halloween cruise/ Magic: October 28th-nov..4th 2006

[Princess Olivia]

The Pez would make fantastic stocking stuffers. Actually the whole set together would make a cool present for a Star Wars buff. I got the best thing in the mail yesterday! Free samples I ordered form Dale and Thomas popcorn. Oh My goodness! You must go to the web site and order some. I heard of it because it's on Oprah's favorite list. The sample bags they sent are milk chocolate drizzled in white chocolate, and Peanut Butter with white chocolate drizzle. Sinful! I am going to order these as teacher gifts for X-mas. I swear it's heavenly popcorn and they have a ton of flavors.

Had my hair done today. I have a love hate relationship with my hairdresser. My hair was 4 inches past my shoulders. She cut 3 inches off! I said only take a little off. I have been trying to grow my hair long again for 2 years ( it was way past my bra strap when I had Cam, but I looked like a teen mother so I cut it to a cute bob and wore it like that for a few years). I also had a foil. It cost me $133. Craig is going to scream! I didn't think it would be that much but she talked me into styling it with hot rollers, I think that boosted the price.

Olivia has her dance Halloween party today. She needs to transform into Elle pretty quick seeing that her bus get's here at 3:35 and dance starts at 4:00. Can't wait for the panic to set in and have complete chaos for 1/2 an hour!

 

[kritter]

The pez thingis cool I am going to have to look around and see if I can gethme for Bruce's stocking...that would be cool.. and he would really really love it....

WOW about your hair I have had hair dressers do that to me and I hate it...I am going to try for the first time in Nov...to get my hair colored and it is going to cost about the same bruce is not going to be tooooo happy...But I think I wanted to try something different...so I am going to go for it...what exactly is the foil I have heard of it but not really sure what it is...Anything you want to do to your hair is soooo much money..it really stinks...but I have found a few random grey hairs and it is freaking me out..I feel like I am too young for this to be happening....It really stinks to get old..

It is soo cold her today that I can not take it another minute...

Olivia must have had fun...how was the crazy half hour...hetic?? Tomorrow the twins are starting this preschool playtime and they need to be thre at nine in the morning and cosidering we are all used to lounging around till eight thirty or so I am going ot have my work cut out for me tomorrow morning..My intent was to have them to bed early and that is not panning out right now...
I am soo excited to have some time to myself tomorrow I will not know what to do..they were supposed to start at anther school in sept and they changed teachers and when I went to meet her she was yucky...I mean she did not even bend down to say hi to the kids sat in her rocking chair and was not nice at all...so i did not end up sending them there so they are going to a park and rec. program and it is run by the school system as well..so it should be fun...But I will not know what to do with two and a half hours to myself...

Only a few more days and it will be one full year till we all cruise....

Jen hope your hair looks great and that craig likes it....

tomorrow night the good shows come on...i am bummed since I am meeting friends for drinks and appetizers so I will miss some of survivor..but I have it Tivo already..so I can save time and get the commericals to go away..which will make it nice..

talk to you all later..

 

[Princess Olivia]

Kristin- Are you telling me you have virgin hair? Never colored? Wow! I foiled (it's just blond highlights but it really brightens your hair) mine for the first time after Olivia was born. My hair turned almost brown during my pregnancy it was so awful on me. What exactly are you going to do to yours?

You will LOVE the free time. Enjoy....shop, get a mani and a pedi, go out to eat, do what ever your heart desires and know that you deserve the break. It's guilt free because the girls will be getting learning time and time to interact with other children which I hear can be especially good for twins. I'm glad you found a better teacher, you want their first formal learning experience to be a good one.

Olivia had a melt down when she got home. Too much sugar added with a bit of over tiredness and homework. In bed now so hopefully she'll recover before her 3/4 mile pumpkin trot run in the a.m.

One more thing. Jim from DVC called and I told him you told me a bit about it. If I give him your info (if I decide to do it) we would both get some benefits I guess. I'll let you know after I get the next package of info.

 

[kritter]

I am telling you that I have virgin hair..It was sooo blonde before I had the twins....Now it is darker by the day except when I am out in the sun..more dirty blonde..so I am going to go back to more blonde...just for the winter months...then in the summer I will let the pool and sun take care of it....It is going ot cost a fortune though....I amhoping it will come out good....nervous and it takes sooo long to get it done I am told...

Too bad for Olivia..that seems to happen when they are too sugared up..that happened monday to the twins after their halloween party....

