Carli just lost her tooth!

My 8 year old daughter just lost her top left tooth! It's been hanging by a thin piece of skin for quite some time now and she was afraid to pull it out, so we just left it and her alone. She bumped her mouth on her knee and that's how it came out. This is the 5th tooth she has lost since the first one in December of 2009. Wonder how much she'll get for it?

Wow, I can't believe it's been nearly a month and SCHOOL PICTURES!

since I've posted any kind of blog about Carli and school. Two significant things have happened - her very first school dance and Fall Festival. She did not want her dad or I hanging around either time, so we left her at the school function by herself. I knew there were plenty of staff around to keep an eye on her so I tried not to worry - yeah, right.

She's pretty independent, I guess you'd say, when it comes to a school function. I'm not exactly sure why she didn't want us at either one, but everything turned out ok and I am guessing she wasn't the only child dropped off and left to their own devices. Both times we picked her up a couple of hours later and she was having the time of her life.

Tomorrow a local photographer is coming to the school to take individual pictures of the students. She does a composite of the students in the class, not a class picture. The package we are buying comes with 3 - 8x10s, 1 - 5x7, 2 - 3x5s, 4 - wallets, 8 - subwallets, 1 - class composite, plus 8 - wallets personalized with name and year.

I can't wait to see how they turn out!

First Progress Report from Carli's new school and riding the school bus

Carli finally brought her progress report home...it's labeled "Mid-Term Progress Report"...

Reading - satisfactory
Language Arts - exceeding
Mathematics - progressing
Social Studies - satisfactory
Science - satisfactory
Class Participation - satisfactory
Completion of Class Work - satisfactory
Completion of Homework - satisfactory
Behavior - satisfactory
Respect for Others - satisfactory
Respect for School Property - satisfactory
Following Directions - satisfactory

there's nothing else written on the report, which kinda makes me wonder...but I'm used to more professional progress reports...this is just a sheet of paper...


I am eagerly looking forward to Carli's first progress report from her new school. I have only received one phone call since she started at the beginning of August, and that was only because I had called to see how she was doing. Mr. Smith, her first ever male teacher told me she was doing fine academically and socially and that she was fitting in. Whew! Not that I didn't think she'd fit in (because I know she doesn't have a problem fitting in), but being at a new school where things were completely different for her compared to her old school where she'd made lots of friends.

She has since made at least 5 or 6 friends in her classroom and the other Third Grade classroom and I am less worried about her now than I was when she started.

She has also started a new chapter in her life by riding the school bus. We got the call the day before she was to begin and since I had not had the pleasure of meeting with the bus driver at "Meet the Teacher" night, I had to take it on blind faith that this was indeed the bus driver from her school and that our daughter would be picked up and returned to us safely.

Monday morning dawned bright and early as usual here in Arizona and as I lay there running the most awful scenarios through my mind, I forced myself out of bed, took my shower (because I also had to get ready for work), and started the coffee, went back into the bedroom and roused Carli out of her slumber.

We took out her braid, got her hair brushed and quickly got her dressed in her jumper, shirt and shoes. Before I knew it, it was 6:00 a.m. and the bus pulled up in front of our house. Needless to say, I was a bit concerned because I didn't know the bus driver (Ms. Daniels is the morning bus driver). I had to trust that God would protect my baby as I watched the bus drive down our street and out of sight.

She was safely returned that afternoon around 5:00 p.m. by Mr. Mims, the afternoon bus driver. I was never so glad to see my baby girl as I was that day! I hugged her so tight I thought I might suffocate her - but of course, I didn't!

At least a few weeks have gone by since that first day and I still remember it as if it were only yesterday. Hard to imagine how convenient it would be at the beginning, but now that we are in this routine, I am enjoying my new found freedom in the mornings after Carli has left for school.

