But I couldn't help but be a little selfish in what I wanted. The teachers sensed my dilemma and suggested a Pre-K class for him in the fall. It's at Sam's school, and it isn't as demanding as the regular kindergarten classes. It is everyday from 8 to 1:30, so it isn't as long and they feel he would do better going that route. I talked to Bret about it and we both feel this would be better for him. I feel this is partly my fault, as I haven't worked with Keaton as much as I did the other kids, just not as much free time, mostly he's driving around with me running all the errands I have to do or picking up the kids and taking them to all there different activities. So I need to get better at spending some learning time with him so he doesn't think life is just a day full of playing!

I'm still training for the marathon at the end of June, and I'm not where I want to be at this point, the weather hasn't been cooperating, rain and wind like you wouldn't believe, and it always seems to fall on the weekends when I need to be getting my long runs in, so the farthest I've gone on a long run in only 10 miles. I'm supposed to be up to 14 by now, and I'm supposed to do a 15 tomorrow, and it's supposed to be rainy! The roads I run on are mostly gravel and dirt, and don't work to well when they are wet. I can run on the highway but that can be scary if I'm on them for to long. Lots of semi's and big trucks going past me at 60 miles an hour with rain spraying in my face or the wind blowing my hat off. I've been having foot problems as well, I got some different shoes to help with my over pronation and they aren't agreeing with me right now. After about 5 miles they really start to hurt and give me blisters. So trying to figure that out. Also time is a factor. The kids always have so much going on and with Bret's schedule the way it is I feel like a single parent sometimes. I asked Bret for a blessing last Sunday just to get a little comfort and help from above, made me feel better. But what I really need help with is for the weather to turn nice for the next 8 weeks, with light winds, and very little rain. The wind today is gusting at 45 mph. Not easy to run in believe me, I've tired it.

Amber was awarded a certificate of outstanding achievement last Tuesday by the Kiwanis club here in Harlan, so we got to attend the dinner and awards ceremony with her, and she got her picture taken for the newspaper. Teachers nominate about 10 students from each class who are worthy of the honor, and then they are interviewed and Amber won it this year. For outstanding achievement in school, church and in the community. I'm so pleased that I have such a wonderful daughter.

Sam and Ben are looking forward to school being over. They're counting down the days. Ben is still in Soccer and I'll be glad when that is over, just so we can have our Saturdays back. Sam is doing so well in school, and is everybodys friend! Everyone loves Sam. At least that what I'm hearing. How can anyone resist those blue eyes.

Bret bought me a bow for Christmas and we've been out in the evenings practicing. I'm getting pretty good at 25 yards and even hit dead on at 40 yards. Bret has high hopes for me, I hope I don't let him down. It's a lot of fun and I really enjoy being out with him. Just one more thing we can do together. These kids are going to be all grown someday and I need to have something to do with Bret when that time comes :) right?

Wow we have really been busy this spring. To start off Amber and the High School Jazz Band won the state Championships last week. She was very nervous and excited. Last years band won two consecutive championships, but 12 members of that band were seniors. So not to many people thought they would do it again this year with only one senior and so many others who were sort of starting out. But they worked very hard and gained confidence in themselves and were able to pull it off another year.Amber standing next to the trophy and all the other awards they won this year. They took first in every event they played in except a 2nd place finish at the beginning of the year. I think getting that 2nd place really motivated them to work and try extra hard! We've also been busy with Soccer, which Ben is in and doing very well. I think he's finally found something he is very good at. Now we just need to work on the temper. He gets very mad at himself when he messes up. Last Saturday he scored 3 goals. He's very fast and good with the ball. Fancy footwork I guess you can call it.

The gardening season is finally here and I can at last put my veggie plants outside in the ground. They have been looking so sad sitting in little pots on my window sill since February. So that means lots of work to do outside now which I'm not complaining about at all. Just wish the house work IN the house would now do itself somehow.

Birthday family visit

We had a great little family reunion! We got to have Brinley's 3rd birthday party, as well as a visit from John and Marilyn, and we got to welcome baby Chase to our loving family! The kids had so much fun playing together and haming it up for the camera!

We are so very happy to have Marilyn all recovered from her near death experience and hope she has many more years to enjoy her wonderful family, because we love her so very much! John had a great time with all the kids and enjoying some fresh country Iowa air! Addy and Amber love each other so very much! Brinley had some great presents and looked so cute in her tiara.

It was so much fun having all the cousins running around playing with each other, and I love having a little baby in the family again. I always have so much fun with Sheri and Derek, and Kevin and Jennie, and with John and Marilyn here it made it complete. Just missing Debbie :(

It makes me feel so blessed that I was able to marry into such a great, and loving family. Thanks everyone! Your the best!

Owl dining

We had a visitor! Bret noticed that something was getting into the pigeon coop and helping himself to some yummy little snacks. Then one Sunday afternoon Bret called us all from the house to come see what he had caught in the barn! We found this guy just sitting inside the coop not able to get back out. I know the picture doesn't show it very well but he was huge! About 2 feet tall! Now it's a pretty heafty fine if you get caught with a Great Horned Owl, because they are protected. We didn't just want to let him go, because he was killing our pigeons. We also couldn't kill it. So what to do? We called the Nature Center here in Shelby co. and got permission to catch it, cage it and re-locate it. Which was quite interesting to do with out losing a finger! He wasn't happy about getting caught in a net and being put in a cage! He puffed himself up and started hissing and snaping his big sharp beak! We drove him to the Nishna Bend Recreation Center and let him go out there. I think he was happy to be free. It was very cool watching him take off and fly away.