I am hoping that they will do well tomorrow..Hope does not want to go she keeps telling me..I cleaned my whole house today so that I can come home and enjoy the quite time..I will not know what to do......Hoping that they do not call me and tell me that they are screaming at the top of their lungs....
I really like the teacher and know it will be great for them...playgroups, etc.. are just not enough any more..Hanna got in trouble in dance class on tues.. for not listening and the teacher put her in time out...and they did not tell me when I picked them up the twins or the teacher..they waited till bruce got home last night and told him and hanna told me that she cried in front of the other kids and that they all laughed and then hope told the teacher to be nice to my sister.and then the teacher took her out of time out..When I asked hanna what she did she told me I was dancing around the room and not listening to the teacher....I wish the teacher had told me..But I feel sooo bad for poor hanna but think it is funny how hope stood up for her sister...
I will let you know how it goes....tomorrow.....
all is quite now off to watch lost now.....

 

[kritter]

Jen ooooh I forgot let me know what you decide about dvc and then I will give you my info..did you know htey are offering a new incentive i think it is 15% off if you get a referral from someone who is already in..I will look at what I just got in the mail and let you know....

 

[buckifan]

kritter,
how was your "free" morning?

 

[kritter]

You are too funny,.,,I was just going to post about it...
I got soooooo much done in such a short amount of time..I could not believe it..Then my parents and I took the girls out to lunch to celebrate..It was soo fun...
I got my house totally picked up and all of the laundry put away and the dishwasher unloaded could not believe how much you can do with out the kids at home..Oh yes and I steam cleaned the living room and the stairs carpets..It was nice...

The kids had a great time and are excited to go back again...I can not wait till next week either....
How is your day going..??

It is freezing here and I finally turned on the heat...I hate the cold and wish that we were leaving for the cruise this ocotober instead of a year from now...


So the count down has begun soon it will be less than a year away...

I have to really start buckling down for the christmas gifts..I am going to sit this afternoon and make a list of who I need to buy for etc..I have already started working on my christmas card.. I am making it on the computer this year....I like to send them out the day after thanksgiving..I like to be the first one out..then I feel like it is done.....

Ok enough for now... I am going out with friends for dinner and drinks well appetizers...so I am really having "free"time today....
I am bummed I will miss all of the shows tonight though....

Hope you had a great day...
Kristin

 

[kritter]

bump!! we had fallen to page two....hope this helps..

 

[kritter]

hope everyone enjoyed the shows tonight.can you believe that the donald fired four people tonight..should proove to be interesting next week.....

and survivor was great as well..

any thoughts what will happen next week??
All of the shows are getting good..

 

[Princess Olivia]

Hi, I am stressed and voiceless. I ended up having to substitute in Olivia's class yesterday. She often comes home with stories about a boy in her class. He is awful and does horrible things to the teacher who needs to address him on things 5-10x a day. He spends a lot of time in the office. Well, I would listen to Liv and think thank goodness he's not my child but that was the extent of my thoughts about the situation. That all changed yesterday. I now realize that this boy takes so much of your time and energy that there is no possible way that the teacher could give her lessons proper attention. This boy does not allow it. When I arrived at school I was warned by all 4 of the other 3rd grade teachers about him. The principal and school psychologist came to my room. The kid is a nightmare. He went to the boys room and then came flying into the room and into his seat. 2 secs later a teacher comes in and asked if he had come back because he just started a fist fight in the boys room! He spent the rest of the day in the office. When an adult speaks to him he repeats "I can't hear you, I can't hear you..." he is truly bad news. He is a transfer form another town and from what I've gathered from my godchild who was in his class last year he got kicked out of the school system! Anyhow, I am making an appointment with the principal and I am going to complain. I have about 6 sets of parents ( all I've spoken to thus far) backing me. Our children can't learn all they deserve to with a child like this in that classroom. The poor teacher is so stressed she's getting physically ill. I need to take care of this. Third grade is an important year, they have MCAS, learn cursive, fractions etc. I won't let him take that whole class down with him. STRESS. I'll let you know.

 

[Princess Olivia]

Kristin....I see you looking into cat 3!!! Now you've peeked my interest.

buckifan, have fun at your party. Let me know how it went.

 

[kritter]

wow sounds like you have had a wonderful day..

Ok here is the teacher in me coming out..First of all remember when talking to the principal that you emphasize your concern for the other students in the class..There are laws that protect that boy and allow him to be mainstreamed into the regular ed. classroom..Does he have an aid with him?? IF not ask why...They will not be able to tell you what is disability is etc...Secondly, whatever you do not say that you are concerned based on your subing experience since they will be thinking that you are getting the other parents invovled and getting info on the other kids and reporting back, to them when you are done your subsitute duites..The principal may view you as a "spy" for the other parents...Keep it simple and to the point...You may want other parents to be the first to complain not you..You do not want to wreck your chances of getting a job in the future...Thirdly, try to emphasize that you do not have a problem with kids being mainstreamed into the regular ed. classroom but you would like to have it so it connects to the learning of the reg. ed. kids....This way you do not seem like you are ganging up on this kid....Believe me been there as a teacher and if I was on your end with my kids I would be the same way...But unfort. laws protect these kids and I totally agree he is destroying the learning envir.,..for all involved but the hands of the school may be tied at this point..But if you bring up safety issues with the principal and tell him/her that you are not afraid to bring this to the board of eds. attention as well if you do not get answers from him/her...
Hope this helps you out and please understand I am totally on your side just wanted to give you some teacher advice...and how to approach it...sometimes principal view parent complaints as just that complaints...
I have explored the cat. 3 how did you know saw my other posts??HE HE...But I can not get a straigt answer from the ta she told me at one point it would be ten thousand dollars...un real??? So i called DCL and they told me about 8 for the family of four...but I am booked through Dreams so I would have to have them rebook it and it would be more with them??So I need to talk to Dh and I know he would not be thrilled with the extra money...Is it worth the extra money??That is the real question....

