it's 3 years old all over again

the past few weeks have been difficult with cameron in school. he has tested so poorly we're getting concerned. the issues of paying attention, listening and following directions have always been things we've had to keep an eye on, but this is the first time he's gotten such awful grades this early in the year. i am really struggling with drawing the line between stubbornness and learning disability! some days it seems like he just can't help being distracted, and other days it really feels like he's just not trying hard enough. i have set up an assessment for language processing delay, which is something he might struggle with, so we'll have to wait to see the results from that, and then take the next step. i know he can do so much better than this! he is such a smart, bright, creative kid! we've gone the route of the IEP, which he tested OUT of in the spring, after 2 1/2 years. i just need to know what the next step is!
if there are any suggestions or advice on dealing with this, i'm all ears. i just don't know how to help him!!

spectacular spiderman!

i'd gotten caloway a spiderman lunch bag at target last night - they were 75% off! anyway, i pulled it out of the car for him tonight, and he was so excited, he kept saying, "mom! thanks for my pe-taccalar spiderman bag!" over and over ... i couldn't figure out what he was saying, so I asked him,

"what is it again?"
"Mom! Thanks for my petacular spiderman bag!"
Oh! Your "spectacular" spiderman bag?
"Yeah, my pectaccalar spiderman bag!"

Since when does he use the word Spectacular?! it was just so cute, i could eat him up! love that boy!

blast from the past

thought i'd share a few old yearbook photos of tim and me!

discovering vocabulary

this is a test that cameron brought home yesterday. they are learning new vocabulary words, and how to describe them. cameron made good use of the word "plunged". isn't this a great fact for all his classmates and teachers to know? hehe.

tender heart

we went to see kit kittredge over the weekend! claire was ecstatic, because she has the kit doll now, and was thrilled to see some of her doll's outfits on the real kit in the movie! it was a very sweet movie, about a young girl and her family surviving during the Depression in Cincinnati. we loved that it was set so close to home! There were a few scenes involving Kit and her dad that were emotional, with her dad having to leave to find work in chicago. kit was so upset to see her dad go, and was hugging him, and making him promise to write her every week. i happened to glance over at cameron, and his big, shimmery eyes were glued to the screen, as he wiped a few tears from his cheeks. there were a few other moments that were tear-worthy, and little cammy was so into the movie, you could see him struggling with his emotions as he took it all in. i tapped his arm, and told him i loved him, and he answered in return, trying to hide his tears, being a big boy. what a sweet, tender heart my boy has - his empathy is something that will greatly serve him as he grows up to be a man. it is one of many things that i love and admire in his daddy! i am very proud of my son.

baking anyone?

i got this fabulous cookbook recently - A Passion for Baking, by Marcy Goldman. fall is just around the corner, with crisp evenings, apple picking, pumpkin carving ... no wonder it's one of my favorite seasons! if you've got a few afternoons with a couple of hours available for creating some fabulous doughs, get this book! pizzas, muffins, scones, breads, rolls, cookies, cakes - it's simply divine! one in particular - garlic slathered stretch bread - takes your breath away!! invest in some good quality baking pans, stock up on parchment paper, pure vanilla, real butter, unbleached flour, and extra-virgin olive oil, and discover the difference it makes! i got mine at amazon. happy baking!