Woe is Me!

"You are your child's best advocate" is such a cop-out. Really, it is an infuriating phrase. I can only advocate so much for my child. If I do not know what is available, or what each institute is supposed to do/be responsible for,  and that information is not forthcoming/readily available HOW CAN I ADVOCATE???

We are into our third year at this school. And for the third year in a row they are completely unhelpful. I am beyond frustrated with them. Unfortunately, I am the one that moved the kids to this school when Henry was being physically bullied on the playground of the other school. If the other school had actually done something about the abuse we would have stayed there. I had to jump through paperwork hoops to get all three moved to another school. The school I wanted to move them to could only get two of them enrolled, so we had to go with the school we're currently at.  And it has been three years of complete shit.

With Henry now in middle school, I really want to move Irene and Gavin. Currently, Irene has an all A report card and has many friends. I hate to take her out of that. I'm seriously considering moving Gavin next year when Irene goes to the middle school.

I am tired and fed up with the lack of any support. I feel like they don't want to address any issues because that messes up their 'affluent and awesome' persona.

Ugh. I'd knit to release my frustrations, but last night, in a bid to relax, I managed to mess up the sock I'm knitting. Okay, Okay. Rant over.

School Picture Day...Oops!

 Last year, two days before picture day at school, Gavin hit his head on his bed and gave himself a black eye and concussion. Last year's school picture features his very black and blue eye lid and cheek. We laugh now because we figure it'll be a great story that we'll always remember.

This year, I figured picture day would be easy. Ha! Not only did we have temps of 100 degrees, making the kids sweaty and red faced, I also got an email from the school office the day before picture day. Gavin got hit in the face with the tire swing. They gave him two ice packs, but there was definite mark on his face. The picture below is the cut/bruise on the day it happened. They next day (picture day) it had darkened and bruised more. 

Once again, we will have a story to tell about picture day. And, as Grandma Pat says, at least he is consistent!

Heat Wave!

We have had a ridiculous heat wave here in lower Michigan. Temps between 90 and 100 degrees. It has been so hot that the schools actually had two half days and cancelled all sport activities. Tomorrow the temperature is supposed to be in the lower seventies. Still high for this time of year, but a respite from the crazy heat. It is supposed be in the sixties by Friday, but next week we shoot back up into the eighties. I really want my 60 degree fall weather. I've got flannel shirts and knitted socks that are ready to be worn!

Henry's birthday was last week. We had a small get together at Lou and Pat's. We used to try to do something special for his birthday. Unfortunately, every year since we moved here we have horrible weather on his party day. We'll try to go to a zoo, orchard, park, etc. and it'll be tipping down with rain. This year I almost felt bad since it was sunny...then the heat climbed up to 98 degrees. Yeah, no one wants to be outside in direct sun with temps like that. Instead we had a nice lunch of hamburgers, salad, and cake while we enjoyed the air conditioning.

Here's hoping that October will bring us some fall-like temps.

Yeah...

It Keeps On Going...

We are all still stepping along here. Gavin's cold/flu managed to grab a hold of everyone but Mark. Thankfully, Henry and Irene only suffered for a day, but I have a cough that just will not let go. 

School keeps moving along. We are starting to get into an actual schedule with the schools. Having so many short weeks meant that the homework schedule was rather up in the air. I think we may be finally seeing what it is actually supposed to be. It'll help us get set into a routine.

Henry's birthday is next week. He wants a laid back day of cooking hamburgers on the grill followed by cake. I think we can handle that!

Aside from the short school weeks, and the illnesses, September has been mostly us trying to get back into a school pattern. 

First Week of School

I think this picture of Captain sums up our week.

Got up at 5:30 am Tuesday and got Henry to the bus. LuLu took off as we were walking out the door. I finally got her back only for she and Captain to have a huge fight. The fight, and clean up from it, put Irene, Gavin and I behind schedule a bit. Thankfully, I did managed to get them to school before it started.

Thursday morning, Henry's bus showed up five minutes early. As I was walking home a boy came running up to the stop. Even though he was technically on time he still missed the bus. I gave him a ride to the middle school. Talk about a crazy mess of cars! There are a lot of people that drop off middle school students each day.

Thursday afternoon, as I was waiting for Henry's bus, a stinkin' wasp stung me on the thumb! Ouch!

Friday dawned with Gavin not feeling well. Yeah, in the three days of school the kids had, Gavin managed to catch the flu. The weekend has been full of....well, all those lovely bodily functions that having the flu ramps up. The Flu; the gift that keeps on giving.

I have been frantically trying to have everyone hand sanitize while cleaning as much as possible. I do not need to have anyone else come down with it!

So yeah, not quite how I pictured the first week of school going. Although, we did watch all 7 hours of the Slow TV Bergen to Oslo train ride on Netflix yesterday.

First Day of School

First day of school is over and we survived it. Henry's school starts an hour earlier this year so he and I had to get up before everyone else. I walked him to the bus stop which is half a block from our house.

I am driving Irene and Gavin to school this year, although they do ride a bus back into town. We were about ten minutes late leaving this morning due to a fight between the dogs of all things. Still, we got to school with ten minutes to spare.

Henry's afternoon bus was about ten minutes late. No big deal. Irene and Gavin's bus was over twenty minutes late. Again, no big deal, but I started to worry I was at the wrong place.

Only three days of school this week. I'm hoping it continues to go well!