Spring is here! ... almost

Just look at those beauties!  Heavenly Father gave us such a wonderful creation as the first early blossom of the year.

 Ammon got a new bike for Christmas and this was the first time on it.  He didn't forget how to ride over the winter!  He took right off, no probelmo.  I was worried because he learned late in the fall last year, but he did great!

 Allison finished up her last day of skating in phy-ed (or for us 80s folks, gym) and was excited to roller blade.

 We went to the park which was still covered in snow.  A. Lot. Of. Snow.

 I taught Allison something I learned in elementary school last year, which she loves to do now.  No flipping over or anything, just swinging upside down.  Fun times.

 Super Sweet Game.  All you need is a row of swings.
Here's a video and another one (this one is better).

Gorgeous day out!  I'm still not up to par.  Five days now.  The stairs at the University of Minnesota for the robot competition about did me in this morning.  I have about 75% less energy than normal and my appetite is a little shaky, but I'm up and about.  Yay!

Panthinators!

Jacob has been involved in FIRST Robotics this year. 
It's a robot competition. 
He's in a high school team that has to build a working machine that will do a specific task against the other teams' robots.  He's been working on this for several months and the culmination of all their hard work ended today.  It was a major time commitment for our family and he didn't even go to several of the meetings.  They met every week Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday for over two months.  I must be honest and say that Jacob was not a huge contributor.  He was one of the kids in the back ground.  He had ideas that occasionally  listened to, but he needs someone to guide him and keep him on task.  There were a few kids that were, not exactly bossy, but very controlling of everything.  This is very much a 'take it and run' kind of program, but he LOVED it.  Hopefully next year, he'll have more of an understanding of the program and put himself out there more.   

Here are some pictures:

Jacob explaining one of his ideas with our mentor Eric B.

Most of the group is pictured here.  These tubes were the types used in the competition.

 Our robot is out there, red side.  Team #3699

I love this one.  There were bright lights scanning the crowd.

They finished in 27th out of 60 teams.  Nice job fellas!

These boots were made for....anywhere.

I am one hottie.  

Justin and I went out with some friends the other night and I asked him what he wanted me to wear.  His canned answer is "the leopard spotted boots."

Justin bought me these precious gems a few years for .99 at a thrift store, even in my size 8 (and they're not even uncomfortable).  I did wear them once for a quick jaunt out to the store when I first got them, or maybe it was a movie.  Whatever it was it was short and dark out. 

They've been sitting in my closet wasting their styalized perfection and I thought "why not?  This should be fun."

So here is the outfit I wore.  

Smokin' right? haha!

I loved seeing my friends reaction and the best was the waitress who commented on them (which I won't put on here).  

Definitely the boots for any occasion.

*This post is so full of sarcasm it might make explode.

Update on Isaac

I've been sick, and I mean sick the past couple of days so my attitude might be off on things.

I'm not sure how I feel about how things were handled with Isaac and Jake (the meanie) at his school.

Isaac did finally "remember" that he'd been bothering Jake (it sounded harmless to me, but I wasn't there) and I guess there was also a mis-communication between them about something.  Isaac was goofing off and accidentally flung a pencil and it hit Jake, which ticked Jake off when people laughed.

Jake also misheard and thought Isaac called him weak, which he didn't, so got even more ticked off.  

Isaac is still claiming he didn't do anything intentionally wrong, but it seemed like the Vice Principal got the story wrong as well.  The VP told me that Isaac had been antagonizing Jake and calling him names; Isaac said he got it wrong.  I'm sure there was more to the story, as there always is.  I'm not saying my Isaac is innocent.

Anyway, the end of the story is that Isaac got out-of-school suspension and had to fill out some paperwork about bullying.  

He thinks Jake got the same punishment as him.  He didn't miss any days of school.  

THAT is what I don't know what to think of.  

What do you think?  I'd love to hear other people's reactions to this and if I'm off.  

It seems to me that a person who beat up someone else should have harsher punishment than the antgonizer. 

T. O. 'd

I'm feeling quite put out.  

Not as much as Isaac is right now, but as a parent, I'm unhappy.

Isaac came home from school with bloodshot eyes from crying stating that he'd been beat up at school.

A boy in one of his classes punched him in the head in the hallway, then later in the day, in the locker bays.  

My poor little Isaac has a welt on his forehead and a purple bruise and a scrape on his cheek.  

He was too embarrassed to tell a teacher because he didn't want to cry in front of them.

Even if he had been bugging this kid like crazy (which Isaac proclaims he has no idea what he did to provoke him), he shouldn't be getting sucker punched in the head over a dozen times or at all.

Where were the teachers?  Other students to help?

Justin and/or I is going to go in with Isaac tomorrow to meet with Mr. Young at the school.  I called the school immediately when I found out the details from Isaac.  The assistant principal acted like this was a big issue and would be dealt with.  I'm hoping from some past experiences that Justin and I have learned a little and can do our best for Isaac.  We read up on the school's bullying policy.  

I started the day off with a migraine; Ammon's second day home in a row due to a fever/cough/runny nose; mega laundry day; trying to finish editing a session (NOT done at all yet); planning a trip to Oklahoma over spring break; and then Jacob having a severe meltdown tonight.  

I don't know if I can handle another day like today.  I'm praying for strength to be the best mom I can to my kids. 

On the up side, I taught Allison how to play Dominion.  She picked it up super quickly and likes it.  Yay!  My new all time favorite game.

Recoreder Concert

 

Allison's 4th grade recorder Concert.  Not what I was expecting at all.  They had back up booming tunes.  I volunteer on Thursday's for 45 minutes so am getting to know her classmates :)  

I love the "Hi Ms. Dittmer!!!" 

10 year Photo Shoot

I took Allison out on a cold Sunday for a quick photo session.  She is such a happy go lucky girl.  Skipping in the snow with no complaints.