The Joys of Kindergarten

How do I wrap up the first 3 months of Kindergarten into a few words? The first few that come to mind.... "I'M OVER IT", "WHEN DOES IT END?", "I DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR THIS!" This is not in a million years how I pictured Kevin's kindergarten year to go. Is life really that difficult when you're 6? Is it true that the right teacher can make all the difference in the world? Let me first start off by saying I've always supported teachers. They have a hard job and I recognize it. But this is MY baby, MY precious angel, MY kid I've worked so hard to get to the age of 6 without killing him first....things are a little different when you're in the public school system and you are dealing with the teacher one on one. Behavior Chart: Not a fan! What is it's purpose? Do we use a chart for anything else in the classroom? "Oh yay, little Johnny can read 4 words in a row, sorry little Sally, you can only read 1" Do we post that on the wall for others to see? At what point is the behavior chart an embarrassment to the kids? Do we have an end of year party for all the kids who are reading well or have mastered math or cutting? No! We have a party for the kids who have managed to keep their color on green all 9 weeks. For some kids that's a walk in the park. For others it's impossible. Do we think about those kids when all the "good" kids are having a party during school hours and you are forced to sit in a room with all the "bad" kids? Have an academic party and my kid will be invited to every one! Have a conduct party and not in his wildest dreams could he be invited. What message does that send our kids? I am a firm believe that when you speak life and truth into kids, they hold on to that truth their entire life. This is his first year of school. His first experience EVER of how this whole school thing works and this is the message being sent home every day...."I'm not good enough". Reward him for being at a level 18 in his reading when others in his class are at a 3. Reward him for understanding the concept of a solid, liquid and gas at the age of 6. Reward him for knowing math skills and using them. Reward him for his ability to reason out answers and they actually make sense!! But please don't punish him because he struggles from time to time with sitting in his chair or not blurting out answers. We are sending an email to the teacher, principal and vice principal when they go back to school on Monday 12/2. If this is a teacher issue, put him in another class please! They'll both be happier. I realize I am fighting a losing battle. I'm not the first parent to put their kid in school and not be happy with the system. I'm not the first ADHD parent to struggle with their child's teacher and I know I won't be the last. But I also know that doing the same thing year after year after year just because you think it works, doesn't make it right! Kevin can't advocate for himself and as his mom I feel it's my job to at least say something in his defense. I want him to know that regardless of what teachers say to him or about him, we know he's a good kid. We know he tries hard. We know his heart. We will continue to speak truth into his life and one day we'll look back and I can only hope and pray we are all stronger as a result.

Father's Day 2013, Eli's First Ranger Game and Surgery

June has come to an end and what an exciting month it has been!  We have spent so much time at the pool this month and the boys are having a blast.  Kevin is learning how to swim and Eli is learning his life jacket is awesome and will allow him to jump into the deep end and stay above water.  He used to be my reserved child but not to much now.  Eli attended his first Ranger game before he had surgery the next day.  Ranger game was a blast and his surgery went smoothly and his recovery has been pretty good.

Enjoy the pictures wrapping up a busy month.  Next month is even busier for us!  Kevin will attend Texas Ranger Baseball Camp the first week in July and we have VBS at Harvest the 3rd week.  Next thing we know Kevin will be gearing up to start school in August!



Papa with his boys



Me and my dad




Love these cute faces!




Awesome seats at Eli's first Ranger Game!!!




So excited to be at the game




Daddy with his boys




Eli had surgery on 6/20 to remove his adenoids and place a new set of tubes in his ears.  Here is just relaxing watching TV.




After surgery - this kid slept like crazy!!!




And just a few short hours later he was up and feeling great!



Well the decision was made NOT to move (anytime soon) and just enjoy the blessing of an affordable mortgage for a few more years.  Eli starts school in 3 years and aside from the Y's after school program, we are child care tuition free!  Ahhh....to be free from that incredible financial burden each week will be wonderful.  To make our house seem a little larger for the next few years a couple of changes had to take place.  One: remove the toys from the living room.  Two: fit two twin beds in Kevin's room and turn Eli's room into the play room.... TOTAL SUCCESS!!!

