Bedtime Arguments

Bedtime arguements, while frustrating, can be some of the most entertaining pieces of comedic gold. Last nights battle did not disappoint.

I intervened after 10 minutes of the girls giving each other a verbal beat down. I threatened to take away their Halloween party. They inquired about what party and I told them the party at the Hoogland.

This was the perfect distraction. A2 took the bait, but it true A2 fashion went in a completly different direction. With complete disgust almost gagging on her words she said, "What do you mean Hoogland? I thought it was Ho-Bo-land. I didn't know it was HooGland with a G. I hate Gs." Then her head hit the pillow. She was even quiet for 5 whole minutes while she let the earth shattering news sink in.  

I quickly left the room before any giggle, laugh, or snort escaped; only to have to return later upon hearing throat clearing and spiting. Yes, my sweet little ladies where engaging in a full on spit warfare. I was happy to inform them that spitting on people could get them arrested. A1 got quiet. A2 shot me her infamous "You are so dumb" looks. She wanted to know why in the world would someone go to jail for spit. I let her know that it isn't healthy to touch someones spit because spit is a way to spread germs and diseases. A smug smile was planted on her face as she reported, "I don't have any germs or diseases." Shuttering she added, "I don't kiss cats!"

Of course, everyone knows the only way to get a disease is to kiss a cat. Duh! I lost my composure. I laughed. I almost fell over from laughing. A1 laughed. A2 yelled and then started meowing at A1 because she has been seen kissing cats. A3 started crying. She needed more prayers. A3 was on to something. We could all use some more prayers. We reprayed. By the time we were done with prayers, round two, A2 was sound asleep. A1 was almost asleep. Prayers were answered. Mama had peace at least for a few hours until the Cat Kisser and the G Hater woke up.

Adios October

I had been looking forward to October since August 1st. October is when everything gets easier. October is when we fall into the routine; school, homework, dinner, sleep, breakfast, school, etc. October is stress free-ish. October is easy. 

Today I looked at the calendar; October 30th. Somehow I missed October. I can't believe we are at the end of my easy month. I think I got so caught up in surviving I forgot to live. I'm glad I woke and realized October was almost over. I would have been mad if I forgot to live this weekend, so much going on!

Halloween + daylight savings time + Hallmark's Christmas movie marathon + a new month = A happy Carrie! 

I am not going to let November pass without making waves. I am trying something new, something scary. I signed up for NaNoWriMo. National Novel Writing Month is a fun challenge to get authors writing. By the end of the month participants should have a 50, 000 word novel. This terrifies me for so many reasons. I hope to make the goal. I know it will be hard with the girls and teaching full time, but it will be a new experience. It will be a challenge.  It will let me be creative and I am excited about it! 

Tonight and tomorrow I will be working on my outline so I can be ready to start on November 1. I plan on setting my alarm early every morning so I can get writing in before school. I will spend extra time on the weekends writing. I have a plan. I just need to get started. I will make November count. 

Reading Challenge Book 5

I really wanted to like A Monster Calls, but, well, I just didn't. I feel bad admitting that, especially since one of my favorite book reading mom friends loved it.  I really wanted to open this book and not want to put it down. Sadly that just didn't happen.

This is the first Caudill nominee that didn't make me cry. I was starting to think that one of the nomination requirements was turning on the water works. The premise of the book is sad. There were a lot of events in the book that were sad, but I just wasn't that invested in the book to even feel that pre-cry pain in my throat.
I felt like the entire book was a riddle; a riddle I just didn't get. I love the challenge of figuring out riddles, discovering the plays on words. I am usually a great riddle solver. This book was like a riddle without an answer.  Perhaps I was just too distracted by real life to get the riddle, but that is another problem with me not being invested in this book. I was distracted by everything while I read it. Typically, I am that reader who would miss a dinosaur attack in the living room if I was into a good book.

The book wasn't terrible. In fact there were some good things in the book. There were great moments. I had some feelings. The illustrations were super dark and amazing.

I would recommend reading this book if your cable is out, all of the laundry is done and put away, and you have a few hours to kill.

Reading Challenge Book 4

I have always been a fan of historical fiction books. It probably goes back to my mom and me spending hours reading Little House on the Prairie books together. I was really excited when I read the reviews for May B and saw that it was compared to Little House on the Prairie over and over again.

At first I was, honeslty, a little disappointed with the Little House comparison. Other than setting, there wasn't much else the same. However; the book is fantastic even without the Little House-ness. I really connected with May B. I totally and completely hurt for her with every turn of the page. When she was lonely, I was lonely. When she was cold, I shivered. When she was hungry, my stomach growled. When she was anxious, I was biting my nails with every word I read. When she was discouraged, I was crying. I felt every emotion May B felt. (Way to go Caroline Starr Rose!)

As with all the Rebecca Caudill Award nominations, I found myself having a major case of the eyeball sweats.  May B has a reading disability, probably dyslexia, but is so determined to learned to read. She works hard even when others discourage her from trying.  During her time away from home she has a lot of time for self reflection. At one point, while she is discouraged by her situation, she also becomes discouraged by her ability to read.  Page 80 hit me hard:

"I must be stupid." Those four words sunk me. I thought about all the students I have had who struggle with reading. I thought of bubbly A2 and her reading struggles. Would she eventually get to the point where this is how she felt about herself. Does she already feel this way about herself? What can I do as a teacher, as a mom, to prevent my young readers from this self-destructive mentality? 

For me this book wasn't life changing, but it was "life improving." I will try to be less frustrated as I listen to A2 slowly struggle through her reading assignments. I will do my best to hide my concern.  I will take my role as a supportive, encouraging mom to a whole new level. 

I will be reading this book with my class this year. I am certain many of my students will relate to May B, just like I did. 

Reading Challenge Book 3

This book. Holy Wow! And to think, this is one that I was dreading reading.  I really didn't think I could handle reading a 160 page poem.  I was acting all judgey and assumed reading THAT much poetry would be torture. 

I was wrong. 

I instantly fell in love with the story and the characters. It was a quick read that I finished in just under two hours. The reading level for this book is 3.9 and would be a perfect way to introduce children and adults to poetry. I see it completely easing that feeling of dread people get when they hear they have to read poetry. Don't even pretend you don't know what I am talking about.  Poetry is intimidating stuff!   

I feel 100% comfortable recommending this book to any of the 5th graders at my school. I would also allow A1 to read this book without hesitation, although I think some of it probably wouldn't really interest her, since there aren't any mermaids or zombies.