Stonegate Elementary Spelling Bee

On Thursday, I was in my school’s 3rd & 4th grade spelling bee.  I was really nervous when I was in my classroom, but when I got down to the cafeteria, where the spelling bee was  going to take place, I wasn’t as nervous.

(I'm in the second row right behind the left microphone.) 

I went onto the stage with all the other spellers (20 kids) and we all got introduced.  When it was my turn to spell, I was almost shaking, I was so nervous!  But I walked up to the microphone and was surprised at my word, which was intermission, a word I already knew how to spell. 

    I kept spelling my words right shingles, sabbath, cathedral, and disapprove, and wasn’t as nervous.  I got to the 6th  round and was the only 3rd grader left with four other 4th graders.  I got out then, with the word grenade.  They had actually skipped someone else so I didn’t even get the word that I was supposed to spell.  I would've gotten my actual word right, but that's o.k.  My mom said that I was the best speller in the third grade, and it might be true.   I am glad I got to participate in the spelling bee!!

 

P.S.  Mommy felt almost as nervous as Makenna.  I have never had my legs turn to jello feeling nervous for someone else.  I am extremely proud of Makenna for facing her fears and enjoying her experience despite the nerves.  (She didn't mention that the entire school of 650 students was watching via video simulcast in the classrooms!)  I've been boasting for days about how well my little girl did.  Yea, Makenna!!

I WAS HERE

Do you remember learning to write your name?  I don't, but I remember my kids learning to write theirs.  My memories stem mainly from the work it took to remove the graffiti from our bedspreads and walls.

 

 

We see graffiti all over our world - walls in public places, scratched on tree trunks in a national park, doodled on a desk in a classroom.  Humans have a need to be recognized and to mark their territory in some way.  Perhaps that's why we blog, tweet and post on facebook . . .

Alia is joining us in the ranks of the proud, the literate, and those that will never be forgotten.  Recently we have been finding her name on our bathroom wall, on random papers strewn about the house, 

 

and made out of blocks in the playroom.

This is one of the things that makes it fun to be a mommy and one of the reasons I love being a reading teacher/literacy coach.  I love seeing the emerging literacy skills and knowledge that our youngest children are just beginning to grasp.  Their excitement is contagious, even if you sometimes have to wash it out or paint over it.

By the way, I was interrupted in the writing of this post by Alia's exclamation, "Mommy!!  I went poo poo in the potty!!  Come and see my poo poo!"  Linnea is embarrassed that I'd write about defecation on our blog, but this is our family and this is my life day to day.  I never want to forget what it is like when this time is over, and I know that kids soon grow up and it's easy to forget.

Take Pride in the Potty

READERS with WEAK STOMACHS BEWARE . . .

A first word, a first step, learning to ride a bike, a first date.  These are all milestones, but to a 2 or 3 year old, there are few things as exciting as when she first masters the art of going poo poo in the potty.  Some may not find this "Blog-Worthy", but Dave and I have shared this excitement with each of our girls at or around this age.  It may make us seem a bit odd, but we even have documentation and even songs to commemorate the occasion.

With our first child, Linnea, we documented it with a photo taken at the Scarlet's in North Carolina!  Happy Thanksgiving one and all!

With Makenna, it was a photo taken in Glacier.  I find it funny that there is so much TP, you can't even see her pride and joy.

 

Then there is Alia . . . one would think the excitement would wane with the 3rd child, but not so.  I feel that with the 3rd child there is increased excitement and even relief due to the fact that potty training is finally coming to an end.

 To all who are potty training, have potty trained a child in the past, or who are potty trained, I salute you!  Congratulations! (And I hope I haven't scared you away from our blog forever.)