Hi buck...

seems like princess and I are the only ones keeping the thread going and you too buck have we lost everyone else..or they are just learking and spying and letting us do all of the communicating...

jen,
Keep me updated on the situation in school....i will help you any way possible...

Hope all is well..weather is supposed to be nice for halloween so I am excited....
take care and talk to you all soon.....boy this post was long sorry.....

 

[kritter]

wow sounds like you have had a wonderful day..

Ok here is the teacher in me coming out..First of all remember when talking to the principal that you emphasize your concern for the other students in the class..There are laws that protect that boy and allow him to be mainstreamed into the regular ed. classroom..Does he have an aid with him?? IF not ask why...They will not be able to tell you what is disability is etc...Secondly, whatever you do not say that you are concerned based on your subing experience since they will be thinking that you are getting the other parents invovled and getting info on the other kids and reporting back, to them when you are done your subsitute duites..The principal may view you as a "spy" for the other parents...Keep it simple and to the point...You may want other parents to be the first to complain not you..You do not want to wreck your chances of getting a job in the future...Thirdly, try to emphasize that you do not have a problem with kids being mainstreamed into the regular ed. classroom but you would like to have it so it connects to the learning of the reg. ed. kids....This way you do not seem like you are ganging up on this kid....Believe me been there as a teacher and if I was on your end with my kids I would be the same way...But unfort. laws protect these kids and I totally agree he is destroying the learning envir.,..for all involved but the hands of the school may be tied at this point..But if you bring up safety issues with the principal and tell him/her that you are not afraid to bring this to the board of eds. attention as well if you do not get answers from him/her...
Hope this helps you out and please understand I am totally on your side just wanted to give you some teacher advice...and how to approach it...sometimes principal view parent complaints as just that complaints...
I have explored the cat. 3 how did you know saw my other posts??HE HE...But I can not get a straigt answer from the ta she told me at one point it would be ten thousand dollars...un real??? So i called DCL and they told me about 8 for the family of four...but I am booked through Dreams so I would have to have them rebook it and it would be more with them??So I need to talk to Dh and I know he would not be thrilled with the extra money...Is it worth the extra money??That is the real question....

Hi buck...

Buck--let us know how the party was..Show us some pictures if you took any...thanks...

seems like princess and I are the only ones keeping the thread going and you too buck have we lost everyone else..or they are just learking and spying and letting us do all of the communicating...

jen,
Keep me updated on the situation in school....i will help you any way possible...

Hope all is well..weather is supposed to be nice for halloween so I am excited....
take care and talk to you all soon.....boy this post was long sorry.....

 

[kritter]

oooops sorry sent it twice...sorry it is late..

 

[Princess Olivia]

Kristin, Thanks for the advice. I mean it. I like the teachers perspective and know that you are on my side here.

I am well versed on school policies and how the system works. I am not even going to bring up the fact that I do indeed substitute. I am approaching this as the ONLY parent who has been witness to this outrageous behavior. I need to be the advocate for all of those kids as well as Mrs K. I got a letter home yesterday from her and it basically was a plea for me to go and take this up with the principal. I agree that her hands are tied at this point. She needs parents to step up now. Let me say this, I NEVER fight my children's battles. I was brought up from my English professor father that teachers are always right. This is a completely unique situation. The schools love me. The kids love me. I have the advantage here to use who I am and all those that I know from growing up in a very political family to my advantage. I agree the nightmare child has rights, however why do his "rights" outweigh that of the other well behaved 21 students. This boy refuses to do work. Yells and swears at the teacher. Will not listen to anything anyone says and laughs at anyones misfortune. I will not allow him to ruin the other kids year. I will absolutely take this all the way. Growing up my mother worked for the superintendant and now they are very close. In turn he and I are also close. I will do what ever it takes to get this taken care of. I will also do it in an unemotional, professional manner. Craig will be accompanying me on Monday morning, he's always good to have by my side. He will be dressed in his suit ( he's the CFO of a large credit union) and be all business. Unfortunately in this world a man still has a little more weight in making things happen quickly. Together we are a force to be reckoned with. It should be intersting.
Can you believe it's snowing here ? A year from now we'll be sailing !! I hope I can make it that far. I will call DCL and see how much it would be for me to upgrade to a 4 and 3. Talk to you soon.
Jen

