Happy Halloween....a Few Days Late!

Well, if you have been watching the news lately, you might have seen that here in the NorthEast we got hit by a crazy Autumn Nor'Easter on Saturday 10/29. What was supposed to start out as rain and turn to snow later at night started out as big fat fluffy snowflakes around 1:30 in the afternoon. CT woke up to lots of snow, I think about 20 inches where we are, and lots of damage. With all the leaves still on the trees, the heavy snow took many branches down and lots of power lines with it. About 900,000 customers lost power. Now more than a week later, we are still struggling to get power back, although the warm days has almost completely melted the snow. Thankfully, we were lucky and didn't lose power, although most of our family did.

Sunday we ended up hosting both sets of parents for what Colby called our "feast". We ended up cooking the roast and watching the bull riding at our house. It was really nice having everyone together. Colby put on his Halloween costume and had some fun too. However, Halloween was postponed due to the damage and lack of power. And school was out for an unexpected week's vacation. Although I enjoyed the time with Colby, I dread the thought of now going to school until late in June. UGH!

Colby was very good about not going trick-or-treating. Actually it didn't seem to phase him until I put the Halloween decorations away on Tuesday. But we let him wear his costume, we made Halloween sugar cookies, and had a fun week together. Then on Saturday Colby and I were able to go trick-or-treating! We didn't mention it all week but once the first trick-or-treater knocked on our door, Colby's face lit up and he got so excited. Mike stayed home to give out candy and Colby and I walked around the neighborhood. We even walked to Grandma Laurie's house! He received so much candy, even more than last year. So overall, a crazy Halloween trick-or-treat on 11-5! Now on to the holidays!

And yes, it's Pirate Captain Colby! And Mommy is so proud, she made that costume herself!!!

Where Has the Time Gone???

Ok. So I bet many of you think I have totally disappeared. I will reassure you that I am still here. I do check my fellow bloggers pages faithfully everyday. But, I just haven't found the time to write on mine. I think it's feeling rejected. But I have thoroughly enjoyed spending time with my little boy, yes, and my husband too. My last post was for 9-11 and now here it is the last of October. What have we been up to you ask? Just about everything.

Colby is in PreK at a different school this year. He was a little nervous about it at first but he seems to be liking it. He has had a few red-dot days though. (The city uses a Positive Behavior program which rewards good, or green, behavior, but also uses red for not-so-good behavior. I was shocked at the red dots but then again, he is only 4 and still learning, and boys will be boys. Guess he didn't know picking up sticks at school is a no-no. His teacher says he participates well and even a little too much, getting excited during story time and blurting out answers. Note to self- work on the hand raising routine! Academically he knows most of his upper and lower case letters and most of their sounds too. Ready to read and a little frustrated that he can't. But I am not going to push him.

I'm back to school also. Now at a newly renovated school that was over 100 years old. It looks brand new! Love the new school and the new staff I am working with. I am the reading specialist and this year I am working with grades 2, 3, 4, and 6. Yuck 6th! Things took a little while to settle in but I really enjoy it.

Our weekends have been full of fall fun. We went to two local fairs and apple picking in September. Over Columbus Day weekend we went back to New Hampshire to enjoy the fall colors. And this past weekend Colby and I went with my mom, my Aunt Doone, my nephew Keith, and my cousin's son Jaden to Lyman Orchard to the corn maze. We had a blast, and we didn't lose my aunt's phone this year. Last year she lost it in the corn maze and I had to go back to find it. The boys also loved the ride in the horse drawn wagon. The horses were named Tom & Jerry. The other sets of horses were named Nickel & Dime and Samuel & Adams!

Colby has also been taking swimming lessons. He is doing great. He just finished the last session and was moved up into "big boy" class where they will work on strokes and building stamina. We were so excited when Colby swam all by himself this time!

I have been hard at work on a little boy's costume. Pics to come but here's a guess his favorite cartoon characters are Jake, Cubby, and Izzy! Let's see who can figure it out!!! Tomorrow night we have our Halloween Reading Night at my school and Colby will wear his costume there. He actually thinks my school is Halloween! He loves Halloween more than Christmas I think. Not my favorite but I love watching him and all his enthusiasm.

