The Fair Parade - 2011

We had a little vacation last week.  I also happened to be fair week in Allegan and fair week in Allegan just happens to get a little CRAZY!  We kick off the fun with the fair parade.  I know it sounds odd - "you have a parade...to celebrate the fair?"   Yes, yes we do.  And this year, the last number I saw was 131.  That's 131 entries.

Just so you know -

The Allegan County Fair

The Allegan County Fair is one of the largest county fairs in the state, also with one of the largest fair parades in the nation. The county fair plays host to all sorts of events that the family is sure to love, including concerts, classic carnvial games and rides, a demolition derby, rodeo and so much more.

(Did you see that? "One of the largest fair parades in the NATION!"

And here come the Firetrucks!  Bruce is in the lead.

Followed by Robert in the new pumper.

And a whole crew of kids on the old pumper.  Including Jacob's best little friend.  Jacob had the opportunity to ride and he said "No.  No thank you."

The rescue truck.

Remember this guy?  It's our old friend #10 from Hopkins and the July 4th parade.

How about the guy on your right?  He's firefighter Tim from breakfast at Daddy's work.

And what parade wouldn't be complete without the "Allegan Ambulance"?

We forgot Jacob's ear protection.  Though my boy loves Fire Engines, police cars, honks, and sirens and he can stand in a closed fire station to listen to them - at parades, this is what happens.  Now when our firefighter friends saw this and Jacob crying they were very concerned.  Our Chief stopped his truck, many of the firefighters mouthed the words 'what's wrong with Jacob?', 'Is Jacob okay?', etc.  We did our best to let them know he was okay but, they were worried.

These were/are my favorite.  You see, my grandpa, Edna's dad raised Belgian Draft Horses and they are just beautiful.  I remember standing up on the fence at the farm when my grandpa would let them out and the thunder from their hooves would about shake me off of that fence.  I'll never forget it.

Jacob's friend "Little Dude".  He's the plumber that the city contracted to connect the new sewer system last summer, I think.  He and Jacob made fast friends.

Every fair parade needs a "Miss Manure".

And her entourage.

Huge - just huge!  Have you ever seen a six door dually Chevy pickup?  Look at these trucks in relation to the people.   It's HUGE!



Did I mention that the fair parade was larger than our Memorial Day Parade and the 2 July 4 parades that we were in COMBINED!  Laugh at my fair parade....go ahead!

From the teacher

I've been meaning to share this since Jacob brought it home the first day of school.  It made me choke up a bit (even now) and I hope his teacher truly feels this way because if she does, then I'll really, really like her! 

"Thank you-
     For sending me your little boy today.
     All of your years of patient care
     Have made him ready for this day.

Send Him to Me-
     Again tomorrow.
     I hope I will prove myself worthy
     To teach him and guide him
     This first year of his school life.

May I return Him-
     To you at the end of the year
     A little taller
     A little stronger
     And a little closer to his goal.

Thank you,
Mrs. M."

A Day in Sturgis

Jeremy had an opportunity to fill in at another store about an hour and a half from our house.  We didn't want him to make that drive home alone in the middle of the night so, I booked a hotel room, we kenneled Kelsey for the night, and Jacob and I went with him to Sturgis.

I had to share this as Pumpkin Spice Lattes are on my Fall to-do list and this was the first one of this fall.  Besides, how else to start of a road trip besides with a GREAT cup of coffee!  Jeremy did try the Salted Caramel Mocha and that was pretty good as well!

Jacob and I did a little school shopping at the Wal*Mart in Sturgis.  These were waiting in the parking lot.  Jeremy was told that most of the stores here do have hitches out front for the horses.  These poor guys - it was raining.

Our room.  It had this awesome little refrigerator - I so want one.  (I keep telling Jeremy that we should have one for our bedroom.  Before you think I'm crazy - just think about it a minute.  Especially if your bedroom is upstairs from your kitchen.)

And of course, we found the Sturgis Fire Department, with their September 11 memorial in place.

We walked around the back and found the Sturgis Police but, they didn't come outside (until we were out front).

But Firefighter Mike did!  And Jacob and I got a ride in their BIG ladder truck!!

There was a huge SCBA pack attached to the seat behind my back and the siren controls at my feet - we didn't have much room.

Close up of the painting on the side of the bucket.

And in case you forgot that we were in Sturgis.