Our living room is toy free, both beds fit beautifully and the play room is awesome!  So thankful for a friend of Ben's that gave us her sons' bedroom furniture so we did not have to purchase a single thing.

Another fun accomplishment.... Kevin graduated from Kids' Place Kindergarten on 5/31.  Cannot believe he'll be in "big school" in August...just 2 short months! He was 5 months old when he started at Kids' Place.

We are enjoying the Summer already!!  We have been to the splash park 3 times already and if you're looking for us on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon...check the pool! 

Mother's Day 2013

Just a few pics to remind me why being a mom is the best job ever!  I'm so thankful for these boys.  It's hard to imagine life without them.  All those years of waiting and thinking we would never have kids and now our house is never quiet - I wouldn't have it any other way! 

Then.....



Kevin - coming home from the hospital! November 2007

  



                           

                                                     Eli - about 2 weeks old - he was so tiny! January 2011

  

The best moments...when they were sleeping



               

 



Always good in the car (when a movie is on!)



Just too sweet!





Being silly!



Helping and sharing -  a rare moment caught on camera

 

One of my favorite pictures!





Another favorite - Eli was so chunky in this picture!



Sea World 2011





Pajama Day at School



Naked boys!!!!!!!!



Vacation at the Lake - Summer 2012

 





Love the Zoo!





Memorial Day 2012

Kevin's expression is so cute!



Now......

Why buy toys?  They watched TV in this box!



That's my Eli - always making us laugh





Sweet brothers at lunch



 

School pictures!




Such a sweetheart!




Heading to school - always playing with the ipad!




When they crash, they crash hard....and in my bed!




Loves riding in daddy's truck - he is "driving"











 



A hard goodbye

9/11/06 - what was I doing?  I was working in a small pediatric surgery clinic sitting next to a girl I had only met once in an interview a few days earlier.  A girl, who in the interview (with a growling stomach), amazed me...there are no other words.  Something about her just hit me and I had to hire her.  Best decision I've ever made!  She was a God-send to say the least. That girl is now my very dear friend Elizabeth.

It was around this time in my life that Ben and I were trying to get pregnant.  We were doing testing and meeting with doctors left and right.  Elizabeth was a great listener and I always felt comfortable sharing with her.  Months would pass and on a very cold ski trip to Colorado I would find out I was pregnant with Kevin.  Some staffing changes took place in the office and it was during this transition that Elizabeth and I talked more, worked together more and realized how much we had in common.  Both were married, no kids and our dogs were our kids!

Like the scene from Forrest Gump when he says "You know it's funny what a young man recollects? 'Cause I don't remember bein' born. I don't recall what I got for my first Christmas and I don't know when I went on my first outdoor picnic. But I do remember the first time I heard the sweetest voice in the wide world."

I don't recall the moment we became inseparable....I don't recall our first lunch....or our first laugh so hard we could pee our pants moment - I feel like we've been friends forever.  We often would joke "man, if we went to school together we would have gotten in so much trouble". 

FYI: it's not only the husbands that gain weight when you're pregnant, your bestie gains weight too!  Elizabeth and I ate like there was no tomorrow.  Pasta was our favorite.  God bless Cook Children's for having an ICEE machine in the cafeteria - we drank the heck out of those suckers all summer!  LIFE WAS GOOD! 

I remember leaving the office the Friday before Kevin was born and I was so sad that I wouldn't get to see Elizabeth for 8 long weeks.  How would we survive without our daily talks and laughs?  Elizabeth visited me in the hospital when Kevin was born and I was so happy to see her!  I returned to work the Monday after New Years' to find out she was pregnant!  What an awesome day!!!!!!!!!  I loved her being pregnant and experiencing all the things I had just experienced. 

When I found out I was pregnant with Eli I couldn't wait to get to work to tell Elizabeth.  I walked right in, looked at her and said "come here" (I'm bossy like that)!  She has always been the person I wanted to share my exciting moments with. 

