School

Well, school started and I have been the biggest slacker with pictures this year. It has been a task just getting done the every day things, let alone remembering to get a camera charged, out and taking pics. We were off to an amazing start with Brendan being in the first grade! Ah! He was in a great class with a bunch of kids he knew and had an AWESOME teacher. (notice the past tense!!) Anyway, a week ago, we got a letter sent home that they had hired another first grade teacher and that Brendan had been selected to go to her class. Well, it has not been what I would call a positive experience. The poor teacher who was hired was set up for a complete losing situation. NONE of the parents were consulted before this change, and when a few of us went in to discuss the situation, the principal was LESS than accomodating. Sweet Brendan was crying after the first full day with the class. He felt like he was being punished and doesn't have a single child he really knows in that class. I HATE being that parent that goes in and starts fighting battles for my child, but the whole process of this change was handled so poorly, that Gary and I have decided that we just can't stay silent about it.
The sweet teacher's classroom is so barren and sterile. She really did try to get things decorated, but it's truly bare bones. I went and bought her a rug just so the kids wouldn't have to sit on the linoleum floor! My poor guy went from absolutely LOVING school and doing really well, to not wanting to go anymore and not doing quite as well. It's been a practice in some serious self control to not go above the principal's head and get him moved back into his old class. What broke my heart was when I went to lunch with him yesterday, his old class was in the hall with him, they ALL came running over to give him big hugs. They were so happy to see him, and vice versa. The new class he is in is this sad group of random children who don't know each other and feel neglected. One poor little girl got moved into the class yesterday and while she was sitting at lunch, I really thought she was going to cry. She didn't really eat, and didn't talk at all. Poor girl.
Cecelia is doing really well in school. She loves the kids in her class. She is really starting to come into her own with her personality getting stronger every day. She is really starting to write her name well and has started to spell simple words. She picks up on a lot of Brendan's homework. She is getting to be very smart.
Teddy has yet to get potty trained, which is a REAL bummer. We are working on it though. We get to take him in for the first 30 minutes or so of certain days. He loves it, but is ready to leave when I come get him. Today he worked on a tree and got to paint. He really enjoyed that, but walked right out of the room when he was done. I feel like he could probably go to school and we could get away with it, but that would be the day he poops his pants or something. Ah well.
I am really excited about next week. One of my oldest and best friends is getting married next week. I am in the wedding and am so excited that she is getting married. I can't wait to see all of our old friends. We have all known one another in some fashion since we were 5, 6, 7, or 8 years old. (some of us went to school together earlier than others). I am going to be taking LOTS of pictures and hopefully post them before next year!
I will also be taking more pics of the kids and uploading those soon. Life just needs to settle down a bit.