 

[kritter]

Jen,

I think it will be good that Craig will be with you. I agree that the men being there will help out a great deal.... I think the perspective that you are talking is the right one....I am hoping that the principal is open to your suggestions and requests... Hopefully he/she will be able to see your perspective and able to accomidate all parties...I think with your husband there it will help out a ton...
Let me know what happens...
I just got a thing from DVC in the mail today...about the fifteen percent off deal they are offering..Bruce asked me what I wanted for christmas today and I told him more points..he laughed...
Tell me what DCl says when you call and how much...
hope you had a great day...
We were supppsed to go to a cousins bday party and they called this morning and said that the kids had bad colds and possible croup..so we did not go since I can not get sick for one year with my lung the coughing can pull it down again...they are upset with us and think that I am over reacting sorry but if your kid is sick why do I or my kids want to risk getting sick..I am being too anal.??? I really don not want to relive last winter.. I would think people would understand and see my perspective...I feel bad and bruce's cousin just called and she is upset we did not go...SHe says your kids can get sick anywhere as can you...I understand that but why should I expose myself when I know someone is sick.....that is ridicilous...
talk to you later,
kristin

 

[Princess Olivia]

K- I totally agree with you. His cousin is a crazy woman. If it were me I would have called and said in no way, shape, or form are you or your children going to be exposed to my ill children out of risk of infecting any of you with a contagious illness. Yes, you can get sick anywhere however you would be foolish to expose yourself to people you know are ill. If she doesn't understand that she's both selfish and ignorant. Sorry to be so harsh, I just have no tolerance for people so self absorbed they can't see beyond themselves and their own children.

Any idea where they post trip reports? I wonder if anyone will do a live feed from this weeks cruise.

 

[buckifan]

Sorry I've been MIA, but I've been so busy with party prep. It's finally over, the party was a big hit. I'm up early this morning cleaning up. After 2 washings, my wood floor is once again sticky-free. Unfortunately, my family room carpet is going to need a scrubbing as well. I'll have to do that later today after church.

Princess, sounds like you've got a bad situation on your hands. What do you expect the school can do about this boy? How involved are his parents in trying to resolve his behavior problems? It sounds like he could have ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder) or even more severe CD (Conduct Disorder). I believe they are very tough to treat, and his parents need to be VERY proactive here.....not just send him to a new school , and hope it goes away. My friend teaches from home to a group of fourth graders thru the internet. The program is called ECOT, and she basically gets all of the "throw aways" from the public schools. These kids can't go anywhere else, yet they still need to be educated, so they basically get "home schooled" by her thru the internet. Obviously, it requires a lot of parent participation as well. Sounds like a program like that would be good for this boy.




I'm going to hit the after Halloween clearance sales this week and see what pirate wear/costume deals I can find!

 

[Princess Olivia]

buckifan- I am so glad your party was a success. Clean up is always the worst. I thank you very much for the information on the internet schooling. I am going to research both the disorders and the program and present it to our principal tomorrow. As for his parents I was told the mother looks very hard and tough as nails. I'm not sure this boy has much parental supervision.
It will be interesting to see how much I can do and what is not possible( personally, I beleive with the right approach anything is possible).

I didn't realize that your family is in the dark about the cruise. How cool is that?! Where do they think they are going? Washington D.C.? I wouldn't even tell the kids until they land in Florida. Tell them something like oops we must have gotten on the wrong plane! Oh well, while we're here we may as well go on the Magic for a cruise!!!! I wish I could plan something like that. I get so excited I can't keep anything a secret for longer than a few months. Christmas is torture for me!! I am so psyched to be in St Marten next Halloween! I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!

 

[buckifan]

Yes, my kids think we're going to Washington DC. We decided to tell them that because it truely is a trip we've been wanting to take, and we knew they would fall for it. I think they'd enjoy a trip to DC, but they haven't mentioned anything about it. Whereas, if they knew where we were really going, they'd be talking about it everyday! We have not told anyone in our families about the cruise either. My parents, sister, brother, MIL, etc....all think we are going to DC! We figured there would be no chance of someone slipping if they didn't know! We will probably wait until days beforehand to tell all of them the truth. That would be really funny to let DS think we boarded the wrong plane! He'd panic, I'm sure. We wouldn't let him suffer too long, though. I would really like to get their reaction on film. I'm usually not good at keeping secrets either, so this is a real stretch for me! This board is actually helping a lot....since I can talk to all of you about the cruise!