Keepin' Busy...

I am going to post multiple pictures and happenings in this one post because I am pretty far behind on blogging. The kids have all been going in opposite directions for different things and all I can do is smile and get them where they need to go...HA!

They have been skiing a lot. It has been a great ski season for everyone. It is still going strong too, but we know that it will also be ending before too long. Spring has arrived and that's always a sign that the resorts will be closing as the snow melts away. 

Lilly has been doing dance now since January and goes to every single class so that she can be in the up-coming spring recital . She is very, very excited...just ask her (0:

I am very proud of her for sticking with ballet. It has had a few challenges with her CAPD issues, but she has worked really hard and figured out how to make it work for herself. I can't wait to see her dance! We don't get to watch them during class time, so I haven't been able to see what she does in class...other than all the dancing/practicing she does around here and in the middle of the store while I am shopping!

Mac has been working hard on his school studies and is getting ready for track season. It starts on April 2nd. We have been contemplating on letting him participate this year because, as most of you know, both he and Lilly attend OTPA (charter school) and they do not have any sports teams and also get out of school an hour later than the other schools in our district. We were told from the very beginning of this school opening/starting that our kids would have the same access to all after school extra-curricular activities that other students in the district have. It wasn't going to be an issue for us personally until Mac reached the middle school years...Mac started at OTPA in the 4th grade. I asked every year how the school was going to accommodate him and other students that wanted to join the other students. I was told not to worry about it and things were in the works, it wasn't going to be any problem...etc. There were discussions of a possible time change for the middle year students or moving PE to the last period of the day, so kids that were on sports teams could leave an hour early to get to practices on time and it would count as their PE credit...and a few other ideas. Well, I should have pushed harder I guess for more exact answers and a better time-line, because I was shocked (as well as many other parents) by what choice was given to us as the time clicked on and on and was running out for Mac and his 6th grade class-mates. We went to a middle years info night a few weeks ago and felt like we had gotten a HUGE slap in the face!!! I was so shocked and so furious...by the time we left. The first big shocker was that they told us the school was no longer going to be a K-8th grade IB program, where students learn the IB curriculum through middle school years and then go to Sandy High School, where they could continue their IB classes and graduate with an IB certificate or an IB diploma. The school was NOW going to be a  K-12 IB school/program and our kids would not be able to go to Sandy High School to continue their IB focus. If they want to graduate with an IB certificate or diploma, they would have to stay at OTPA all the way through. (I could go on and on about why a lot of us disgaree with this, but I won't right now) We were also told that start times for the next school year would not be changing for any of the grades and that PE would not be the last class of the day for the MYP. If we (as parents) felt that it was important enough for our kids to participate in extracurricular sports, or other activities, we would need to check them out of school an hour early each day that was needed and they would be missing their advisory period and would have to make it up. WHAT??? REALLY??? Why in the hell should there be a consequence for students that are choosing to be part of a team, or better themselves, or make friends that go to other schools in the same district, to be a bigger part of the community they live in?? I was FURIOUS...for a number of reasons. I was blatantly lied too about a lot of the things I inquired about and that is beyond wrong. I was also furious that they seemed to only care about IB curriculum and nothing else, but yet when asked how changing the hours of the school would affect or change the mission of the school or interfere with any IB rules/regulations, they admitted that it would not. I think the IB curriculum is a great way to go if your child can do it...but curriculum alone does not make a well-rounded student or individual. There are many life long lessons that are taught outside of a classroom and not in a book. Kids need a balance of both and anyone in education should acknowledge this no matter what their personal opinion is about certain extra-curricular activities! Well, those of you that know me...can guess what happen next. I went on an info seeking, interviewing and somewhat fighting stampede. I called OSAA, I called the High School principal, the other middle school principals, teachers, coaches in our school district and yes, of course board members. I called every single parent that I knew and didn't know. I posted things on FB, went to a gazillion different meetings and spoke up and fought for a time change for next year and also voiced my concerns about why our kids should have access to all these great programs our district has for ALL Oregon Trail District students and how NO student should be denied access to them or have to miss class time in order to do so...how could that be the only choice, especially if academics and attendance are SO very important!! Believe me, I could go on and on...and our board got an ear-full from me. I did feel a bit bad about how "gruff" I may have come across, but they needed to have a very clear picture of where I was coming from. I had been asking about this issue for years and had been told by our director (principal) that it wasn't going to be a problem...I had been pushed in a corner and felt that approaching the board with everything was the only choice I had left to advocate for my son and daughter. Many other parents felt the same way and some voiced it as well and others chose to sit and watch...which is fine too. We all have our ways- anyhow, it paid off. Last week the board voted that the hours for ALL GRADES for the next school year and forward would change to match the other schools so that our kids could make it to practices, etc on time! I was sooooo happy! I was soooo happy that they just listened to us and gave it some real thought and consideration. Yes, I most definitely stepped on some toes and ticked a few people off, but I don't think their hearts are in the right place on some of these issues and in my opinion...they needed to know that just because they say "this is how it's going to be" doesn't make it so. Especially without really discussing the issue or even letting parents know what's going on. Our school is small in size and most of the parents really, really care about what's happening and that needs to be honored with discussions and feedback on any issues that effect our kids. I hope that in the future, better communication is practiced. I think everyone involved in this latest "dilemma" learned something. I have no idea what's going to happen with the IB curriculum and being able to have IB classes at Sandy High, but I do know that now more parents are aware of it and our director, board members and district are going to have to listen and take parents input to heart when big decisions are made. It's very clear that most parents have a very clear opinion about it. I am just glad that everyone is at-least in the "know" and discussing it now! 

