Curriculum Night

Last night was Curriculum Night at Wm's school. So Steve and I went down and sat at Wm's desk to hear all about what he is learning.  And it was AMAZING!  Since Wm is in the gifted 1/2 class, the Gifted and Talented teacher came in and talked for a bit about how she works with the kids - and it was great!!  They do what she called "compacting" where they have whole class units, but then the kids are mostly working at their own pace at whatever grade level they happen to be at for certain things.  She gave examples of Math problems - and (seriously not kidding), I could not do one of them.  So...Wm will have surpassed me very soon.

And Wm's teacher is THE GREATEST. She is so warm and friendly and clearly loves the kids. She came over and told us that Wm is super smart and is a huge "sweetheart." We got to see all the things Wm is working on (and learned his favorite food is "white rise.") I got a little misty sitting there listening to what a great environment Wm will be in this year.

The Big News is that Wm has asked if he can walk home from school by himself.  I want to encourage his independence...but I am having a hard time!  So I told him he definitely can, but we're baby stepping it. So, today, I will meet him right outside the playground.  Then, every day, I will stand a little farther away until I don't even leave home.  I am sure the first time that happens  I will be having a major panic attack.  But - this is a big step for Wm!!!

And, Wm is a ladies man...
Wm: I asked Evelyn to be my partner in reading.
Me: Is she your giiiiiirlfriennnnnd?
Wm: NO!  [pause] Fallon is.
Me: What?  Ohhh-la-la!  Do you know what it means to have a girlfriend?
Wm: It means she is the most special girl to me. [pause] Can you be my girlfriend?
Me: Nope - I'm your mom.  BUT, remember that I will ALWAYS be the most special girl to you, right?????
Wm: Yes! Of course.
Steve: [snort]
Me: Shut it down, Peanut Gallery.

Ratings

While Wm was getting ready for soccer last night, I asked him to rate how awesome first grade is on a scale from 1-10 (10 being amazingly, unbelievably awesome).

Wm: First grade is a 10!
Me: What was kindergarten?
Wm: a 5.
Me: What was summer camp?
Wm: a 10!!
Me: What is soccer?
Wm: infinity below zero.
Me: Really, dude?
Wm: I hate soccer.

Upon returning home, Wm is pink-cheeked and smiling. (And won another round of sharks and minnows.)

Me: Did you have a good time at soccer?
Wm: a GREAT time!
Me: So is soccer still infinity below zero?
Wm: No...now it is zero.
Me: ZERO?!?  You just said it was great!
Wm:  But, that is an infinity improvement.

Wm's first game is Sept 8.  He gets his uniform next Tuesday!  It's all very exciting.

Swimming

I saw this and it immediately made me think of Wm and his War Against Water.

A Weekend of Gluttony

It's been a week.  Well...3 days.  And I MISS SUMMER.  Wm does really love first grade so far though!  His teacher is super, super nice and he loves her!  But, we are crazy busy with all kinds of business. We had a really fun weekend though!  Tennis, a party at the next door neighbors' (in which he got up at 5:30AM to start smoking the pork shoulder for pulled pork!), hiking and food truck fest with Suzanne, dinner at Graffiti Burger and cake for Guy's 60th birthday with Mimi and Guy. 

So, mostly, this weekend was all about food.  LOTS of food.  Here are some shots from the Food Truck-A-Palooza.  

Suz and I enjoying Nutella stuffed crepes

Wm getting shot out of a cannon...or standing near one.

YES.  Chili cheese fries.

Suz approves of Wm's Italian ice

The Fam getting ready to roll out...literally.

Best Italian ice ever - for reals.

First Grader!

Wm had a great first day of first grade!  The renovated school looks awesome!!!  And, Wm's classroom is right next door to a brand new computer lab and multi media center.  The gym is right across the hall and he's in the second grade corridor with the bigger kids, not the first grade.  The best news is that, as far as first impressions go, none of us could be more pleased with Wm's teacher.  She seems to be BY FAR the sweetest, best teacher he's ever had!  Wm loooooves her.  And, because he's in the one/two split room, it's likely he'll have her next year too! Without further ado...

Wm waiting to go in and get his learn on

In front of his classroom

Wm walkin' to school with Shadow Mom taking a picture

Very academic

The new addition and main entrance

New playground! 

Very excited about learning!

Cool tile mosaic of Columbus in the cafeteria

Wm found a seat! Right by the window...and it was REAL sunny

Unfortunately, OSU also started classes today. So I am about to be hospitalized for exhaustion.  Steve has agreed to pick up Chipotle for dinner on his way home. 

Oh, and in other news, if you didn't get the memo, I am #1 Wife of Awesomeness and got Steve an iPhone for our anniversary (lucky 13!)  So he has all new contact info which he will share if asked.  Steve said the most meaningful part of the whole gift was that I drove out to Easton all by myself to get it.  I only got lost once!  

