You're Doing Fine Oklahoma!

I am holding on with claws to the last days of my baby girl's elementary years. In our district, elementary ends at 4th grade! She'll do some growing up in the Intermediate school next year where they have lockers and four different teachers and some pretty un-elementary expectations.

Last week, we had Oklahoma Heritage Day, a beautiful day made to sit back and bask in the history of our state. Formerly the Land Run Day, it was changed to incorporate more people groups, specifically Native Americans!

There was sheep sheering, line dancing, animal petting, and a slew of other fun stuff to enjoy. Plus my litle Indian girl who I love so much!

Flat LJ in New York City!!!

Ugh! I have been so negligent on the blog!

Guess why? Well one reason is that I took a trip to New York!

I traveled with five wonderful ladies from work to a reading and writing conference at Columbia University. Along the way, we fit it some eating, entertainment and shopping!
Coincidentally, as I prepared to go to New York, LJ's class (he is known as LJ at school because of an abundance of Lukes) was preparing to mail their Flat Stanleys around the world to see what they could see. It didn't occur to me to pack Flat LJ into my suitcase, but that is exactly what LJ requested. So I slipped him in between a book and Tom's ipad and off we jetted to the Big Apple!

Flat LJ got many, many bumpy rides on the subway tunnels underneath NYC.

It snowed the second day we were there. But it was a pretty snow and for some strange reason I liked the thought of being in New York on a snowy day.

Besides that, when it snows in NY the snowplows come out of the woodwork, the sidewalks are cleared and nothing really seems affected.

(Unlike good old OK-lahoma where it takes us weeks to dig out). Another subway shot or two on the way to Columbia University. That's right, Ivy League baby!
Flat LJ took in the art and architecture of the university. I took a picture of him with a statue that I later realized was mostly naked. I decided not to email that one on to the teacher, though I'm sure LJ (the real one) would have gotten a kick out of that.


Flat LJ is listening to the speaker and taking notes playing on the ipad.
He loved walking all around the city and it's a good thing, cause we did lots of that. Almost walked off all those New York style meals. Not really though.
Flat LJ got folded in the middle. gettin a little road worn.
Look at that super duper long bus. What kind of traning do you think that driver had to get to drive that thing around the streets of Manhattan?
Flat LJ goes to Broadway! Billy Elliot!
It was a great story with awesome choreography and an amazing performance by the 12 year old lead "Billy."
Chillin in Times Square.
This is one of the many jumbotrons we saw.
If you look very close, you can see me holding Fat LJ under the big 2 in the picture below. Flat LJ's 15 seconds of fame!
We also took Flat LJ to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. You know, where Claudia Kincaid went when she ran away from home? (The Mixed Up Files of Basil E. Frankweiler)
Ancient art and Flat LJ.
An enormous Grecian pillar and a flat LJ.
Nice view in the MET.
It doesn't get any better than going eye to with a little Henri Matisse.
and Vincent Van Gogh...
This is the modern art gallery.
Flat LJ wonders if this is actually art.

Grand Central Station should be one of the modern wonders of the world.
It really is gorgeous. The ceiling is my favorite color in the world, light blue.
The apartment buildings are so quaint and interesting. Or "flats" as they're called.
Bye bye New York! Flat LJ is headed back to OKlaHOma!

Angel in a Kindergarten Teacher's Disguise

Look at this boy.
Is he one you would want in your kindergarten class if you were a kindergarten teacher?

Hmmm.... I'm pretty sure there is some kind of asterisk by his name on her class roster. Well, Luke's teacher didn't feel that way; she is truly, and I mean truly, an angel. She has a love for each of her students, no matter how many asterisks are by their names. She appreciates each of their unique qualities and this has endeared me to her greatly. You love my son; I love you deeply.

She deals with his difficulties so diplomatically:
For example "L.J., Before you come to school, I'd like you to jump on trampoline for awhile."

And after a trying week at school: "I think with LJ he is just so full of God's spirit he can't contain it! That is a good thing! When he is impulsive and does something he knows he shouldn't he is truly sorry about it."

Concerning his lack of interest in reading: "He will probably the type of person that will need to read while he is on a treadmill. I think that is why you haven't seen leaps and bounds in his reading. He has all the skills but because it is a quiet activity he avoids it. He has been fun to have - always a smile on his face! You should have high hopes for him in 1st. "

She gets him, and that means soooo much to this mama.
Thanks for an incredible year, Mrs. Goodrich!

You are both good and rich.

firsts/lasts

first
day of sixth grade
last
year before she is in middle schoolfirst
day of third grade
last
day before she really has to memorize the times tables (eek!)
first
day of school
last
time my baby will be in kindergarten

I Never Went On A Field Trip Like This....

I think Biz Town is pretty much a kid's dream....
It is an all-day get away hosted by Junior Achievement.

Kids get to run BizTown the town for the day.

When I say BizTown, that includes business establishments such as....

WalmartCoxCancer Treatment Center of AmericaTulsa Tech....
plus Arby's, Reasors, the Schusterman Center,
Bank of Oklahoma, the Tulsa World and several others.

Before the field trip, the kids interview for jobs and prepare for them too.

Additionally, they get checkbooks and learn how to use them.
They find out how much their salary is, depending on the job they landed.

They even elect a mayor...
who happened to be Kami!!!!!
(proud mom alert - pics coming)Here she is giving her town square speech
(in front of over 100 kids! she did GREAT!!!)Here she at her desk signing checks and making powerful decisions.Here is the mayor's mom. Isn't she glowing????There were mail carriers, Construction workers (from Flintco)

City workersand a dee jay! (Kami's friend Jenna)

The kids actually got paid (in Biz Town money)
and had to learn how to make desposits and withdraw BizTown cash.
Each business had a CEO and CFO who had to manage bills and payroll and employees.
Then on their lunch break, they got to spend that money on different BizTown products. Here are Kami and Lizzie on their lunchbreak.

No, I didn't ever go on a field trip like this one,
but I'm sure glad my kids get to!!!