I really don't remember anything in my life before 1st grade. I have picture albums galore, but no real memories.
The only thing about Kindergarten is that my teacher's name was Mrs. Trilikis and I went to Hines Elementary.
1st Grade, Peoria Christian School (PCS), Mrs. Gross
I remember 4 distinct things about this class.
1. My grandparents surprised me and the class with a (early) birthday party for me. My birthday was always right before school started and almost everyone else got to bring in cupcakes during the year. Grandpa was a Shriner clown, so he dressed up in his YoYo attire and blew up ballons for my classmates.
2. Story time on a huge piece of carpet.
3. One of my classmates brough in a real frog for show and tell and it got loose. I caught it :) (I was such a tomboy!
4. There was only 1 bathroom break a day. We were taking a test and I peed all over the floor because I didn't want to get in trouble.
2nd Grade, PCS, Mrs. ?
1. We read Pilgrim's Progress
2. Chasing boys on the playground and getting the scars on my knees.
3. Hatching chicks for a science experiment.
4. Bug raising in our classroom (praying mantis, caterpillar)
5. Faking sick to go to the office and get some Tums. (We all did it...)
3rd Grade, PCS, Mrs. Sheets
I remember my first lie. It seemed like everyone in my class was going to have a new sibling, so I decided I felt left out and told her that my mom was expecting too. Boy did I get it, because Mrs. Sheets called mom that night to congratulate her!
I ended up babysitting her children a couple of times 7 years later.
4th Grade, PCS, Mrs. J. Smith
One of the most memorable.
1. She was into performing. We did lots of musical things for Grandparents Day and President's Day. We had a few field trips to local nursing homes.
2. I was "diagnosed" with ADD, put on Ritalin and got bifocal glasses.
3. Everyone thought I needed to be held back a year.
4.Got to have a locker for the first time.
4th Grade, PCS, Miss Job
The only thing I really remember is that no one at home took interest in my everyday school life, so I thought that I could get away with not memorizing a book of scripture. Not so! I still had to go to school that day and stand in front of the class and recite the first verse that I did know and embarrass myself that I hadn't done what I was supposed to. Needless to say, I got an F on that day. I also only chose that passage because I had a crush on this boy that did the same passage the year before. That boy was killed in high school by a "friend" over a girl.
Music teachers:
Mr. Heinemann - 4th through 7th - violin
1. Dad made my life unbearable around him. He had some kind of male ego thing or something with him and they both took it out on me
Mrs. Arnett - general music/ plays/ choir - 1st through 7th
1. I never was in a play until 6th grade, not sure why, and it was only because everyone had to be on stage at least once before 6th grade.
2. In 7th I was stuck in the alto section instaed of the sopranos, which didn't make me happy, but it seemed as though I was the only one who knew the notes when it came to concert time. Maybe it was on purpose?
3. The musicals were always a big production.
4. It always seemed as if my parents never cared. Grandma and Grandpa always had to take us to our performances, then we would hope that our parents would make it. Dad rarely did, or if he did, was always on call and everyone heard his beeper going off during the performamces.
PE - Mrs. Fox - 1st through 7th
1. I was never good enough for her, she would pick on me to no end.
2. I had never seen a sport being played EVER until I was in 7th grade, when my friend brought me to a game, since she was a cheerleader.
The first time we tryed playing soft ball, I had no idea what in the world I was doing. Everone else knew what to do. I actually hit the ball... and then ran all the bases. There were people on the bases, I was clueless.
3. I actually wanted to try playing volleyball and be a cheerleader, but my parents didn't want to have to come to the games and my Mom told me that I would definitely get hurt, so the answer was NO!
5th Grade, PCS, Mrs. N Smith
Oh boy! Here we go...
1. I became teacher's pet this year. She was a very old lady and I did everything to please her.
2. We had a guinea pig for a class pet. I had guinea pigs at home too. I brought my guinea pig over for a "play date" and we ended up with 5 little guinea pigs a couple months later, lol!
3. My Mom and a friend talked me into chopping off all my hair. What a horrible mistake! I was made fun of at school and church. We eventually tried perming it also. NEVER AGAIN!!
6th Grade, PCS, Mrs. Brooks (Miss Job) & Mrs. Mackay
Nothing really remarkable.