Last Day of Summer

Today is Wm's last day of summer vacation!  I picked him up early from clubhouse yesterday so we could go look at his new classroom assignment for first grade.  And, man...was he PISSED.  I walked in about 2PM and he goes, "what are YOU doing here?"  I told him I had come to get him early so we could go see who his teacher is and who is in his class!  Isn't that exciting?!?  No.  Apparently not.  He says, "yeah, you can go do that...I want to stay here."  I was like, "dude - you are COMING...collect your belongings."  All his little cronies were like, "will you please bring him back?"  I was all, "THIS IS A FUN MOTHER AND SON AFTERNOON!  WE WILL BE HAVING FUN!  I DEMAND IT!  FUN WILL BE HAD!"

So Wm begrudgingly accompanied me to the school where we discovered that he IS in the first/second grade room.  He was very happy about that and we are hopeful that he will be more challenged next year than he was last year.  Unfortunately, not really any of his friends are in his class.  It's mostly filled with the quiet smart type.  While Wm is the loud, evil smart type.  He was very happy to see "the bully" was not in his class, so there was a bright spot in the day for Wm!

I'm sure there will be a ton of pictures and info to share after the first day of school tomorrow!

Weekend Warrior

Wm has had a busy weekend being hilarious....

Steve and I were comparing muscles and Wm grabbed Steve's arm and Steve made a muscle and Wm says, "your arm just got really fat, Daddy."

Wm asked me if I liked Bey Blades (a toy they play with at camp) and I go, "not really - I like Rainbow Bright and Strawberry Shortcake...and Cabbage Patch Kids."  And Wm says, "so...lame baby stuff?"

We went to Costco for a bunch of stuff and decided to try their little food court that is always swarming with people.  You get a GIANT hotdog and a drink for $1.50.  And it's supposed to be good!

Wm liked it.

Steve tried the pizza....

and wasn't super sure.

It was OK going down - but we were all hurtin' that night.  Never again, Costco.  Never again.

Wm starts first grade on Wednesday!  We can walk up and FINALLY find out who his teacher is tomorrow.  We went over to friends' for a fire and s'more making on Friday night and Wm was acting really evil.  So I brought him home and put him to bed.  He was acting really out of character, so Steve and I were baffled.  But he woke up on Saturday with the sniffles.  Riiiiiight before school starts.  He seems fine, but he's probably not feeling his absolute best.  At least he should be back to 100% by Wednesday!  We walked down and snooped around the school yesterday now that they took the construction fencing down.  We can't wait to see it Wednesday!  

We have been having strange pop up thunderstorms interspersed with sunny skies this afternoon.  Wm randomly decided he was going to go out and do exercises in the rain.  

Tennis Buddy

Wm is pretty much the best kid ever.  He's super sweet.  Example...

Me: I'm playing tennis with Erin sometime this weekend, I think.

Steve: I wish I had a tennis buddy.

Wm [yelling from other room]: I WILL BE YOUR TENNIS BUDDY, DADDY!

Then, I had to go to a dinner at the department chair's house last night, so Steve took Wm out to dinner. I guess Wm said 3 times that he wishes Mommy was there and that he missed me. Best. Son. Ever.  

White Fang!

In other awesome news, my department nominated me for the Staff Above and Beyond Award!  I did not realize this had occurred until we were sitting at the Staff Recognition luncheon, I had a mouth full of salad, and they called my name.  I had to go up and get my certificate and get my picture with the Dean.  I just hope I didn't have salad in my teeth!  But it was a really nice surprise!  

Major Award

Soccer!

Wm had his first soccer practice tonight.  He did great!!  In fact, he won the first game of sharks and minnows they played!  Steve was especially proud.  When we left, I asked how much he liked soccer.  He held his hand up near his head and said "this much."  I asked how much he liked Legos and he jumped high into the air and stuck his hand super and and goes, "this much!"  Then he said, "I would have to jump as high as the sky and into space to show you how much I love you and Daddy!"  *tear*

Meeting the teammates

Drills

The Huddle

Warm up

It's a good thing Steve is around.  I would have taken Wm with nothing but the shoes on his feet. Steve got him shin guards and a kid ball (cleats coming).  When we got there, all the other kids were similarly equipped.  At least one of us knows what we're doing!

