Kids say the funniest things...

So Connell came home from preschool yesterday with two pictures -- one was a person that was supposed to be me and one was of a checkerboard with red and black checkers in the squares (he is obsessed with getting another checker game since he has been careless with the checkers from previous games!) Since they don't normally draw pictures at preschool (their art projects are usually a little more advanced than that), I asked when he drew them. He stated casually, "while I was in time out." So then I was a little agitated and pumping him for information as to why the time out. Finally he gave in and told me the story about his friend Bryce and how the two of them got a little wild and started throwing things across the room at each other. Apparently, Bryce was put in the one corner with books to look at and Connell was put on the other side with paper and markers to draw with. After talking through how wrong this whole situation was and assuming that Connell really internalized everything wrong with the situation, I asked him, "So what did you learn?" He responded, "That I like to draw!" Ugh!

French Contest Report

Well, the French contest went relatively well. I am still cleaning up from it (schools that somehow have the wrong number of medals, etc.) and I have to go to the American Association of Teachers of French Board meeting tomorrow to give them a report and to look to future years. Within a week I think everything will be packed up for next year (which is supposed to be my last although we don't have anyone committed to taking over as coordinator).

This year ended up having 738 students competing and we awarded 224 blue, 359 red and 139 white medals.

Oops

This happened to a sleeper of Liam's last week. I thought it was a fluke and thought nothing of it. Now I realize that it happened to another one today. They were both size 3 sleepers and some of you may know that Liam has gone through a big growth spurt lately gaining a few inches in height and probably one whole shoe size. Well, here are the results I guess. No more 3T sleepers for Liam...

Liam's Quilt

On Saturday afternoon --- in order to allow me some time to get some last-minute contest stuff done -- Ray took the boys over to see the sandbox grandma and Tom. They rode bikes and scooters and played at the park and played some board games inside as well. Grandma gave Liam his quilt that she recently finished. Connell has one as well and so now both boys are thrilled with their "baby blankets" (as Liam calls them).

Our Little Chorus Boy

Our preschool was invited by a neighborhood Lutheran Church to perform at their Wed. 5:45 pm evening service. It was an option (not required), but since Connell was so excited about singing the songs and thought he was going to participate even though I hadn't signed him up, at the last minute I told the director that he would participate. They had several practices outside of preschool that he had to attend. Yesterday afternoon was the actual performance. Since Liam was running up and down the aisles, I ended up having to leave before the church service and Ray stayed with Connell. Connell was extremely fidgety the entire time and yet he made it through somehow. It was a late night for him since the service didn't end until about 6:30, they had refreshments afterwards and then he needed some "down time" when he got home to relax before bed.

Connell is in the back row in the top picture -- not that you could identify anyone if you even wanted to with that small picture! You can see the close-up of him.

Easter

We had a nice Easter. The kids got their Easter baskets when they got up and then we drove down to Owatonna for an egg hunt at my mom's house. She puts pretzels, goldfish crackers, cheese Ritz and popcorn pieces into the plastic eggs. I like that the kids don't get chocolate and candy for Easter!

Ray and I went to Mass while my parents played games with the boys and then we all went to my aunt and uncle's house for the afternoon. We have done this for many years now.

Liam

I managed to get the camera to take a few photos. Here is one for those of you missing the "injury" part of my blog. Liam fell into the door (because he was climbing in the drawers of a storage organizer)and injured his ear. I think he'll live, but it looks sore.

A few days ago, Liam found Connell's cooking attire (from Santa) and tried it on.

Still Alive

Sorry to all of you who follow my blog religiously. Without a working digital camera, I have no photos to share (I have been tipped off that I will be getting a new one for Mother's Day so we'll see if that happens...) I've been plugging away at my French contest duties as it is coming up in less than 2 weeks. We have the second largest number of entries from the year 2000 until the present! So it really is a big job this year. I hope the day of the contest goes smoothly.

With the weather turning warmer, we spend much more time outside now. The boys ride their bikes (we finally sold the trike on craigslist as even Liam was looking way too big for it). All the neighbor kids play together after school until supper time on nice days. I think everyone is trying to adjust to the new schedule.

I'm already thinking about going back to work. It looks like I might be placed at Eagan High School when I return in the fall of 2010. Exactly one year from right now is when I will see the openings and choose either to interview if there is more than one, or simply be placed. Once I find out my final placement, I can start looking into daycare for Liam and before and/or after school programs for Connell. It is going to be quite difficult to coordinate drop-offs and pick-ups for both boys in addition to working fulltime and getting all my planning and correcting done. I am a little rusty as the schedule of being a stay-at-home mom is a little more flexible than what I will have when working. Will keep you posted...

Connell will be attending Highland Elementary School which is our neighborhood public school. We applied for Diamond Path - the International Magnet School in our area -- and didn't make it through the lottery system. We had some hope being number 3 on the waiting list, but were told last week that the waiting list has been eliminated and they will not accept any more kindergartners at that school.

Otherwise I have been keeping up with American Idol and Dancing With the Stars as well as reading a few novels in the evenings.

For Easter we will be going to Owatonna to my aunt/uncle's house. The Boyce family will be there as well.