Even Daddy got to "drive" a pumper.

And while Jeremy and I were goofing around with a $10,000.00 thermal imaging camera and Jacob and Firefighter Mike were "driving to a fire"....

Sturgis Fire Department got a call and we had to go!   Jacob got to see lights and hear the sirens!

We sat on the bench and watched them go.  Jacob cried.

I felt so badly for him, I got coffee.  If you ever see a Great Lakes Coffee Company, and you like coffee.  You NEED to go there.  They didn't have anything pumpkin but, they did have a Milky Way Latte - and I am telling you this is the BEST coffee I have EVER had!  Yes, that good!

I love firefighters that love kids - as we were heading out of town, Sturgis Fire was coming back to the station, and they recognized us as we passed by while they were backing into the station, they honked, waved, and gave us a little...as Jacob calls it a "NNRRTT" on the siren.

At this point, I was really glad that we did go with Jeremy on this little trip, and I was really, really glad when we found out that on our way home, we were detouring through Battle Creek to pick up some food products (and I could do some more school shopping!).  On the way across, we passed through this little town called Leonidas.  And wouldn't you know it - we had to pull over for some fire trucks coming lights & siren!

Sturgis?  You ask?  What's in Sturgis?  Plenty.  Trust me!

Thoughts on Teachers and Education

I don't get what this world is coming to.  I'm not sure what parents are trying to teach their children and I can't say that I'm excluded from my previous statements either.  I'm sorry - if you're boy or girl, rich/poor, fat/thin, cute/homely, brave/chicken, old/young - I don't care...we all have our crosses to bear.  Some things in life just are not fair!  No matter what - they just aren't.  Maybe we didn't have the best childhood...who did?  That's why it's childhood - you GROW out of it.  Some times in your life you come across challenges that just plain SUCK and you know what - you can't blame anyone, you just pull your damn boots on and you go.  YOU GET THROUGH IT.

As much as I love my son, and as hard as it is going to be for him, there are things in life that he's going to have to figure out on his own.  I can't point out every bump, fix every hurt, constantly remind Jacob to be nice or to remind other children to play nice with him.  Part of being a parent is knowing when to stand up and protect and knowing when to just watch and learn.  It's been a tough few days know he's at school and I can't see everything that happens to him in a day.  But, that's when I have to trust that I've done well to this point, he knows the rules and I have to trust in him to follow them.

My nephew shared an article the other day and it really hit me about how most people these days seem to think they're so wronged, so entitled, so deserving and they'll do anything to get what's due them or their kids.  I was disgusted to read this to think of what we're teaching our children.

You can find the article here if you'd like to read it yourself.  I've also shared the context below.

"(CNN) -- This summer, I met a principal who was recently named as the administrator of the year in her state. She was loved and adored by all, but she told me she was leaving the profession.

I screamed, "You can't leave us," and she quite bluntly replied, "Look, if I get an offer to lead a school system of orphans, I will be all over it, but I just can't deal with parents anymore; they are killing us."

Unfortunately, this sentiment seems to be becoming more and more prevalent. Today, new teachers remain in our profession an average of just 4.5 years, and many of them list "issues with parents" as one of their reasons for throwing in the towel. Word is spreading, and the more negativity teachers receive from parents, the harder it becomes to recruit the best and the brightest out of colleges.

So, what can we do to stem the tide? What do teachers really need parents to understand?

For starters, we are educators, not nannies. We are educated professionals who work with kids every day and often see your child in a different light than you do. If we give you advice, don't fight it. Take it, and digest it in the same way you would consider advice from a doctor or lawyer. I have become used to some parents who just don't want to hear anything negative about their child, but sometimes if you're willing to take early warning advice to heart, it can help you head off an issue that could become much greater in the future.

Trust us. At times when I tell parents that their child has been a behavior problem, I can almost see the hairs rise on their backs. They are ready to fight and defend their child, and it is exhausting. One of my biggest pet peeves is when I tell a mom something her son did and she turns, looks at him and asks, "Is that true?" Well, of course it's true. I just told you. And please don't ask whether a classmate can confirm what happened or whether another teacher might have been present. It only demeans teachers and weakens the partnership between teacher and parent.

Please quit with all the excuses
And if you really want to help your children be successful, stop making excuses for them. I was talking with a parent and her son about his summer reading assignments. He told me he hadn't started, and I let him know I was extremely disappointed because school starts in two weeks.