She's also the person I want to cry and laugh with!  We've had our share of both over the years.  I was on the receiving end of the phone when Elizabeth found out the precious baby she was pregnant with was in heaven.  We weren't together for me to hug her and tell her how sorry I was.  I had no words for my dear friend.  She is one of the strongest people I know. 

Elizabeth has had more "I told you so" moments in our 6 1/2 year friendship than I can count.  She knew both times I was pregnant with boys, she knew I was pregnant with Eli when I didn't and she knew I was in labor with Eli when I didn't too!  I'm sure there are many more that I can't recall right now!

We've had the pull out your hair moments with work situations and times when we literally felt we were the only 2 people who had a clue what was going on!  We vowed to always work together unless we both left and the only reason for that was to open a snow cone stand/daycare. 

So here we are - April 2013 - I'm in a new office and Elizabeth is leaving to pursue a career near her house.  I'm here with all the memories of our 6+ years together at Cook.  It's pure torture I tell ya!  I'm remembering Cook picnics, Jingle Mingles, ALL the many lunches we've shared together, Starbucks on a sleepy day (or any day for that matter!), lunches outside on a nice day - have you noticed all my memories include food?  Yeah, that's how we roll! 

Elizabeth:  Thank you.  Thank you for being such an amazing friend.  God put us together for a reason and looking back I am now more aware of those reasons.  I couldn't have survived this time in my life without you.  You've been a great listener, a shoulder to cry on, an excellent eating partner and someone that I am free to be myself around.  People don't get us - we know that - but we're 2 pretty amazing girls if I must say so myself.  I'll never look at Christmas decorations the same this year and YES I promise to touch something in the Atrium this year - just for you : ) I know this isn't goodbye forever... just a sad goodbye that I won't get to see you every day.  Good luck in your job, it was made for you and I know you'll do amazing!!  I love you sister!

Busy few months in the Sasser house

So much has happened since my last post in February -

First big and exciting news - Ben's work schedule has changed.  He is working deep nights (not so great) but is off Friday and Saturday (yay!!!) and can go to church with us on Sundays now!  We are super excited about that and it's been a nice change.

Next big and exciting news - I have a new job!!  I started as the Practice Manger in the ENT clinic at Cook on 3/25.  I am loving it. Aside from learning the clinic terminology - it's been a very easy transition.  I have a wonderful doctor that I work for now - he is very calm (most days) and very very nice.  Such a drastic change from working for general surgery.

And lastly - we FINALLY joined Harvest after 9 months of visiting.  So nice to have a church we can call home and be a part of its ministry.

I'll end this with some updated pics of the boys who are growing like crazy.  Kevin is about 6 weeks away from finishing up the Kindergarten program at Kids' Place and will be starting at Saginaw Elementary in the Fall.  My baby is going to be in big school *sigh*.  Eli is talking like crazy!  Like full sentences talking.  His favorite things to say "mama what you doing?", "what?", "wook more trucks, mama wook, more trucks" (God bless all the construction on our way home!), "he hit me", "he pushed me", "i need a cup of juice", "where's my blanket?", "where daddy go?", "where kevin go?" and my favorite still "mommy i hold you".



Ranger's opening home game 4/5/13



My handsome little man

Easter Egg Hunt at Harvest

"Wook" my all my eggs!



A rare mama and Eli picture!




Being silly! Eli trying to act just like his brother



Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo 2013

Our annual trip the Stock Show.... The boys had a blast and the weather was perfect! Can't beat 75 degrees in February.  Enjoy the pictures!!!



Brothers!



Go the stockshow and find a Ranger's booth - Kevin was thrilled!

Our left handed thrower!





Brothers annoying each other

Eli loved riding the horse

He looks so big on the horse this year!

"let me know if he's about to eat me, mom!"

"whatcha doing?"

This child could live on a farm!

Took him 15 mins but he made it to the end

Yay Eli!

Super fast slide - Kevin's favorite

"not too sure about this...."



Woo hoo - go Kevin!