President Obama wants to speak with our youth.....

Okay, so I'm a bit slow. The speech from the President has, apparently, been everywhere..and I just heard about it today. In my defense, we don't have any television in my house right now, and a chance to read a paper or even listen to the news is somewhat dicey in my constant daily rotation of work, kids, homework and 3 different sport practices.

Today happens to be a priceless & rare day as Prince Charming and I have no work, no games to attend, no practices and no children. So, taking a chance to catch up, check up and check in on the world I log into my kid's school website. And there, in bold letters, is a link titled: District's Position on President Obama's Speech to Students. Already wondering what I've missed, I click the link while simultaneously searching google for "president's speech to students". Once I find out what the speech is all about read some backlash, I have a funny feeling I'm not going to be happy with the school and flip over to the district's letter:

School District ###'s students will not be viewing the message at school. The district feels that parents can determine if you would like to view this message with your children. This way parents and their children can discuss the President's message.

Now, I have to tell you...I am kinda stunned. The President of the United States of America wants to speak to the children of America and encourage them to be responsible, make goals and do their best...and people are flipping out??

Uh, okay!

Like I stated..I can be slow. Admittedly. But people, what exactly do you expect our President to do during this speech? Send subliminal messages to our children asking them to take over their household and vote him King of the World? I can tell you right now that my kids will think it's really cool that the President wants to talk to them. Thinks they are important enough to warrant a speech. Thinks they are worth enough in this world and country that he wants to take time out to speak to them.

Telling our children to be responsible and take responsibility for their education is a good thing people! Last time I checked, learning to set and achieve goals was also a positive thing! These traits go beyond educational success and translate into the real world by making self sufficient and productive adults.

And on one (okay..a few) last note(s), ask your kids how many movies they watched during the last school year. I know my kids watched approximately 4 movies during the 2008-2009 school year. Apparently Chicken Little has more educational value than a speech by the President according to my school district. If I can swing the time off work, I will be taking my kids out of school for the President's speech..because I think it's important for my kids to hear this, they will think it's even cooler to hear it live..even if via the television, I think that it's important to take a stand when the world becomes so ridiculous, and as PC just pointed out, I think if you're so anxious for funding then you should probably listen to the guy who takes part in signing the paychecks.

What do you think?

How do I love thee? Let me count the cookies..

"I smell Cookies!"

It's not really a very special statement to most people. But I heard the smile in his voice. It made me feel wonderful. I had put that smile there and helped his day get better the moment he walked in the door.

It all started out as a joke between me and PC about a month after school started. We were watching Commander in Chief and Gina Davis mentioned to her mom that she remembered there were always fresh baked cookies ready after school. Very 50's and June Cleaver, I know. I joked with PC that starting the next day I was going to bake cookies everyday for Alex when he returned home from school. I assured him that if I did this, that our hopes of Alex becoming President were set in stone. After all, it worked for Gina Davis!

I really did bake cookies every week day for about 3 months. Life intervened many times and I just wasn't able to bake them daily, PC was right. But I still baked cookies, brownies or the like 3 or 4 times a week. I figure he still has a shot at the presidency.

The past two weeks I have been having a rough time with my depression. I haven't felt like a very good mom lately. Not for any reason in particular. I just feel overly tired and crabby and short tempered. I haven't baked during this time, either. I didn't realize how much he missed it or just how important it was to him. My little baked goods had become a way to tell him I loved him. That he was super special. And that him being happy mattered to me.

Today I realized how important this was to him. I realized that when I am at my worst the most important thing is letting him know that he is still my world and my baby boy.

Those three words, 'I smell cookies', brightened my day just as much as the smell brightened his. I am so glad that this became not just a tradition, but another way to say 'I love you.'

How do you say 'I love you' without using words?

Alex and the Bomb Threat

Doesn't that sound like it should be a movie title? I wish it were, but it's not. It's what happened at Alex's school yesterday.

When he got home yesterday, as I was going through the take home folder, I found the ominous piece of paper.

To Parents of all School Students,

Today there was a bomb threat at the high school. All students were eveacuated from both the middle and high school buildings. All students and staf are accounted for. High School and Middle school bus studens will be dismissed and bused home. Sutdens that walk will also be released at this time. Any student not rididing the bus or walking must be picked up. Elementary school studens will remain in session. Highs school students and staff with cars in any parking lot will not be able to take thier car until the school parking lot is determined to be secure.

The even more worrisome issue? This is the second one in 30 days, and (obviously) they haven't caught the moron responsible for the first one. Alex is in the elementary school and not the conjoined middle/high school, so I should clarify that it was not his actual building that was under the threat.

What upsets me (other than the obvious) is that Alex's school building is less than a 1/8 mile from the high school. His classroom actually looks out across the playground (between the elementary and high school) at the High School building.

Yet they kept the Elementary school kids in session..AND..the building was never swept for bombs by the explosive dogs. EITHER TIME. I get that the Elementary school was not the 'intended' target, but you would think common sense would dictate.

Yes, I know. Everyone keeps telling me to calm down and not over react. But how do you NOT over react a little bit with two bomb threats in one month...even if it is most likely a hoax!

How would you react and what would you think should be the proper response?
Am I over reacting?

The Wright Brothers Are COOL!

Just in case you don't know, THESE are the Wright Brothers. They are also the subject of a biography assignment Alex had been given two weeks ago.

It was actually a lot of fun getting ready for today's presentation (a special biography breakfast at school).

Last night he finished writing up the paper he was to read. I thought it was pretty cute that his final sentence was 'The Wright brothers are COOL!'

The kids were each supposed to come up with another project that related to their person. Alex decided to build a replica model of the Wright brothers Flyer with Lego's! I have to admit to being very anxious proud of this idea! There was a kit, but at $70 I wasn't buying it!
I will post a picture of the finished model later today. I was soooo sooo impressed! Especially seeing the only picture he had seen was from the book.

The last thing the kids were asked to do was dress up as their character. So we scoured the biography book he'd been given and decided on one picture that he wanted to copy. I ended up making the suspenders and the mustache as no store carried either. Here is Alex before he left this morning :

And here is Mr. Orville Wright, our Inspiration:
How'd we do?