Back to the grind

Gracie has officially completed her first two weeks of school.  I must say that this has NOT been the easiest back-to-school for us.  We have had a few teachery-type issues, and I have already had to meet with the teacher this year because of them.  Gracie seems to be handling things fairly well now.  She had homework every night last week (which she thought was awful), but it wasn't anything she couldn't accomplish within 20 minutes or so.

Thankfully, going back-to-school puts everyone back on a regular rhythym.  We get up around 6:30 and get ready.  I generally make breakfast of some sort for everyone and pack Gracie's lunch.  We sit down for breakfast, and then we are out the door for school.  John and I have been dropping Gracie off around 7:35, and then we go over the civic center and walk on the trail.  I pick Gracie up at 2:45, and if it is a regular day she comes home where she has a snack, practices guitar, and then completes homework.  On Monday's, she has guitar lessons right after school, so that takes the place of practicing.  On a good day, Gracie is done with all practice / homework by 4:00, and she gets to spend an hour or so playing or just relaxing before dinner.  We also have soccer practice on Mondays and Thursdays, so the relaxing time is limited.  I generally cook dinner while Gracie is doing her homework, but it just depends on how long it takes to cook.  We try to eat around 5:00 every night.  Gracie's bedtime is 8:30 this year, but she is required to be in bed for reading time @ 8:00. 

I will be honest...it does seem like Gracie's life is very scheduled.  For the most part, this is correct, but I don't know how to operate any other way.  My parents will tell you that I scheduled my own life from the time I started school.  It is just how I work.  I know from experience that letting Gracie make her own schedule does not work.  When we allow her to deviate from the plan, she becomes irritable and hard to deal with.  (This doesn't mean we never allow her to deviate, we try to stick to our structure as best as we can.)  As a teacher and parent, I know what benefits scheduling provides, and I also know what happens when there is absolutey no structure.  From my experience, scheduling is a much better option.  Gracie knows what to expect.  No child will ever say...please organize and schedule my life, but you will see happier, healthier children if you take the time to do it.   Off the soap box now...


       

Birthday continued...

We finally completed a week long birthday celebration for Gracie.  She turned 9 on Friday, August 6.  We spent the whole day doing what Gracie wanted.  We went to lunch at a local Mexican restaurant, where Gracie opened her gifts from us.  She got the Bitty Baby doll from American Girl she was just dying to have and some books and a DS game.  After lunch, my mom and I took her to see Ramona and Beezus.  It was such a cute movie.  Gracie had soccer camp all last week, so she had to finish that up Friday night.

Saturday some friends came by and played with Gracie for awhile.  After they left, Gracie and I made her birthday cake.  She chose french vanilla cake with cherry icing and a WHOLE LOT of sprinkles.  It turned out great! 

Sunday, we had a surprise lunch for Gracie.  Several family and friends came over to eat spaghetti (Gracie's favorite) with us.  She had no idea either.  We all ate and played awhile.  The biggest surprise of the whole week was that Gracie's grandma drove up from Georgia to spend the weekend with her.  We didn't tell Gracie she was coming, so it was BIG surprise.  Gracie loved it! 

**I thought I would do something a little different for awhile.  I changed our web picture to a great card we sent out for Gracie's birthday.  A friend of mine designed it, and we thought it turned out fanstastic! 

Life in the ATL

As part of a week long birthday celebration, we took Gracie and her friend, Hunter, to Atlanta this past weekend.  We went to the World of Coke, Georgia Aquarium, and Atlanta Zoo.  We also went to Ikea, but it wasn't an official birthday stop.  ;) 

The World of Coke was quite interesting.  We watched a short film about what goes into Coca-Cola in 4D.  We were sprayed with water repeatedly, poked in the back, jerked around, and the blown in the face with what felt like a supersonic hair dryer.  The kids LOVED it!  We also got to taste different types of Coke products from around the globe.  They have one that tastes like cough syrup...it is just awful!  I am curious how those people stand it.  At the end, Gracie and Hunter spent some of their hard-saved cash in the gift shop before venturing to the aquarium.

The Georgia Aquarium was nice.  I expected a lot better from all the hype though.  There were some very good things about the place.  John, Gracie, and Hunter were fascinated by the Whale Shark.  It was quite LARGE!!  The penguins weren't very interested in entertaining people on Saturday, but the Belgua Whales made up for it.  They kept swimming right in front of the glass.  They are amazing.  

After the aquarium, we took the kids to the Varsity to eat dinner.  We were all quite hungry after such a long day of gawking and drinking sugar-loaded sodas.  Hunter has never been to the Varsity, so it was a new experience for him.  We love the place, and we go everytime we are in Atlanta.  They have some of the best hot dogs!  Yummm!

Sunday, we went to the Atlanta Zoo.  We got there as soon as they opened, so we wouldn't melt away in the heat.  It was still miserably hot and humid!  I remember why I don't like Georgia now!!  Most of the animals were out (even in the heat), and the kids took a million pictures of them.  They were really interested in the gorillas.  Gracie asked about a million questions about Willie B.  He was the gorilla Atl. Zoo had long ago.  He died a few years back, and Gracie never got to see him.  I remember going to the zoo many times when I was growing up, and we were always interested in Willie B.  It actually made the news when he died.  He was quite old though.  (The new pic is of Gracie and Willie B.) 

So, after what seemed like the longest weekend ever...we are back home and running as usual.  Gracie had guitar lessons and soccer camp today, so she will be exhausted later.  She starts school Monday, and I am not quite sure that has sunk in yet.  She will also be 9 on Friday.  That is what she is looking forward to the most!!!