His mother chimed in and told me that it had been a horrible summer for them because of family issues they'd been through in July. I said I was so sorry, but I couldn't help but point out that the assignments were given in May. She quickly added that she was allowing her child some "fun time" during the summer before getting back to work in July and that it wasn't his fault the work wasn't complete.

Can you feel my pain?

Some parents will make excuses regardless of the situation, and they are raising children who will grow into adults who turn toward excuses and do not create a strong work ethic. If you don't want your child to end up 25 and jobless, sitting on your couch eating potato chips, then stop making excuses for why they aren't succeeding. Instead, focus on finding solutions.

Parents, be a partner instead of a prosecutor

And parents, you know, it's OK for your child to get in trouble sometimes. It builds character and teaches life lessons. As teachers, we are vexed by those parents who stand in the way of those lessons; we call them helicopter parents because they want to swoop in and save their child every time something goes wrong. If we give a child a 79 on a project, then that is what the child deserves. Don't set up a time to meet with me to negotiate extra credit for an 80. It's a 79, regardless of whether you think it should be a B+.

This one may be hard to accept, but you shouldn't assume that because your child makes straight A's that he/she is getting a good education. The truth is, a lot of times it's the bad teachers who give the easiest grades, because they know by giving good grades everyone will leave them alone. Parents will say, "My child has a great teacher! He made all A's this year!"

Wow. Come on now. In all honesty, it's usually the best teachers who are giving the lowest grades, because they are raising expectations. Yet, when your children receive low scores you want to complain and head to the Principal's office.

Please, take a step back and get a good look at the landscape. Before you challenge those low grades you feel the teacher has "given" your child, you might need to realize your child "earned" those grades and that the teacher you are complaining about is actually the one that is providing the best education.
And please, be a partner instead of a prosecutor. I had a child cheat on a test, and his parents threatened to call a lawyer because I was labeling him a criminal. I know that sounds crazy, but principals all across the country are telling me that more and more lawyers are accompanying parents for school meetings dealing with their children.

Teachers walking on eggshells
I feel so sorry for administrators and teachers these days whose hands are completely tied. In many ways, we live in fear of what will happen next. We walk on eggshells in a watered-down education system where teachers lack the courage to be honest and speak their minds. If they make a slight mistake, it can become a major disaster.

My mom just told me a child at a local school wrote on his face with a permanent marker. The teacher tried to get it off with a wash cloth, and it left a red mark on the side of his face. The parent called the media, and the teacher lost her job. My mom, my very own mother, said, "Can you believe that woman did that?"

I felt hit in the gut. I honestly would have probably tried to get the mark off as well. To think that we might lose our jobs over something so minor is scary. Why would anyone want to enter our profession? If our teachers continue to feel threatened and scared, you will rob our schools of our best and handcuff our efforts to recruit tomorrow's outstanding educators.

Finally, deal with negative situations in a professional manner.
If your child said something happened in the classroom that concerns you, ask to meet with the teacher and approach the situation by saying, "I wanted to let you know something my child said took place in your class, because I know that children can exaggerate and that there are always two sides to every story. I was hoping you could shed some light for me." If you aren't happy with the result, then take your concerns to the principal, but above all else, never talk negatively about a teacher in front of your child. If he knows you don't respect her, he won't either, and that will lead to a whole host of new problems.

We know you love your children. We love them, too. We just ask -- and beg of you -- to trust us, support us and work with the system, not against it. We need you to have our backs, and we need you to give us the respect we deserve. Lift us up and make us feel appreciated, and we will work even harder to give your child the best education possible.

That's a teacher's promise, from me to you." ~ written by Ron Clark

I put this here more for myself as I really hope to remind me that it's my job as a parent to teach my child as well.  I can't dump him on someone else in a room of 22 other people's kids for 7 hours a day and expect miracles.  It's my duty as a parent to help my child's teacher to give Jacob the education he needs.  It's my job to support her/him.  To ask questions of the things that don't make sense - not to simply make accusations.  I wish other parents could accept that responsibility as well.  Sadly...most just don't understand - and I don't understand them.

Happy Fall Y'All!

Since Labor Day, the days and nights have been much cooler, school has started, the leaves are falling, I've already killed my plants, and the crispness of Fall is in the air.  Ah, my favorite!  I love fall - time to welcome football, chili, jeans, sweatshirts, warm socks, candles, apple crisp, and pumkin spice lattes at the Starbucks.

