Kindergarten Parent Meeting

Yesterday evening the Kindergarten parents had a meeting with the teacher. We all met prior to the first day but the teachers wanted the parents to come together again and discuss how things are going in Kindergarten and what they hope for the kids to learn. I must say it was quite amusing to see a bunch of adults sitting in little bitty kindergarten chairs during the meeting.
As Ryan and I looked around the room we noticed a bulletin board that had the names of all the kids that knew their colors. There are twenty kids in Madelyn's class and only nineteen names were listed. Guess whose name was not listed? Yep, Madelyn. Ryan and I were a bit concerned because we had thought we had done a decent job of teaching Madelyn her colors. Since I'm a helicopter mama (I like to hover), or so Ryan says, we asked the teacher why Madelyn's name is not on the board. She said she must have left her off by mistake because she was quite sure that Madelyn knew all her colors. That was quite a relief to hear.

Today when I got home from work and was checking my e-mail this is what I found from Madelyn's teacher:

Hey Ryan and Jennifer,
I just want to thank you for keeping me on my toes and apologize again for stressing you out about the K checking! The chart is fixed!!! Madelyn is doing just GREAT!!!! I love having her in class; she is bright, witty, and lots of fun!!!!! I'm so glad to be getting to know her and sharing this year!!!
Have a wonderful week-end!
Pam Olson

I'm sure there will be many more concerns we come across while Madelyn is in school, but thankfully this one was easily resolved.

Manhappiness

This past weekend Ryan went on a fishing trip to Missouri so Madelyn and I decided that we would take a road trip to Manhattan to hang out with Jen and the boys (they actually live outside of Manhattan, closer to Wamego). We arrived at their house by 6:00pm on Friday night and Jen had supper on the table for us. After we snarfed our dinner we headed in to Manhattan for the K-state pep rally. The kids enjoyed the cotton candy, face painting and second hand toys (you had to be there to appreciate that). Then we watched the fireworks finale. It was like 4th of July all over again. We ended our evening with some ice cream at TCBY and then a movie and popcorn when we got home. We all crashed around 11:00pm. Madelyn was up before 7:00am and proceeded to wake up the rest of the house too. Jen had fixed an awesome banana nut bread for breakfast. After breakfast we headed to the walking path in Wamego. Madelyn and Garrett rode their scooters and Jen and I walked the mile loop. We then headed back home to clean up and went in to Manhattan to do a bit of shopping and eat at the Early Edition diner. Again, more great food. After lunch we took the kids to the Sunset Zoo. I hadn't been there since I took Matt when he was 2 years old (he is now 17)and this was a first trip for Madelyn. It is such a nice zoo. I actually like it better than the Sedgwick County Zoo. We were all hot and tired after about two hours so headed to the house for power naps. Or, at least Jen and I took naps. As Jen and her family headed off to the K-state game Saturday afternoon, we headed to Council Grove to hang out with my sister and her family. We hung out for a bit and had dinner at Pizza Hut. Then Madelyn and I headed to Papa and Nana Muhlig's house for a short visit before we headed home. Madelyn was crashed out about 10 minutes into the ride home and slept the rest of the way. We had a great time and were so happy to spend some time with family. It is not often that we get to do that.


Garrett was pretending to be a goat that needed fed. The people at the feeder wouldn't feed him.


The Gordons' minus Travis
PeaHawk, as Madelyn calls it.
Madelyn crashed out!

Canine Attack

As many of you know I aspire to be a runner. I usually try to get my rear out of bed 3-5 mornings a week for a morning jog. I've been running consistently since 2003 and in all my years of running I've had very few run-ins with dogs. Every now and then a little ankle biter will come charging out of his yard and I will drop kick the SOB and away I'll go. Well, this morning I was less than a mile from being done with my run, listening to Hinder sing me a tune when a large black lab (yes, a lab) bolted out of his yard growling and barking. It then proceeded to lunge at me, and attempted to bite me. Thankfully I wear lose fitting shorts because that is what he got a mouthful of. He knocked me off balance and I fell to the ground. I screamed because at that point I was a little bit terrified. Then I yelled "call you f*cking dog." Okay, well at 5:45am in the morning many people are still sleepy eyed and could careless about some silly runner that is being attacked by a dog. I continued to walk as the dog barked and growled within inches of my legs. Finally when I got out of sight of his yard he turned around and went home. I then started running again and noticed a guy standing in his garage that probably heard all of it. At that point I was a bit embarrassed, put my tail between my legs and sprinted home. It was probably the fastest I've run in a while. I was running on adrenaline. I then run into the house and wake my slumbering husband to tell him about it. In a less than thrilled voice he said, "what do you want me to do, kill the dog?" Yes he was one of those people that could care less about a runner getting attacked by a dog. :)

