Parent/Teacher Meeting

Yesterday was my first Parent/Teacher meeting so far. Mrs. M had already met with the other parents because my original date, she had to cancel due to conflicts.

I felt the meeting was very productive. Lots of praises for our Katiebug and some areas we need some work. Looking at "the literacy chart," I can see where she is making progress, but still has to meet a specific criteria before the end of the year. It reminds me of the doctor's office, if she's not at a specific point on "the chart," then we might have problems. Did they ever think that maybe some people learn at their own speed, different from everyone else? Just a thought.

In their work centers, all the children are encouraged to write or draw stories about themselves. The objective is to get them to draw a picture of a story and they are to write what the story is telling. For the past week, I guess, Katie started writing stories along with the pictures. Looking at the writing it doesn't make much sense to me because she is writing the letters that she hears in the words. Mostly it's the first letter in the words, but Mrs. M says it's great because this is the beginning. She assured me that by the end of the school year, Katie will be reading and writing. In fact, Mrs. M was so proud of Katie that she had her and another girl visit with the school's reading coach, Mrs. C to read their stories to her. They both received the "Bug Award," which is a great literacy award for their school.

Right now, we are working on more sight words, rhyming words, and word sounds. Katie and I have to play a game with beginning word sounds. Easy huh? We tried it today and I thought I was going to pull my hair out. It's not as easy as it seems. I'm hoping once she gets it, she'll have no problem. Katie is suppose to be tested either this week or next.

We have an upcoming Fall Festival, Parent Picnic, Dad's Jack-o-lantern carving day and storytime costume day. The kids are encouraged to dress up in their favorite storybook character. Thankfully, Thumbelina is a storybook character or we would have to come up with another idea.

The Great Pumpkin Patch

Katie was out of school today for Columbus Day and I told her that we would do something fun for her day off. I gave her lots of suggestions to choose from: picnic in the park, shopping, go to a museum or explore a national park. As I was checking out my FB friends, I noticed where a friend took her children to the pumpkin patch this past weekend. What fun? I mentioned it to Katie and she was all for it. The problem was I've never been there. I've always known it was there, but never had the opportunity to go and didn't know how to get there. Thank goodness for GPS! If it wasn't for it, we would have been lost as a goose in high weeds.

As soon as everyone got out of bed, dressed and breakfast ate, we headed to the pumpkin patch. I knew it was going to be a trip for our crew, so I packed snacks and drinks.

On the way there, I was ready to turn down a road. Unfortunately, the road was blocked because it was being patched up and the road crew wouldn't let me turn. Ugh! One of the crew members told me that it would be 10-12 minutes before the road could be driven on. What now? I decided to go on down the road. I figured if anything, I'd go down the road a little ways and turn around and go back. That was the time, my GPS announced it was recalculating. Once I reached the next road, the GPS told me to turn down that road to get to the patch. Okay, things were looking up. The road took us straight to the patch, it just took a little longer than the other road. Man, I was glad I wasn't driving down this creepy road in the middle of the night. SPOOKY! I would guess there was forest to my left and forest to my right for a good 2-3 miles, no signs of human existance. To top it all off, Katie requested that we listen to our Halloween CD this morning. By this time, the theme music to the movie "Halloween" came on. Eerie! When I thought that was spooky enough, we soon came up on a single car tunnel to go under a train track. EECK! I told Katie to hold her breath. I started popping off jokes to Katie like "do you think we'll see Big Foot?" Katie felt like she need to calm me down by telling me there is no such thing and it will be alright. About 5 miles later, we finally arrived. Shew!

The Great Pumpkin Patch

I love this Pumpkin Patch! It is so clean and there's something for everyone. We were lucky to park very close to the entrance, so we went back and forth a lot. I would absolutely recommend this place to anyone and we will definitely be coming back.

They have everything to offer: covered wagon/tractor rides to pick your pumpkin,

pony rides

Bungee Jumping

Inflatables

Crafts

Train/Gator Rides

food, toys, and petting zoo. 

Having a little snack

They even have a stage set up by the pavilions of picnic tables. After Katie did the inflatables, she had to go potty. Expecting all dirty restrooms because they were outside, I was very surprised to see how clean they were. The pumpkins, out in the field were already picked and cleaned off. We got a beautiful pumpkin and we didn't have to search very hard. The workers were sweet and helpful with me and kids. All smiles and fun.