As far as this year goes for Mac, I feel that he has been let down. The time change didn't happen fast enough for him, but because he is such a great student and his teacher has kindly offered to meet with all the track students an hour early once a week before school starts to teach them what they will miss in class- we have decided to let him be on the track team at Cedar Ridge. This means I have to pick him up an hour early Mon-Fri in order to have him at the field on time for practices and he may have to leave earlier on some days for the track meets. It is an UN-necessary consequence for him. He has great grades and is a great student, he should not have to miss any class time just to make it to practice on time. I am glad that we have this remedied for the future.

UGH...enough about school...between all this school stuff and all the things going on with Griff, (see earlier post) I can honestly say that my brain is tired. LOL!!

We have been having fun during all of this and actually we never let the kids know what all was happening at school until it was over. I want them to be happy and proud of where they go to school and they are just that. I don't want them to ever be worried about where they go to learn and grow, so we were very careful about what we discussed if they were in ear-shot.

Here are just a few of the things we have been up too-

Lilly has been wearing and modeling all her cute hairbands, hats and scarfs from Crochet Craziness! Our friend, Lisa makes them. You can check out her great stuff on FB under the name Crochet Craziness (0:

 Griff only has interest in Mac's favorite hat...

 Lilly made an awesome Leprechaun Trap to take to school...

 The trap needed to some how trap the leprechaun, but make sure to not harm him in anyway. This was Lilly's idea for it- She would "entice" him to enter the house with some of his favorite things...gold, candy, a huge flat screen TV with Barbie playing (we all know he has a crush on Barbie) and a nice comfy chair for him to sit in. She put clear/invisible tape on the chair so that he would get stuck to it as he sat down to eat all his yummy candy and watch some TV. It was a very clever idea and he did indeed stay awhile and ate all the candy...but he somehow freed himself from the tape. He did leave Lilly a note and wished her better luck next year! I can't wait to see what she comes up with next go around...

 Last week was buzzing with all kinds of excitement for spring break and other events going on. One was Catie Lynn's Birthday! 

 Happy 5th Birthday!

I love the picture below because both girls are SOO excited about the gift Catie Lynn opened, and all the boys are completely oblivious to it...

 Griff and Brewer enjoyed playing together and eating lots of cake-

It was great to see everyone, it has been awhile since we have all gotten together. We even got to do "face-time" with Sydney! We miss her!

The first few days of spring are always a bit wild when it comes to the weather around here. We have rain, snow, sun and hail. This looks like snow, but it's hail and of course Mac had to go out and jump in it until the pelting hurt. 

We are now officially on Spring Break and have plans to go and do different things, but now some of the plans may get changed...but no matter what we end up doing, we will have a great time! I can't believe how early Easter is this year! We are having a hard time deciding to go away and miss the holiday with family...but, I am sure whatever we decide will work out. April is coming all too fast...for me it means Lilly's birthday is right around the corner. Yikes, she is going to be 8 already. Wow...

well, gonna log off now. Thanks for reading and make sure to catch up on the latest update for Griff. It's long and has a lot of info, but it's there for those of you that are interested.

Ta-Ta for now...