New Wheels

For my mom's 58th birthday (this past Friday) my dad got her a scooter. It is kind of like a mo-ped but mom says its not. It goes up to 40 mph and gets 100 mpg. I am so proud that my mom ventured out and is willing to try something new. I think she looks pretty darn cool on her new ride. I did lecture her about not having on a helmet but she said she is planning to get one soon. She says she won't be venturing out on the highway it is only for in town use. So, if you are ever in CG you may get to see this (maybe the leather and tattoos will show up by her next birthday):

Final Summer Project

Ryan usually has numerous home projects that he completes during his summer break. The final project for this summer was adding onto our deck. Since we enjoy entertaining friends we decided it was time to add on to our small deck. He completed the project in a matter of days. Our next goal was to purchase patio furniture. Since Ryan is all about saving a dime he checked out the local shopper and found a set. He drove to ElDorado to check it out last night. Then Madelyn and I went along today for the final approval. The patio set includes a rectangle table with 6 chairs (two of which are rockers) and two foot stools (not sure if that is the correct terminology), with all the cushions. The set is only two years old and was kept indoors on a screened in porch. It is in mint condition. They were asking $175 but Ryan talked them down to $160. Tonight we enjoyed a picnic dinner of hot dogs and chips on our new patio set.

First Day of Kindergarten

Today was a big day in the Muhlig household. Madelyn had her very first day of Kindergarten. I could tell she was a little anxious because she woke up three times last night and came to my side of the bed and with all kinds of explanations of why she needed to sleep on the floor next to our bed. By the third visit I decided it wasn't worth the battle so she made her nest beside our bed and slept soundly the rest of the night. She was bright eyed and busy tailed when Ryan woke her at 7:00am. After finishing her morning routine, eating breakfast and a few first day snap shots we were off to school. Of course we had to stop by the school sign for a picture and I videotaped as she walked into the school, down the hall and to her classroom. Her teacher said a few quick words, handed us a note, we each hugged her and she was whisked away. Tears welled up in my eyes as I walked away. I started to open the note and Ryan suggested I wait until I get to the car because it would probably make me cry. I composed myself quite well until I got to the car then the tears came. I read the note from the teacher and more tears came. The ride to work was tougher than usual but by the time I made it there I had pulled myself together and all was well. I then remembered that I had not given the teacher a list of who would be picking Madelyn up from school so I just had to e-mail her. I was very pleased when she responded and told me that she was really enjoying getting to know Madelyn and she was such a sweetheart. My heart swelled about two times the normal size and I started to tear up again.
I was so excited to get home after work and talk to Madelyn about her day. I was very pleased when she reported she had a great day. She loved coloring and recess and learned not to kick, push or be mean to other kids. But she wasn't real keen on the school lunches. Sounds like a great day to me.

Treat Her Well

Dear World,
I bequeath to you today one little girl in a crisp dress , two twinkling eyes and a happy laugh that ripples all day long and a flash of shiny hair that bounces in the sun when she runs. I trust you’ll treat her well. She’s slipping out of the back yard of my heart this morning and skipping off down the street to her first day of school and never again will she be completely mine. Frail and proud she’ll wave her young and independent hand this morning and say “Good Bye” and walk with little lady steps to the school house. Now she’ll learn to stand in lines and wait by the alphabet for her name to be called. She’ll learn to tune her ears for the sounds of school bells and deadlines and she’ll learn to giggle and gossip and look to the ceiling in a disinterested way when the little boy across the isle sticks out his tongue at her. And now she’ll learn to be jealous and now she’ll learn how it feels to be hurt inside now she’ll learn how not to cry. No longer will she have time to sit on the front porch steps on a summer day and watch an ant scurry across the crack in the side walk. Nor will she have time to pop out of the bed with the dawn and kiss the lilac blooms in the morning dew. No, now she’ll worry about those important things. Things like grades, and which dress to wear and whose best friend is whose. The books and learning will replace the blocks and dolls. Now she’ll find new heroes. For 5 full years now, I’ve been her sage and Santa clause and pal and playmate and father and friend. Now she’ll learn to share her worship with her teachers which is only right but no longer will I be the smartest greatest man in the whole world. Today when that school bell rings for the first time she’ll learn what it means to be a member of a group with all of its privileges and disadvantages too. She’ll learn in time that proper young ladies do not laugh out loud or kiss dogs or keep frogs in pickle jars in bedrooms or even watch ants scurry across cracks in sidewalks in the summer. Today she’ll learn for the first time that all who smile at her are not her friends and I’ll stand at the front porch and watch her start out on that long lonely journey to becoming a woman. So world I bequeath to you today one little girl in a crisp dress with two twinkling eyes and a flash of hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs. I trust you’ll treat her well.

~Author Unknown