I got lots of pictures of the kids. Katie was biting at the bit because she wanted to go play, but she had to wait until I finished taking pictures. If you are planning to go to the patch, bring cash. To get directions, schedule and prices, CLICK HERE!  Katie and Colton had a blast! We hated to see our fun leave, but we were wiped out and we didn't get make it to the petting zoo or train ride.

Oktoberfest Celebration

Katie and I went to the opening ceremonies of our German aka Oktoberfest. Katie is up old enough to enjoy the many games that Sacred Heart Church provide. I have to say that the church has stepped it up compared to several years ago, when I would come with the nieces and nephews when they went to school here. The German Festival is the church's, which is also a private school, only big fundraiser. Katie loved the festival. We got there a little after 10:00 and left around 1:00. I was getting very tired and ready to go home. Katie on the other hand, probably would have stayed there as long as I let her. When you get there, you have to purchase tickets for all the inflatables and games. All Katie wanted to do was stay on the inflatable slide and bounce house. Right off the bat, we ran into her friend, Em. Em was in Katie's ballet class last year. The girls got to catch up a little, while we were there. I tried so hard to get her to do some of the other games. They had some nice ones like cake walk, toy walk, ball toss, duck pond, fishing, etc. I couldn't even get her to get her face painted. When she was younger, she loved getting her face painted. I guess it's not the cool thing anymore.

Katie jumping with Em

Not much to this, she only did it one time

Finally got her to do something other than the inflatables

Sacred Heart (would have been a better pic minus the phone lines - Grrr)

The steeples are very high up (tall), you can see them from a long distance.  I love it when the sun hits them just right ~ gold beams bright ~ as if God is saying "hello, I'm still here."  Ever since Katie was able to talk, she has always and still today called this church "Jesus' Church."

Early this morning, it was a little cool outside. Because we are all fighting colds around our household, I made sure to put some sleeves on Kate. Well, I think I dressed her a little too warm because once the sun made it's appearance, it got warm. As soon as I could get her to sit still long enough to get us a drink and funnel cake, I took it. We headed inside the Bingo area, grabbed a drink and cake and visited my mother, while she was enjoying the Bingo game.

Speaking of my mother, I've got great news! Since she's been home from the Nursing Home, she's been too afraid to try to drive. Since her ordeal, she got out of practice of driving and pretty much was at the mercy of others to take her places. Well, guess what? Mom has finally gotten the courage to start driving again. YAY!! She told me today that she's been going here and there without having to wait for someone to take her. I'm so proud of her and let her know how excited I was for her. To top that off, she's fit in perfectly with a fairly good size fitness group (approximately 18 people) at the gym. She's made several friends in her class and they are having a little potluck party sometime next week. She seems excited because she can't figure out what to bring. Y'all just don't know how much I'm loving hearing this out of her mouth.

After I regained my energy and cooled off, we headed for one of Katie's favorite museums, Col. Cullman Museum. I don't know why she loves this place, but she does and I practically have to drag her out of there.

Katie on the front porch of Col. Cullman Museum

Katie at the gazebo ~ she told me this was her new playhouse

Katie spies the Haystack People

My baby girl!

Katie watching the festivities continue from the gazebo

Katie directing the music playing, in the music room of the museum

I think this was her favorite room

She was wanting me to touch the cotton ~ "It's so soft mom."

Oil painting upstairs

Statue of Col. Cullman just inside the main entrance

One of the directors told us that they had some taxidermy animals upstairs, if Katie would be interested in seeing them. As we made our way up the stairs, whom should I spot right off the bat. An old portrait of my great great great grandfather, Mace Thomas Payne Brindley, up on the wall on the other end of the staircase. Wow! He was one of many first settlers in Cullman and became a Statesman. Of course, I was showing Katie his picture. Do ya think she even cared? Why NO! She just wanted to go see the animals. LOL!

Mace Thomas Payne Brindley

We saw lots of people mingling around, meeting smile after smile on this very beautiful October day.

Street Dancing at Market Place

Lots of carriage rides ~ I tried my best to get Katie to go for a ride with me.

Katie had to have her annual pic with the Haystack People

Over by the old train depot there was an antique car show, but we didn't go to it.