7th Grade, Mrs. Patterson, Mr. Guess, Mr. Rosenberger, Mrs. Brooks , Mrs. Meyers & Miss White
1. We were the first class to be in the new addition to the school.
2. I was a bawling mess at the awards ceremony because my grandparents decided they couldn't afford to send us to private school anymore. I was more scared than anything because of the horror stories they told us about public schools.
**This is a big turning point in my life - up next...
Monday, December 6, 2010
Spending the night / being there for your children
Ok, I will say this up front. This is my opinion, not everyone's. After tyoing this all out, it is more of a personal rant, so if you don't want to read it, I don't blame you. It just stuff that Damon and I talk about and I really need to get off my chest.
I really don't understand why I keep getting presure from my Mom for Tabitha to spend the night. I have said no, and no means no right? Why keep telling Tabitha behind my back that she can spend the night sometime, only for me to repeatedly say NO! and make Tabitha upset.
I guess she thinks that since Damon and I were always carted off to my grandparents so they could have "adult time", she thinks I should do the same. They were always busy with everything under the sun, except for their children. Sure, Mom stayed home and ran a daycare so we wouldn't have to have a babysitter, but was never "there". We were always expected to help keep the kids occupied and clean up after them at the end of the day. Then there was always church that was Sunday morning, Sunday night choir practice (for Damon and I), and Wednesday night choir practice (for the adults). Then there was bowling league on Thursday nights. After all that commotion during the week, we spent at least 1 more night with my grandparents. And she wonders why we had such an attachment to them instead of her?
I honestly do not remember being home very much, there was always something to do. If it wasn't something going on at church, there was always something for school, like a concert or play, which was like pulling teeth to get anyone there to see us perform, let alone get there ourselves.
That's another thing! In between us coming home from school and bedtime, as we helped with the daycare, there was never anytime for us to finish our homework or practice our instruments because "it's too loud" and as we got older we would always come home during nap times and get yelled at. I was always so embarrassed that I couldn't play my musical parts correct, since the only time I got to play my instrument was in class. It was even worse in high school, when I played the flute, since we had to stand in front of the class and play "the hard parts" of very hard classical pieces. I never had a real chance. As soon as I moved here with Eric I sold the flute on Ebay, since it had so many bad memories, but to this day I still have my violin...
When I was in my 2nd year of 4th grade, I remember my grandma always picking me up from school and going to her house in order to practice my violin, so her money spent on private lessons was not wasted. She also was the one who helped me learn math. I really don't think anyone knew how much Damon and I hated school.
This, and many more reasons is why Eric & I have decided to homeschool our children and not let them be juggled around here and there. When you are married and have a family, that is what you are... a family. I couldn't imagine having any of my children away from me more than 2-3 hours. Also, I know that emotionally Tabitha is not ready for that either (hence the family bedroom).
I know through my blog I will be venting about my childhood more, but I thought I should stop at this point, or I might just write a book.
I really don't understand why I keep getting presure from my Mom for Tabitha to spend the night. I have said no, and no means no right? Why keep telling Tabitha behind my back that she can spend the night sometime, only for me to repeatedly say NO! and make Tabitha upset.
I guess she thinks that since Damon and I were always carted off to my grandparents so they could have "adult time", she thinks I should do the same. They were always busy with everything under the sun, except for their children. Sure, Mom stayed home and ran a daycare so we wouldn't have to have a babysitter, but was never "there". We were always expected to help keep the kids occupied and clean up after them at the end of the day. Then there was always church that was Sunday morning, Sunday night choir practice (for Damon and I), and Wednesday night choir practice (for the adults). Then there was bowling league on Thursday nights. After all that commotion during the week, we spent at least 1 more night with my grandparents. And she wonders why we had such an attachment to them instead of her?
I honestly do not remember being home very much, there was always something to do. If it wasn't something going on at church, there was always something for school, like a concert or play, which was like pulling teeth to get anyone there to see us perform, let alone get there ourselves.
That's another thing! In between us coming home from school and bedtime, as we helped with the daycare, there was never anytime for us to finish our homework or practice our instruments because "it's too loud" and as we got older we would always come home during nap times and get yelled at. I was always so embarrassed that I couldn't play my musical parts correct, since the only time I got to play my instrument was in class. It was even worse in high school, when I played the flute, since we had to stand in front of the class and play "the hard parts" of very hard classical pieces. I never had a real chance. As soon as I moved here with Eric I sold the flute on Ebay, since it had so many bad memories, but to this day I still have my violin...
