Update

Colin has been doing MUCH better in school. He had good days every day last week and earned his toys back as a result. He moved to the new classrom this week and has been doing great. Yesterday and today were both "thumbs up" days according to the new teacher, and she's had good things to say about him when we pick him up. So...so far so good.

Snowball

Honest to goodness story as told by Colin this evening...

Colin: "I saw a creeper in the darkness behind me in the big, big, cave."

Me: "You saw a creeper? What's a creeper?"

Colin: "You know, like in the Cadillac song." (Launches into a rousing chorus of "Beep Beep" by the Playmates.) (I have no idea where he got a creeper from the song)

Me: "When were you in a cave?"

Colin: "The big, big, cave with the darkness. Windwagon Smith was there and saved me from the bear." (Windwagon Smith is the central character in our town's annual festival which happens to be going on this week)

Me: "Where did the bear come from? What about the creeper?"

Colin: "Mom (said with lots of frustration), the bear came from the darkness, and Windwagon Smith saved me. And then I had a flashlight from Kaleb's van."

Me: "So you were in a big, big, cave...in the darkness...with a creeper...and a bear...and a flashlight from Kaleb's van...and Windwagon Smith saved you?"

Colin: "Yeah, and the baby bear was my friend. Little bears like me and be my friend."

Me: "Where did the little bear come from?"

Colin: (sighs heavily, and rolls his eyes) "MOM...I told you. I was in the cave with the darkness."

Me: "Colin, are you telling a story?"

Colin: "No. I'm telling you the truth."

Me: "I think you're telling a story."

Colin: "Yeah, I'm telling a story."

Knight in Shining Armor

What mom could ask for more??

My Guy

Ain't he cute??

The Mommy Shoes

Daddy wasn't too happy about this, but oh well...

Beating a dead horse

Sorry for not having much to say lately. Colin has still been having a rough time at school. With the exception of Friday, every day has been not so good. There must have been some kind of cosmic alignment on Friday or something, because he did a complete 180 and had a great day.

We had a conference with the director of his school last week, and she was very reassuring to us that we're doing the right things with him at home to get him through this. It's just going to take time to sink in and start working. She did express a consern, though, that if things don't start to improve that we may think about switching him to another classroom. She feels it would be best to separate Colin and another little boy. We're going to see how the rest of this week goes and then talk about doing the move. Scott and I are okay with that decision. We know the teacher that he would be transferring to and like her very much. She also really likes Colin, so that would make the transition alot easier I think.

I do have some other posts to make. I'll try to get to those tonight.

Marginally Better...I Can Live With That

Colin's day at school on Monday was, unfortunately, alot like last week. Yesterday, though, a little ray of hope emerged. The report we got from his teacher was that the morning wasn't so great, but at nap time he laid right down, took a good nap, and was good for the rest of the day.

I can live with that.

C.H.A.O.S.

The weather for Colin's soccer game was vastly improved over the last time. It was still a little chilly, though. This week's game was apparantly the Jayhawks vs. the Jayhawks. (there are just a few KU fans around here, LOL) It got a little confusing a couple of times trying to figure out which Jayhawks people were yelling for. Other than that, it was a great game. I did manage to get about 1/4 of the game on video. Here's just a little sampling (Colin the one in black sweat pants & a red hoodie w/the hood up):

Glad the Week is Over

Colin didn't fare any better in school on Friday that he had the rest of the week. I was, however, finally able to speak directly with his teacher (the director who's subbing for his regular teacher) about what's been going on. She said that she's having the same problems with about 1/2 the class so it's not just Colin. She also said that she is going to have a long talk with the regular teacher when she gets back. Her feeling is that the regular teacher is MUCH more lenient with the kids than she is. Which isn't fair to the kids because they don't learn how they are supposed to act, and it's also not fair for someone coming in to sub for her either. So, they're going to work on things at school & we're going to work on things at home and hopefully we'll get him all straightened out sooner rather than later.

That's my boy!

Note No. 2

Today's note:

"Colin had another hard day! It was much of the same! He will not mind. He had problems @ circle time, snack & lunch time & then after nap. When he is asked to do something he either ignores or does the opposite! Ex: after nap he was asked to sit down and put his shoes on. Instead he and another boy were running around the room and rolling all over each other. I finally sent him to time out in the kitchen. He was asked to go to time out for not going to the table for class time. The whole time he sat there he would not sit in his chair, he was all over it, but the right way to sit in it. He really needs to work on his listening skills & doing what is asked of him. He also thinks it's funny to be in time out because he is always laughing & smiling about having to be there. He didn't even get to finish his class time project this morning because he was not minding & messing around! Thank you, D."

This sucks.

Not a great day to be a parent

Note I got from Colin's teacher yesterday (the school director is filling in for Colin's regular teacher who is out this week):

"Colin has had a very hard time minding & listening to me today & yesterday! I think some of it is a difference in teaching styles. But, I am not being unrealistic in my expectations of him just even following the simplest of instructions. For example today when lining up for snack he thought he would just hop around the room instead! Then at snack he kept playing with his snack. This is just an example. He was in time out several times & actually had to miss most of his a.m. play time because he would just not mind! Lunch was very similar also! Please have a talk with him & discipline him somehow tonight @ home! It would be greatly appreciated if you would do this! I am trying a new approach tomorrow & hopefully we will all have a better day! Thank you for all your help! D."

If you hear a thumping noise don't worry. That's just me banging my head against the wall.

They grow up so fast...

My 3-year old is already shaving...

Colin got a pretend shaving kit from Scott's aunt & uncle for easter. It was great timing, too. Lately, he's really been obsessed with watching Scott shave. The kit came with shaving cream soap, a razor, a brush, a comb, and a mirror. He had the best time shaving in the bath tub last night.

Thank you Easter Bunny!

The Easter bunny was a busy fellow this past weekend. Not only did he make a stop at our house, but he also stopped at Scott's mom & dad's house, Scott's aunts' houses, and Scott's cousin's house for Colin. Rumor has it that he also stopped at my mom & dad's house too. Oy!

Joe Cool

Our Weekend Project

We got Colin a twin bed last weekend. He was quickly outgrowing the little toddler bed he was in. So, we bought a set of mattresses, a bed frame, a headboard, and voila...

I even made him some new curtains to match his new decor...

Scott's mom made the quilt for him. Saturday afternoon, I put him down for his nap in our bedroom and got most of the cleaning and re-arranging done in his room. When he woke up he was very excited to see the progress I had made. When Scott got home from work, we set up the bed frame, put the mattresses on, and then made the bed. I didn't get the curtains done until after Colin had gone to bed on Saturday night, so those didn't get hung up until Sunday morning. Saturday night as I was getting Colin ready for bed, he asked if he was going to sleep in his "big, huge bed." I had to giggle a little bit as I told him yes.

I Lied

I apologize. I am also horribly late in posting this. Big surprise, no?

I took absolutely zero video at Colin's soccer game on Saturday. It was just too freakin' cold and M-I-S-E-R-A-B-L-E. Oh yeah, and windy as all heck too. So, I'm sorry to say, the video camera was the farthest thing from my mind as I was fighting to keep Colin warm while he wasn't playing and fighting to keep myself from running onto the field and putting his hat & hood back on while he was playing.

The good news is that our Jayhawks won...I think. They don't really keep track of points, but by my count we outscored the other team by at least a couple of goals. The bad news is that Colin ran a fever and felt like doo doo all day on Sunday. Let's just say my confidence in my parenting skills wasn't at an all-time high on Sunday. But, he's feeling better now and is ready and rearin' to go for practice tonight.

There are no games this weekend because of Easter. We'll be out of town next weekend, so he won't play his next game until April 5th. Let's hope for better weather. :o)