Anything But Gray

So there isn't anything spectacular or even really noteworthy to report. But I thought I'd just throw some going on's out there for you.

The kids are doing great. School is good for them both. We have their teacher conferences tonight and I am excited to talk to their teachers. Jaime scored really low on her reading at the beginning of the year and we've been really working with her to improve and I'm curious to see if any improvement has been noted. I am not worried or upset about her reading, in the slightest. I want her to improve, no doubt…she'll have a really tough time as she gets into the upper grades if she doesn't get her reading to a high level but that is the only concern. She's a fantastic speller, she loves writing her "books", she's very creative with her stories and follows a structure….(beginning, middle, end) she comprehends what she reads most times….the girl is just a slow thinker. Just like Zak. I know she will be fine and my only concern for her is that she is reading at a level that will make it easy for her to keep up with her work.
Socially…she is good. She isn't talking about many kids from school or wanting to have play dates or anything like that. Which I was hoping she would grow out of her shell a bit this year, but so far no. And she's not unhappy and she is well liked ….she just isn't hmmm…i'm not sure how to explain this. She's just Jaime. The girl has never met a stranger but when it comes to her peers…she is a bit timid. It's surprising, to say the least. But as long as she's happy, I try not to push her. I give her a little nudge, here and there by making a little phone book with her and suggesting she gets a couple of classmates phone numbers and invite them over…but nothing major. She plays with all the kids in the neighborhood and is quite content with that. All in all she is great.

Ben is good. He is doing great in school and he likes going. He is doing well, academically. He practices his sight words while the girls (Jaime and Gabby) do their homework and he LOVES having "homework". He has a notebook and I practice his sight words with flash cards with him and then have him try to write them in the notebook. Or he practices writing numbers in there. He loves it! I think it makes him feel like the older kids to have "homework". It's cute.  He talks about the kids at school and really enjoys it, so that is good. He is a super meticulous writer….his fine motor skills are fantastic. And he's getting smarter and smarter. Just coming up with the funniest things. He's as obnoxious, loud, crazy and stubborn as ever….and I am so madly in love with this boy it's not even funny. He's still crawling into our bed with us a lot of nights even though he loves his new (ish) bed. I think he just loves us more and I'm okay with that! LOL

Zak is busy at work and has lots of "potential" clients. This is good! He had one buyer that was in an accepted offer, not happen after all. That kind of sucked. Well, really sucked….but he got a different buyer into a deal within a week of the first deal falling through. Which is good. But the paycheck will be half of what we would have seen. No fun. And super crappy timing. Right before Christmas….seriously? Another super tight Christmas for us.  Which is okay with us, at least we are in good company….

I am good. My Etsy shop is doing okay and I am excited about that. There are a couple of things I am really, REALLY excited about with my shop and I'll explain more about them when it's ready to roll….but I'm really keeping my fingers crossed for big things…well, big to ME. We'll see…..

When the kids get home today, they won't have school for the rest of the week and I am actually looking forward to spending some time with them. Isn't it funny what a little separation does for people?  Absence really does make the heart grow fonder!!! LOL  Anyway, I can't wait for them to be home with me…..we're gonna have a blast!!!!!