Oh, and Colby just had a trip to the dentist. Talk about growing up too fast. All of his front teeth are a little "wiggly" and the X-Ray showed that the top teeth have already lost their roots. My little boy will be a toothless wonder within a few months. Way too early for me and he's a little nervous (guess that's our fault for telling him his teeth will fall out if he doesn't brush!).  Now what?!?!

Well, I guess that's enough for now. Here's a few pics from our Fall Fun. Promise to post more soon.

Colby's Tribute to 9/11

Totally cool and I am proud to say that my 4 year old knows this. So happy that our schools are still saying it too.

First Day of School

Well, by now I was hoping to show you pictures of Colby from his first day of school. But, we are still waiting.

Last week, I had 5 full days of teacher in-service. On Friday I actually had to give part of the training on our Reading curriculum. Everyone was all set for school to strat on Monday when we received an email. Due to the pending storm, what was Hurricane Irene, school was being canceled. And it still is. Just received the call for no school tomorrow as well. Ugh! When will we start.

Colby was a little nervous about going to Pre-K this year. I'm not sure why since he was in school last year. Perhaps because it is a new school. So thankfully his teacher is so nice. She met with us on Thursday last week. He was able to see her and his classroom. He played with some of the toys and read some of the books. He is now so excited to go. I only wish we could.

I am also excited about this year. Last year I didn't get my teaching job until October so it will be nice to start the school year with everyone else. Also, I am in a newly refurbished over 100 year old school. They did a great job redoing the school, adding on to it, and putting in the latest and greatest of everything. I am now a part of a 3 person Reading Department and so excited to start. We still have materials to organize and put away, our computers aren't set up yet, and there are odds and ends to finish but the building is amazing. I'll have to get some pics.

So, no pics yet. Promise soon. This could be a really long school year and it hasn't even snowed yet! YIKES!!

End of Summer Chaos

Well, summer is almost over. School starts soon. I have to head back this Monday 8/22 for beginning teacher orientation. Although I worked last year, I started in Oct so I missed this and am now required to go. YUCK! 3 days of torture. Thurs and Fri I have teacher professional development and school starts on Mon 8/29. Colby has his pre-school orientation on the first day so I am a little bumbed that i can't go. I have to rely on Mike to go and get all the information. Good thing there's email and I can talk to Colby's teacher that way. Colby starts on the 30th and will be going full-day. The bus will pick him up at Mike's parents' house and then Mike's mom will watch him in the afternoon until I can get home. Thank goodness for grandparents!

Next week is also the tennis tournament in New Haven. I love volunteering there. I usually work nights as an usher and have been volunteering for about 10 years. This year I'll work 4 nights after my PD days at school.

I also am trying to move from my old school to a brand new school. As 1 of 3 in the Reading Dept. we have to organize all the reading materials and set up our office. We've been ready to go for a couple weeks but we are still waiting for our floor to ceiling book shelves to be bolted in the walls. Hopefully soon.

And in the middle of all this, Mike and I are sprucing up the house. I've been trying to organize my teaching materials in the basement and get rid of some extra stuff. Mike painted Colby's bedroom a great shade of blue. We jsut need to put up the photos. And now my kitchen floor is a disaster. New tile to come but until then what a mess!!!

So lots going on. We are living in chaos! But thought you might like some photos of Colby's big boy room and my messy kitchen. Sorry for the messy Colby room. Will post better photos when the walls are decorated. And I promise to post updated photos of the kitchen when we get done.

Children's Place

We love the CHildren's Place. They are having a contest to find their next model. I entered Colby with this great photo from New Hampshire. Please head over to this website and vote for him. HIs ID number is 126480. Thanks.

http://childrensplace.promo.eprize.com/model

Thanks again.

Smurfs

I can't believe all the old shows that are coming back. One of my favorites as a kid was the Smurfs. I had a bunch of the little Smurfs and even a mushroom house. I so wish I knew where they all went, but although many other of my toys were saved those are MIA. Oh well. So now a new movie is out but I don't think I will be bringing Colby to it. It seems a little too grown up for it. However, we do have one DVD of the old cartoons which we have watched a couple times. Anyway, McD's hasSmurfs in their Happy Meals. We don't normally go there with Colby but I do stop in for a quick drink, especially the Fruit Smoothies now. So, Colby now has 4 of them and he and Mike were having a blast playing with them last night. Thought you might like to see both of my boys in action. I just had to capture this laugh on video. Enjoy!