When I was in my 2nd year of 4th grade, I remember my grandma always picking me up from school and going to her house in order to practice my violin, so her money spent on private lessons was not wasted. She also was the one who helped me learn math. I really don't think anyone knew how much Damon and I hated school.
This, and many more reasons is why Eric & I have decided to homeschool our children and not let them be juggled around here and there. When you are married and have a family, that is what you are... a family. I couldn't imagine having any of my children away from me more than 2-3 hours. Also, I know that emotionally Tabitha is not ready for that either (hence the family bedroom).
I know through my blog I will be venting about my childhood more, but I thought I should stop at this point, or I might just write a book.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Family Bedroom
I cannot believe it has taken me this long to post about our "Family bedroom".
4 weeks ago we decided that night time was just not working for us. We would tuck Tabitha into bed and then Eric, Grady and I would go into our bedroom to sleep. By morning Eric and I would be in some kind of contortion position because Tabitha would venture in at some point and lay at our feet. So, we decided that the basement bedroom has more than enough room for our king bed and her twin bed to be side by side. We will eventually also have the full size bed down there too.
It has worked out wonderfully! Tabitha sleeps in her bed all night long, since her bedside lays right up against Eric's side. I am really hoping that it also helps to transition Grady (eventually) much easier than we did with Tabitha.
The first-born seem to be the guinea pigs for their siblings...
4 weeks ago we decided that night time was just not working for us. We would tuck Tabitha into bed and then Eric, Grady and I would go into our bedroom to sleep. By morning Eric and I would be in some kind of contortion position because Tabitha would venture in at some point and lay at our feet. So, we decided that the basement bedroom has more than enough room for our king bed and her twin bed to be side by side. We will eventually also have the full size bed down there too.
It has worked out wonderfully! Tabitha sleeps in her bed all night long, since her bedside lays right up against Eric's side. I am really hoping that it also helps to transition Grady (eventually) much easier than we did with Tabitha.
The first-born seem to be the guinea pigs for their siblings...
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Children
A couple weeks ago I had this post all written out and I hit the "Publish" button and I have no idea were it went to! I was so upset that it has taken me this long to get the patience to attempt to write it again. Hopefully I remember all of my points.
The main point of this post is about family size.
Who do people think they are to tell someone else how many children they should and should not have? I have heard it now from both sides of our families that 2 is enough. How dare they! Just because I have "one of each", does not give anyone permission to open their mouths and tell me I should just stop and be happy with what I have. If they are brave enough to tell God that they do not want anymore blessings in their life, then let them. Do not expect me to.
Before children, I said 2 - maybe 3. I had no idea how much of a blessing they would be, and how much I really didn't know. I am not saying that we will be the Duggars, but we do have a large house and we are finding we have larger hearts than we realized.
Even Eric commented the other day that we could build a sort of bunk bed arrangement in our family bedroom. I just had to smile when he said that.
I am so happy that we are on the same page (on most days, lol).
I really do enjoy being pregnant and crazy as some may think, am enpowered everytime I go through labor. I know some think I am out of my mind for having a homebirth (which will eventually be a whole separate post). All I can say is that you just have to experience it once and you will be hooked for life. You cannot have fear.
The main point of this post is about family size.
Who do people think they are to tell someone else how many children they should and should not have? I have heard it now from both sides of our families that 2 is enough. How dare they! Just because I have "one of each", does not give anyone permission to open their mouths and tell me I should just stop and be happy with what I have. If they are brave enough to tell God that they do not want anymore blessings in their life, then let them. Do not expect me to.
Before children, I said 2 - maybe 3. I had no idea how much of a blessing they would be, and how much I really didn't know. I am not saying that we will be the Duggars, but we do have a large house and we are finding we have larger hearts than we realized.
Even Eric commented the other day that we could build a sort of bunk bed arrangement in our family bedroom. I just had to smile when he said that.
I am so happy that we are on the same page (on most days, lol).
I really do enjoy being pregnant and crazy as some may think, am enpowered everytime I go through labor. I know some think I am out of my mind for having a homebirth (which will eventually be a whole separate post). All I can say is that you just have to experience it once and you will be hooked for life. You cannot have fear.
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