Wow - what a week it has been!

I have had a taste of the "good old days" - subbing every day this week. I am EXHAUSTED! Allie's kindergarten teacher (who we absolutely loved) has been extremely ill. I have been in her classroom all week and it has definitely rocked my world.

My house is a wreck.

The laundry is piled up.

Dinners have been mediocre at best.

But I am actually really having a good time. It is sooo much different from when I used to teach. First of all, I taught second grade, so kindergarten is a whole new world.

They are soooo cute and sweet. I get multiple hugs and "I love you's" every single day. And I've only been with them a week. If I weren't so exhausted, I might almost miss teaching full time :) I'm sure I'd get used to it, but for now, subbing is a pretty good deal for where we're at in this stage of life.

Anyway, all of that to say that blogging hasn't happened because I'm beat by dinner time. But since I promised myself I would at least attempt to blog every week, I'm going to stick to it!

And since it's my blog, I'll give the usual disclaimer about bragging. I'm going to do it. A lot. I forget a lot of things, but I will never forget how amazing and incredible I think my kids are. I just want them to look back and read this one day and realize for themselves how amazing and incredible they are :)

Lauryn took state standardized tests this week. All of 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade tested on reading and math. Basically they are preparing for the BIG state test later this spring, so they are just getting some documentation and data to use as feedback for the teachers. I won't get on my soapbox about my thoughts on standardized state testing. If it's enough to make my baby girl have a hard time falling asleep and cry before school because she's such a nervous wreck, we have a problem. But I won't go there. At least not tonight :)

We found out this week that she made a 100 on the math test and a 94 on the reading test. Yes, she is amazing, in case you wondered. We are unbelievably proud of her. Not just because, at 9 years old, she is smarter than we are. But because of her work ethic, determination, and effort she puts into everything she does. She shows incredible character already and it is almost overwhelming to think about what she will do with this brain and heart that God gave her.

Allie had a fantastic report card as well. The one area of concern was money. Coins, to be specific. We pulled out some coins last night. Within minutes she could tell me each one and their value.

Then tonight we pulled them out again. She was adding them together and mentally calculating how much money was in each group of coins I put in front of her. I was just saying to my mom the other day that I think she knows sooo much more than she lets on. Little stinker :)

She is in one of the high spelling groups in her class and is reading above grade level for this point in the school year. Her teacher is INCREDIBLE. I can't begin to say all the ways she has encouraged Allie (and me!) this school year. Allie has gained so much confidence and it's so much fun to watch.

So, a quick summary (for my personal memory) of where were are in this New Year. I'm working on taking more pictures than I do and getting them up here. This one was from our "Grinch Night" back in December - we had Grinch floats (lime sorbet with gingerale) and mint chocolate chip cookies while we watched The Grinch.

Love these girls of mine :)