My friend Kate already did her "Soul in the Season" list.  And seeing as we're on vacation next week - it's a good time to start our Fall to-do list.  Now that I'm thinking of it, it's going to be tough to get it all in this year - I have a kid in school!  Wow!  How that changes things!

Allegan County Fair (including the parade) is this week.  Jeremy and Jacob are trying something new this year - they're going to the Supercross Races (without me...shucks!).  I will post pictures of both the parade and our evening at the fair.

The Ringling Bros. Circus

I need to paint our storm windows/trim while Jeremy deals with the pool.

I also go back to work full time this fall.  October 3 is the official date.

We'll pick some apples and hopefully try a corn maze this year.

Our trip to Gene the Pumpkin Man to get our pumpkins and some squash for the freezer.

I've already started Jacob's Halloween costume - but, you're going to have to wait until Halloween!  I'm not telling!

I also hope to volunteer for Jacob's Halloween party at school.

Thanksgiving - my absolute favorite holiday!  I'm looking forward to using my new decorations and trying some new recipes as well.

Try some new fall recipes like pumpkin pizza and of course old ones like pumpkin muffins.

I can't wait to get started!

The First Day of School - 2011

We started Kindergarten with a bang this year!  Reminds me of the melt down before our first day of pre-school.  He was angy after being asked to shut the front door and get his coat on while he wanted to go out to yell to the same crossing guard that he was going to see in about 2 seconds when she helped us cross the street.

Now this is the kid I was hoping we could walk to school for his first day!  I'm glad he showed up.  He was so excited, he told both crossing guards that it was his first day of school.

Waiting outside for the bell to ring.  So much going on and so many people!  We saw a firefighter and some of our pre-school friends.

Proud Daddy and terrified, unsure what to expect mommy walked Jacob in to his classroom.  We helped to put his bag in his locker, give the teacher all of his papers, got some kisses and we left our big boy there.  I didn't cry.  I got a little choked up and my voice gave a little but, the tears didn't roll.

Jeremy and I walked back home, just the two of us hand in hand.  We don't often get a chance to do that.  We had coffee before he went to take a nap and I went on to sell some of last year's school clothes.  We had planned to go to lunch together in the afternoon.  Really, I think I could come to look forward to that ritual on the first day of school.  We really enjoyed our meal and each other's company. It was great to spend that time together without our child.  I hope we make a new tradition.

Now, the boy we picked up at 2:53PM was nothing like the sweet, hugging, "I'm going to miss you today" boy we left at school.  We picked up one heck of an OGRE!  My plans of baking cookies with him quickly went out the window to be replaced by a couch sitting Grumpus who watched Thomas' Day of the Diesels about 5 times, and the only break he took was to ride out to McDonald's to pick up his dinner.  Bedtime was simple - I think he was asleep before Daddy and I even left his room.

The first is usually the worst.  Not knowing what to do, where to go, any of the rules, what is expected, etc.  and that goes all the way around - for moms and dads too.  I'm sure it's only going to get better!

The day BEFORE the First Day of School...

I've been through a lot of firsts in my life, transferring to public school from parochial school, job interviews, new jobs, new people and so much more.  Sure, I've been nervous about all of those things.  I've worked myself into a pretty good tizzy but, nothing, nothing will ever compare to sending my kid to full-time school!

My guts have gone through the wringer over school.  I worry about him getting into his classroom - what if he gets lost along the way?  Eating his lunch - who's going to help him open his milk?  Going potty by himself - will they come find him if he's gone too long because he's dinking around in the water while washing his hands?  Is his teacher nice?  Will she address his needs?  Who'll tie his shoes?  And countless other things.

My only relief, thankfully, Jacob does have one little friend from his preschool that will be in his class.  And I know they will help each other.

Jeremy and I both took the day off to take Jacob to school on his first day and to pick him up.  I'm glad to have Jeremy here for that, I don't think I could do it alone.

Jacob is so excited to start school.  His backpack is ready, we've picked out his clothes and shoes for the day.  We went shopping for special snacks for his lunch (really?  Sloppy Joe Scoops?  You think my kid is gonna eat that!?!)  All that's left is to pack his lunch and walk him to school.  And to cry...cuz that's what moms do!