She gets picked up now at 6:20 a.m. and still arrives home in the afternoons at the same time. She attends before- and after-school care at her school, but instead of spending it in the cafeteria with at least 30 (if not more) children who are completely and utterly out of control, she is in the Media Lab working on a computer, playing educational games or watching movies. I prefer this type of care for her - she is one of only a few who get to be in there. Only the children who ride the bus get to be in the Media Lab.

There is only one other child on the bus in the morning and 6 or 7 who ride in the afternoon. Life is good.

Carli's new school uniforms and delicates

Here are pictures of Carli in her four scooters and jumper, her new tennis shoes and under things and socks!










Carli's uniforms and delicates all arrived early. I was so worried that none of them would get here before school started, turns out I worried for nothing!

All four scooters (yes, I bought her four of them and they are all different), jumper, two polo shirts, panties, camis and socks have been washed and dried, folded and put into the two boxes her uniforms came in as a way to keep them organized and clean.

She has a brand new pair of tennis shoes and a pair of boots (yes, her daddy bought her boots for school!) I don't have a picture of the boots yet, but when I do I will add it.

I loved washing all of her clothes...I used some borax (great in hard water!), a liquid fabric softener and a great smelling detergent. I also used dryer sheets in the dryer to help further soften her uniform bottoms. The jumper and a couple of the scooters are cotton and were very stiff. Now they are not! I actually had to wash them a couple of times to relax the material, but it's a small thing to do to make sure her clothes are soft and comfortable and ready to wear. I washed all the scooters and jumper separate from the polo shirts since they are different colors.

I washed her under things together, which are mostly all white, so I only had three loads of clothes to do all together - like I said, small price to pay to make sure everything is ready before she starts school on Monday.

Trip to the Pharmacy 7.13.10

Today I finally got Carli's prescriptions in to the pharmacy. I've had them for months, but this was the first time I'd actually had a chance to go drop them off, so I did. Instead of hanging around the store, we went and ran errands.

When we returned later to pick them up, the pharmacist asked the name of the person I was picking up prescriptions for. I gave him Carli's name. Then she walked up to the counter and he asked her her birthdate...she, of course, gave it to him.

Then, as he was getting the prescriptions ready to ring up and put in a bag, he asked if she'd taken either medication before. One she had, the other she had not. Instead of talking to me and telling me how she should administer the one medication, he told her what she needed to do. He then asked her if she had any questions, she did not, and he proceeded to remind her again that the medicine is supposed to be taken at bedtime (before she brushes her teeth) and if she doesn't rinse her mouth out she'll get sores.

I thought it was so wonderful that he treated her with such respect and kindness. He didn't dismiss her because she's 7 years old. I was very impressed!

Sunday Edition 07/04/10

I notice I have not blogged on here in quite a little while...hmmm...I wonder why not? Oh well, it doesn't matter. I've been busy living life and taking care of a very active seven year old who keeps me hopping on a daily basis.

I love that Carli is so active, but sometimes I find myself wishing she would just stop and take a break, if only for a moment or two, just so I can relax too.

I hope I'm not alone in my wishing that a very active child would slow down for a moment. I don't think I am. I'm sure there are plenty of mom's out there who would like for their child(ren) to take a nap or go play outside in the backyard so she can have a moment's peace.

Saturday musing 06.26.10

Carli started out in her bed last night and was doing well. I'm not exactly sure what happened, but sometime during the night (or very early morning) she came in and crawled into bed with us.

Which is ok, there must have been a very good reason as to why she wanted to be with us. Bad dream perhaps? Whatever the reason, I'm just glad she did. She's always welcome to come in and sleep with us, but I do prefer that she sleep in her own bed of course.

She slept in until 0900, which is unusual for her and I guess she needed the sleep. Now she is up and about causing mayhem and mischief wherever she goes - ok, only kidding. She's being a very good little girl. She's eating some breakfast and will go play when she is finished with her cereal.

Carli is outside in the backyard playing with her dog...throwing the ball and generally having a lot of fun, which is cool. I love that she has a dog because she always has someone to play with. It would be nice if she had a little friend to play with, but I'm not going to stress the issue...what's the point?!