Apples

Kyle learned all about apples last week at school. He learned that yellow apples were his favorite because they were so juicy. Green apples were his least favorite because they were "too salty."  His favorite activity of all was making homemade applesauce.

I'm so glad he's having fun at school!

Child of God

Kyle got to participate in another Primary program at church on Sunday. Since the last major post about this boy had a negative vibe, I wanted to share something sweet about Kyle Coop.  He was very nervous about his speaking part, but told me he knew he could do it if I could see him. His part was, "Jesus Christ is the savior of our world," and he did a great job.  He also told me that he was going to try his best to sing all the songs, even if he didn't know all the words.  "Make sure you watch me, okay, mom?"  I'm very proud that Kyle does have a desire to do good things. 

Delta Machine

We were able to see one of our favorite bands, Depeche Mode, play a few nights ago.  Our seats were great for me, and I got to sit the whole time because the people in front of me weren't there, and the people in the row in front of them sat the whole time.  Sweet deal!!

Here's the great setlist:

1. Welcome to My World
2. Angel
3. Walking in My Shoes
4. Precious
5. Black Celebration
6. Policy of Truth
7. Should Be Higher
8. Barrel of a Gun
9. The Child Inside
10. But Not Tonight
    (Acoustic; Sung by Martin)
11. Heaven
12. Soothe My Soul
13. A Pain That I'm Used To
    ('Jacques Lu Cont's Remix' version)
14. A Question of Time
15. Enjoy the Silence
16. Personal Jesus
    Encore:
17. Home
    (Acoustic)
18. Halo
    ('Goldfrapp Remix' version)
19. Just Can't Get Enough
20. I Feel You
21. Never Let Me Down Again
    
    
    
    
    We had a great time!  

Pants on Fire

First, let's start with the good news.  Kyle's school backpack FINALLY came in, only nearly 2 weeks into the school year.  {It was on back order because, APPARENTLY, if you want to order a personalized backpack from a certain store, you must plan it out MONTHS before the school year begins, not just weeks.}  I think Kyle is really excited to have his new back pack and not have to take his old, "baby," preschool one anymore.  Now, if he could just get a new lunchbox.....


Oh, and Kyle's wearing PJs in these pictures because his school reached the point in their fund raiser pledges that they'd earned a pajama day.

Speaking of fundraisers.....

Kyle goes to a brand, new school, which means everything is new, but often there aren't all the "things" that older, more established schools have and have been collecting every year.  To compensate, the school's first fundraiser went out practically at Meet the Teacher night.  It was a Boosterthon, where the kids raised money through pledges for running at a fun run.  We are not big on banging down people's doors for fundraising, so we asked the grandparents and we pledged.  Kyle actually got most of the prizes that he wanted, which I was actually pretty impressed with because they weren't just a bunch of dollar store crap.  {Did I just say that out loud?}  Kyle also came home with an official t-shirt for the big fun run, with a place on the back to record the number of laps he ran. 

On the day of the big race, Kyle was excited.  He got all official in his "real" running shoes and sport shorts and headed off.  I wasn't able to attend the race and cheer him on, since I had a date with the cardiologist, but I told him to have fun and do his best. 

When he got home from school, his t-shirt was marked off to 31 laps, but the place at the bottom to fill in the blank of "I ran ______ laps today." was still empty.  So, I asked Kyle, "Did you run 31 laps?"  He said, "No.  I ran all of them, but they forgot to mark off the rest."  I responded, "Really?  Why would they mark off 31 and then not do the rest."  In my mind, either story could make sense at this point since there was no time taken to actually write a three and a one on the blank line, and I know there were about a million t-shirts to be marking, and sometimes when everyone is finishing at the same time and crowding the teachers, someone's shirt might not get marked.  But, maybe Kyle just REALLY wanted to get "the golden trophy" and do ALL THE LAPS and didn't want to tell me that he didn't finish them all.  I let it go at that, just figuring that when the collection envelope came around, I'd know if I owed money for 31 laps or 35. 