Smarty Pants

We went up to NE Ohio to celebrate Uncle Mike's Big 4-0 on Saturday.  Wm had the time of his life on the trampoline (even though it took some years off mine watching him) and running around with Andrew.  On the way home, he wanted Math Challenges.  He got to such high numbers that Steve said he was probably better at math than I am. So...it became Mommy vs. William.  Sadly, I pretty much lost.  Wm can add two 2-digit numbers in his head faster than I can.  Even sadder, when Wm wants Math Challenges when Steve isn't around, I have to use the calculator on my phone to get the answer before he does so I can tell him if he's right.  Wm finds this endlessly amusing.  Also, he was WIDE AWAKE the entire drive home...then fell asleep at 10:15, when we were 10 minutes from home - and it was POURING rain.  Luckily, even though he woke up on the way in, he went right back to sleep in his bed! And slept in until nearly 8:30 this morning - wooooooha!

I *may* be a bit hormonal.  So I had this conversation with Steve just now...
Steve: [quietly humming to himself as he flips through something on the couch]
Me: You don't think I'm pretty anymore, DO YOU?
Steve: [sigh] Of course I do.
Me: NO YOU DON'T!!!!!
Steve: Good lord.  You are in a mood.  When are you going to head into the Red Tent?
Me: DON'T MOCK ME!!!
Steve: You are acting like a teenager today...seeking negative attention, acting out.
Me: I know.  It can't be helped.  [pause] IT'S BECAUSE YOU THINK I'M FAT, ISN'T IT?

On the plus side, I think Steve gave Wm a bath tonight just to escape me.  So now I have time to peruse The Internets at my leisure.

Devil Chiropractor

I went to a chiropractor for the first time ever today (based on the advice of a friend).  And...that guy was a major douche.  When I told Steve I had an appointment he was all, "Don't do it!  They are all ambulence-chasing quacks!"  But I went.  And proceeded to have this conversation with the ambulence-chasing quack...

Chiro: You're how tall?
Me: 5'3''
Chiro: And I would guess you weigh [EDITED] pounds?
Me: Wow...that is actually just about right.
[Chrio comes over and starts prodding around]
Chiro: Yeah - you're thick.
Me: Uhhh, what?
Chiro: Like stocky.
Me: Ooookay.
Chiro: I can tell you're in good shape and you do strength training. But, I mean, you're just thick.  [mimes strange muscle pose and uses deep scary voice] No one's gonna mess with you!
Me: [silently fuming]
Chiro: I'm going to test your reflexes now. [SLAMS rubber hammer into my leg]
Me: [leg flies into air against my will]
Chiro: Look at that!  Your reflexes are so extreme.  I can tell you are a high strung and anxious person.
Me: [seriously hating this chiropractor]

Looking back...I guess he didn't say anything that wasn't true.  But, dude - keep it to yourself!  A modicum of professionalism would have been nice.  I feel like I should have ended the visit like, "since we apparently have such a close, personal relationship and can point things out about each other...you have a gross brown front tooth."  I called Steve on my way home and told him all about it.  His response was, "I hate to say I told you so..."  Then, I am entertaining the neighbors with the details of the visit and, no joke, the husband says, "ahhh, chiropractors are all quacks!"  Apparently this is well known.

And, proving that he is super awesome, Wm burst into a Neil Young song tonight.  Just playing with Steve, Wm belts out, "old man, look at my life...I'm a lot like you!" (Thinking about it, maybe he was just telling Steve that they have a lot in common.)

Lastly, here I am modeling the glasses that Wm made for me at camp:

Pictures

Last weekend we had a professional photo session at the Park of Roses.  Our first professionally taken family pictures!!  In 4-6 weeks, we get a DVD with all the shots (the photographer is currently fancying them up on her computer).  But, she gave us 4 "sneak peak" shots that she has completed so we get a taste of what's coming.  Wm is pretty much the cutest. (The photographer even changed her facebook profile shot to the color one of Wm below...he's that cute, people.)

I love how Wm looks very unsure about this whole business

When we get ownership of the DVD all the shots, I will share!!

Fair

Wm's first ever coke!  We told him it was because the fair is for awful food.

Wm won a dolphin

Steve attempting to scale a ladder for a prize...

And failing.

GO BUCKS!

The Big Slide

Fair Food!

Sky ride (Wm was not a fan this year)

LEGOS!!!!

Wm enjoying his "fair treat" 

Steveapalooza

This is a very Steve-centric post.  But Steve has had an exciting couple days...

Steve looking very dapper 

Steve ROCKING OUT

Mimi watched Wm so Steve and I could go party last night.  And Steve partied hard.  He was feeling good enough that he even took up the mike at Rock Band TWICE.  I did capture the first time on video (the second time, I was on drums, so I wasn't able to record it).  I got up this morning, went to get Wm, hung at at Mimi's for a bit, came home, and Steve was still in bed.  Wm was like, "Daddy is LAZY!"  I told him, "Daddy is sleeping it off, man." And Wm goes, "Sleeping what off?" and I said, "his rock and roll lifestyle."  Wm made a face and ran upstairs and threw himself on Steve.  Who managed to roll out of bed and is currently picking up breakfast.  But, here he is last night, RAGING: