The ABC's of Kindergarten...

Ok, so McKenna, out of all my kids was the MOST ready to go to school. She recited her alphabet, could count, and loved to sit down with the older kids and do her "homework." But, now, I'm not so sure.

She did just turn 5 in October. If we were still in DODDS or most other states, she wouldn't have even started this year. And, she's loved going. She does her homework, and had a fine parent/teacher conference report. Yet, yesterday I received the phone call...she's not retaining her alphabet. WHAT???

I had been getting a little frustrated with her myself...I'd ask her what a letter was, and she'd be right about 1/2 the time. The really frustrating thing is she'll change which ones she knows...how does that happen? I've considered every possible explanation, including "stagefright" during assessments...maybe she's too shy...too coy...too masochistic. Her sweet teacher said it was just a heads up, but she's on a list of possibles to repeat kindergarten next year.

Of course, I'm taking it personally. I did everything with her that I did with the other kids...she didn't do a formal preschool...but I really thought she was ready...she seems ready. I know she's young, but don't know if that's the problem.

Here in Hawaii, they allow kids to start school who are turning 5 up until December 31st. They call it Jr. Kindergarten, but it is essentially the same as regular, in the same class. It just means they have a greater chance of moving up to "Kindergarten" the next year, while the older Kindergarteners go to 1st grade. McKenna falls in this category, but in name only, as she is fully still doing Kindergarten right now. And, it's not even required in this state.

Her teacher did say it was ultimately up to the parents at the end of the year to follow the teacher's recommendations or not. Like I would not hold her back if she were REALLY struggling? My Kindy teacher friend, Pam, says at her school they rarely hold a child back, but move them on, focusing on the struggling areas in the next grade. Therein lies the rub, folks...we're not at her school....or state.

Education, education...you can't pick up a Hawaiian paper and not have some article, Letter to the Editor, or critique of the educational system here. And, to make matters worse, they have run out money, so instead of laying off teachers, they added 17 furlough days into the current school year...in a state where the kids already get less instructional days than most other states. It's a hot topic of debate right now. The bottom line is there aren't any extras. There aren't any programs for reading help, like Reading 101 programs. There isn't ANY special ed type help, except in cases of extreme dysfunction. So, were she in Pam's school, she'd get more help as she progressed-- here she won't. Many do private school here, but most could cost a college tuition, and ALL are out of our price range.

So, the question I came to, is whether it's worth it for her to continue at all this year...? The selfish part of me would love to have her home with me for another year. We could go to the beach...have playdates...go for walks. I could reprise my "mom" role I've been missing every morning in this quiet house. I could work on what she's missing...that ABC sight recognition...she'd be ready next July when they start the 2010 school year.

But, for now, the practical part of me is going to take the sage advice of my mom and teaching experience of Pam: sit in on her class, hit the flashcards, play some memorization games. Pam says she should be picking it up in a couple of weeks. We'll see. If not, I'll assess it at the end of this term, take her out during winter break. I call it my Plan Beach....

So, I finally watched Twilight...

Edit: Sorry! I must have been super tired last night...I didn't mean to be so harsh, but it all just rolled out...read on with caution. I meant it, but it may be too much for those that loved the Twilight movie. Hope we're still friends!

I put it off for as long as humanly possible. But, with only 8 days until the New Moon movie comes out, I was running out of time. My friend is adamant that we are going to the theater to see it together. I wasn't so excited, but agreed to go. Would you believe I've never seen Twilight? So, I figured I had to see "movie one" before seeing "movie two".

Unfortunately, I found it horrible! If you truly loved the movie, I'm sorry. I don't mean to offend, this is just my opinion...but I think an educated opinion. I read the entire Twilight series, plus I'm fully entertained by a vampire story, currently reading others vampire series'. I really wanted this to work.

When I read them, I thought the first book was slow and very high school, and the movie followed right along. I can't believe it was so obviously low budget. What's with that sparkle? That's the best effects they could come up with? My favorite part is when they introduce James's group of vampires. It was my favorite part of the book, too.

The real problem, I have to say for me, was it was the most horribly cast movie. The only characters that I felt worked were the tribe, Charlie, and Emmet. Besides James and crew, he was the only believable vampire for me. Even the high schoolers seemed like they were picked- up-off-the-street actors. Jasper....really? He looks like someone did a bad facelift and raised his eyelids too high. And Dr. Cullen looked so fake...the blonde wasn't becoming at all. I'm really hoping Edward gets some real depth in the next one...I just didn't feel "vampire" from him.

Having said all that, though. The fight scene at the dance studio had to be the highlight of the movie for me...just as exciting as written and exactly as I had imagined. So, my friend, Leslie, says not to count it out...that New Moon will be bigger and better...and I sure hope so! While the first half of that book about turned me off for good, the last half was well worth it. If they don't spend too much time on that dragging beginning, it may just be enjoyable. Possibly fabulous. When they introduce the Volturi, it finally turned for me. That story line is what made me overlook the things I didn't like and really love the series.

And, if this preview is any indication, Leslie may be right. The casting looks better for the new characters and the effects with the wolves look promising. We'll see...

Hawaiian Halloween

With all of this warm weather, it's very difficult for me to get into the spirit of these holidays coming up that we've spent our whole lives associating with cooler weather. It's barely dropping to 87 and 86 degrees this week...still so hot. On the one hand, it was fun to really decorate our porch for Halloween this year, but on the other hand difficult to do with sweat running down my forehead.

We had the annual Trunk or Treat at church last week, which gives the kids an additional option for costumes. For that, they were an indian, a black belt (big stretch, Sabrina), and the cutest little witch...McKenna did a great job keeping the wig on. Sabrina wore that same costume at her age and it only lasted 5 minutes, and that was in the cold of Colorado. It was actually harder to come up with costumes the kids wouldn't be sweating in. They usually ended us sweating indoors as it was, and now they would broil outdoors...But these worked ok.

This was also the first year we've taken them all to the pumpkin patch. It was pretty large...albeit hot as heck walking through the rows picking pumpkins. We also picked our own yummy corn.

Then, for Halloween, they were a renaissance maiden, a knight, and a clown. The cutest clown ever! If I may say so...Sabrina took McKenna around the neighborhood here on base, and Hayden went out with a couple of his friends. It was hard letting them go by themselves, but it solved the problem of who was going to stay home and hand out candy. It's always a leap of faith to trust Dennis to do it...he always threatened to give it all to the first 3 kids and turn off the porch light. Plus, when they were younger, it was more fun for me to watch them at the door and the reactions. Now that they are growing up, watching them go door-to-door is losing some charm.
So, I sat home, with Dennis studying for his next promotion test, watching my recordings of Criminal Minds and CSI:NY in between door bells. We didn't have near the amount of kids I thought we would have, though. I noticed that neighbors were sitting in their driveways and porches on chairs handing out candy. They seemed to be getting more action. Since when did kids stop knocking on doors? Have I been overseas too long?

Now I'm stuck with more packages of Lik'em sticks than I care to have. On top of the gallon ziplock each of my children have of their own candy. We never had this much candy in Germany. And, when I was a kid, it seemed all the good stuff was gone in a week and the rest was there til you tossed it after New Years. Now, it all seems like good stuff....what are we going to do with all that candy? In the past, it would have ended up on my desk at work...I'd notice the real estate agents stopping to chat a little more often...voila! Gone before Thanksgiving...but not now that I'm staying at home...and now with a cheating diabetic daughter in the house. It's gonna be a little tougher this year.

Pretty Princess Party!

I'm being told I've not been a good girl about updating my blog...seems to have been a busy month...birthdays, beach days, furlough days, soccer games and halloween parties. I should have put up this post a couple of weeks ago, so here it goes...

McKENNA TURNS FIVE!

Yes, my baby is now 5. Officially a kindergartener, loves her princess and little miss socialite...it's such a turning point...that 5th birthday. I guess I can always call her my baby, but she really isn't anymore, is she?

To mark these milestones, we give the kids big "friend" parties for the biggie birthdays, 5, 8, 12, 16...So, for this one, I wanted to do something to capitalize on the Hawaii angle...you know, at the beach, or a hula party or something. I mean how many birthdays will she be able to celebrate at the beach, being October and all.... But, No.Way. She would have nothing other than a princess party. I was able to squeeze a pool in there, but for the most part, it was pink and princesses all the way.

Early in the week, I knew for me it was going to be about the cake...so armed with some ideas, and McKenna looking over my shoulder, I researched some pretty cool, pretty pink, castle cakes. Some with turrets, some with dolls, some with drawbridges. I printed some ideas, combined some features, and after 2 days of working on it...this is what I came up with.

Dennis kept looking at the ideas and progress and said, "you're really going to do that?" And, McKenna would stop him with "It's pretty daddy!" So, I know she loved it...which made the work worth it.
For the party, McKenna greeted her guests as Cinderella. The girls played dress up and "Pin the Princess on the Castle", rocked a princess pinata, and played in the pool. After cake, presents, and shaved ice...the girls left with tiaras and lip gloss in their goody bags. It was a lot of fun, the girls were great, and she was able to enjoy some friends in the neighborhood.

Her actual birthday was on the 13th, the next day. Which was a school day and all, so we went to dinner. We also let the kids pick where they want to eat for their birthday dinner. Her answer? The.Bowling.Alley. It happens, that on occassion, I can be in the mood for some bowling alley food. But this bowling alley isn't very good. Even the other kids were trying to talk her out of it. I offered McDonalds, pizza, anywhere else...not a chance. Dennis even pretended to drive into Burger King along the way, and she nearly started crying. So, bowling alley it was...a delectable meal of top ramen and soft pretzel. Ick...

Afterwards we came home and gave her our gifts to her...a pretty snow white dress-up, cards from grandparents, and a dollhouse that she loves so far.

So, happy 5th birthday, baby...enjoy!