SEPs

This is SEP week at the kid's school. Courtney doesn't have school Monday or Tuesday then she has early out the rest of the week. Ethan has early out every day this week. It's been funny to see her get him ready to go to school in the morning. They argue a bit because she doesn't have to get ready and she likes to make sure he knows that, but when it gets past 8 a.m. and she knows he needs to get ready for the bus, she gets Ethan hustling. Then she waits outside in the backyard until the bus goes by the house so she can wave at Ethan. It's cute.

We had SEPs with the kid's teachers yesterday and they are both doing really well. It's hard to really gauge how they are really doing and we don't always know the questions to ask. They don't do a lettering system like was around when we were kids (A, A-, B, C, etc.). They have a numbering system. Getting a "4" means they are above in that area. Ethan's teacher requires perfection to get a 4. Then you can get a "3" which means you are on target. That is the average, or where a student should be in relation to their grade expectations. Anything less (2 or 1) means they need to improve because they aren't up to level.

I think the kids feel better with the numbering system but I feel like I can gauge where they are better with grades and pluses/minuses. I did email their teachers later and ask if there was anything (besides doing homework with them and reading with them) that we can do to help them. So we'll see what they say.

All in all, they were good visits!

I Can Walk!

I guess with everything else going on I forgot to blog that I can now walk on my foot. Last Friday morning was 4 weeks from my surgery date. That morning Bryan helped me take a few steps. I was nervous because it had been so long and I thought it would hurt. But it really didn't hurt to step on it. The only pain came because my muscles were tight and had to stretch.

Since then, I have been working at getting better at walking. I still limp but that should go away as I relax a bit more with my foot. I'm still tentative but it's getting better. And the incision looks awesome. I'll post a picture later.

So all is well with me. I just have to keep working on loosening up my ankle and muscles and then I will be as good as new.

The Dentist

My kids LOVE their dentist. We have only gone to him twice, but that was enough for them to be won over. And, I have to admit, it's a much better experience than before...not that our old pediatric dentist was bad, this one is just great.

They had appointments yesterday (yeah! they didn't have to miss school). The office is set up like an old west dentist office. The waiting room has a big screen TV and video games. You go through a small, kid-sized door to go into x-rays. Ethan did awesome. Courtney did great after she calmed down from working herself up.

Then they take you into a huge room that has 4 dentist "beds" that are just benches you lay on. Above each "bed" is a flatscreen TV where they put cartoons on for the kids to watch, with headphones for them to listen. And each "bed" can watch a different movie. If a child has to wait in there (like Courtney had to while Ethan was having his teeth cleaned) there are video games, books and toys to play with in the corner.

They both did great with their cleanings. Courtney made sure the hygienist knew what she didn't like (the water squirter) and what she did like (being brushed with a toothbrush and not the "loud twirly thing"). They got to choose their own flavor of toothpaste (both went for orange). The dentist checked them and neither have cavities, although we now know that these are definitely Pack/Hodgson/Oman kids. Courtney is missing her two side teeth and Ethan has one of his side teeth coming in as a "mini tooth." Bryan and I are both missing teeth, so they come by it honestly. Now we get to start saving for braces/veneers/implants. Yeah!!

As a reward for not having any cavities, the dentist gave them each a coupon for a Monster Milkshake at Red Robins, which we used. Job security for the dentist? Absolutely!!

Airplane Ride!

Bryan has a client that offered to take the kids on his airplane. Since they didn't have school on Monday, we figured that was a good time to go. Bryan took them out to the new airport where they went in the backway (to avoid security, hahaha), watched the man get the plane ready, asked tons of questions and then got ready for their ride. Each person had earphones and a microphone (which, you can imagine, was thrilling for Courtney!) so they could talk to each other. They made a big loop around the St. George area (over our house) and then went back to the airport. Courtney and Ethan talked the entire time (well, mostly Courtney) and they had so much fun. It was Courtney's first time on an airplane! When they landed, they stayed at the airport to watch some planes land. They had a blast!

Snow!

It snowed on Sunday morning! The kids were so excited and got on all their snow stuff so they could go out and play in it. Bryan helped Courtney build a snowman and then they had a snowball fight while Ethan got his snow stuff on. Then Ethan and Bryan build a snowman. It snowed through much of Stake Conference but when we came out it was melting. So it was a good thing that the kids played in it early because it was gone early in the afternoon. FUN!!

As you can see, Courtney went for the overkill look on her snow stuff:

Ethan's Piano Recital

Ethan had a piano recital last week on Thursday. He was really nervous about it but did a great job playing his song. After all the students had played their songs, the teacher presented awards. At the piano evaluation last week, the judge had chosen winners of the older and younger divisions and there were trophies for those awards. But the teacher had chosen one student to give the "Most Improved Student" award to.

Ethan really wanted the trophy for "Most Improved." All the way over to the recital he kept telling me that he was sure he wouldn't get it because "I never win anything!" I told him to be positive but he was sure he wasn't going to win anything. Well, when it was time for awards he was nervous. He wanted the trophy but didn't think he had a chance. Then....his name was called and he won the trophy for the "Most Improved Student." You should have seen the shock on his face!! His teacher handed him the trophy and then had to pose him because he was in shock and couldn't do anything. The audience members were laughing at how hilarious he was. It was cute and he was so excited.

Ethan and his teacher:

Before the recital:

His trophy:

Playing his song:

Here is Ethan playing "Woodpecker's Peckin' Party":

Ethan here again...

Today we had Valentine's Day. I got beat up by some girls, as usual. We had a party and then passed out the treats. I passed out pencils. I got an Orange Crush soda. It was cool! We did everything as normal and then the last hour of the day we did the party. We made mailboxes to put all the treats in. I got so many treats that my mailbox actually broke! I have almost eaten all my candy. And that is my Valentine's story.