Later that day, we received the weekly recorded call from the principal, reporting on the week.  She announced that the school had pledged over $90,000. {Yes, you read that correctly.  In a week?!?  I guess we are the bums of the school with our widow's mites.}  The original promise to the students was if they reached a certain dollar amount, the top pledge collectors in the school would get to slime the principal.  I don't remember that exact number needed, but I know they reached PJ day, and I assumed $90,000 was certainly worthy of some principal slime, so I asked Kyle if they got to go watch the principal get slimed.  "Yeah, mom, it was SO cool!  And, I got to slime her!!!"  Me:  "Really."  Kyle: "Yeah, there was slime in this little bucket, and I got to climb up a ladder, and I just wasn't mean, but I kinda threw it softly on her.  And, there were worms in it."  Me: "Really."  Kyle: "Yeah!"  Me:  "Kyle, how could you be one of the ones to slime the principal?  Only the kids who earned the most money got to do that."  Kyle: "They just called out, 'Kyle Cooper,' and I got to go up."  Me:  "Kyle, I KNOW you didn't earn the most money in the school.  That doesn't make sense that you would be one of the ones to get to do the slime."  Kyle:  "I did."  Me:  "Okay.  I'll call Mrs. Moon and ask how that happen."  Kyle: {face slipping.  Actually, the "Oh, $#*^" face came out. }  "Okay, mom.  It didn't really happen.  I forgot."  Me:  "You forgot, or you were making it up?"  Kyle: "I forgot!  I really just forgot!"  Me: "KYLE!?!"  Kyle:  "Okay, I was making it up."  Me:  "Kyle, that is called LYING!  I do NOT like it when you lie........blah, blah, blah."  Kyle:  "I know.  I'm sorry."  Me: "So, what about the laps.  Did you really run 35 or 31?"  Kyle:  {huge pause}  "I ran 31."

ARGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!

 I HATE lying!  I hate it more than just about anything.  And, the fact that the straight-faced told me 2 HUGE lies that didn't really matter in the grand scheme of things makes it worse.  It wasn't when faced with possibly getting in major trouble.  It wasn't to not hurt someone's feelings.  It was because he was sad about not doing all the laps and not coming in first for the sliming. 

I'm going to have to watch this one.  A Pinocchio nose could really come in handy for the next, oh, 12 years, or so.  It would be SO much less exhausting to not have to use up all my lie-detector tricks before he's made it through even the first quarter of public school!  LIAR, LIAR!

 

Maroon Out

 My hair is starting to grow back, but is still short and spiky.  I wanted to take this time to try out something crazy, like hot pink or ice blond, but after reading online, it was suggested to stick with something darker, since this fine hair doesn't take well to bleaching, and it could make it less healthy when growing in.  I also asked my oncologist about her opinion on dying hair, and she gave me the go-ahead.  {That's for you, Michele.}

I wanted something darker, but not totally boring.  Since it's football season, and I, as you know, bleed maroon, I decided to try out a deep burgundy. 


Ryan saw me like this and immediately responded, "Wow, Mom!  You look pretty!"  He's my sweet one. 

 Kyle saw me after it was done and responded, "Mom!  You're hair is growing more.  And it's RED!"

Stephen didn't respond at all, and then with, "It's okay," which means he doesn't like it.  At least it's short and can be easily changed, but for today, it's all in support of my Aggies.  Maybe I'll keep it until after we BTHO Bama.  

Preschool

 Ryan is now a preschooler!!!  He is really excited to get to go to school like Kyle.  I was lucky enough to find out that a friend is doing a preschool and had a space for Po.  It helps that it's not more personal, especially with all the unknowns going on in our family this year. 

Here's Ryan, ready to go!

 Another great blessing is that a good friend's son also attend the preschool, and my friend has been willing to pick up Ryan and bring him home while I'm unable to drive.  I think the two boys are becoming good friends in the process! 

Here they are after the first day.  It looks like they had a great time!  Ryan's favorite part of the day was singing, "Here We are Together," and he sung it again, and again, and again.......

 We got a few pics during the day of how well it was going.  There are SIX boys in the preschool, so I'm sure not all moments are as calm as this one. 

Ryan's preschool is on Tuesday and Thursday.  On the 2nd day of school, it was his turn to bring the "Secret Sack."  We had to pick something around the house that started with the letter B and give 3 clues for his classmates to guess.  He was EXTREMELY excited about keeping the secret and of showing off his "backpack" that he decorated himself. 

I'm so glad Ryan is getting the opportunity and that he loves his preschool.