Ava Loves School!

Ava really seems to be thriving in school!

It's kind of funny... some days I won't hear much about what went on at school.  Yesterday, she commented on "Wow, we've talked a lot about what happened at school today!"  I told her I really like when she tells me everything that goes on at school.

Ava took COGAT testing in October, as do all 1st graders (and 3rd graders), I believe, in Cobb County.  After the first round of testing, those students who excelled went on to additional testing.  Ava made the second round.  Of those students, they determined which could participate in her school's TARGET program, for gifted students.  Ava made it in!  Because the school only tests in 1st and 3rd grades, she will be part of this program until at least third grade, where all third graders will again be tested to determine future participation. 

Because of her scores and her teacher's recommendation to the board, Ava will be participating for one full school day, every week, in a TARGET program.  Out of 24 kids in her class, 17 kids will be part of the program.  At first glance, that sounds like a very large percentage.  Most other 1st grade classes do have fewer students in them (from 15 students up); I have a feeling Mrs. Lane's class may have included a larger number of students because they felt the students would be able to keep up with the material covered, based on kindergarten teacher input.  I will be curious to see how many students, total, will participate in the TARGET program in 1st grade.  (There are SIX 1st grade classes at Murdock!)

So this information alone had us on cloud nine, excited for such an amazing opportunity for her.

The day Christmas vacation started, Ava came home with the results of a "TOPS" tests.  She takes these tests (quizzes) after reading a book on the computer.  The test results relayed that the book she read was grade level 4.2 (FOURTH GRADE!).  She received an 80% on it (4/5 questions right).  The results relayed that her average reading level is grade 3.5 (mid 3rd grade).  Crazy!  She IS a little reader.  Grandma and Grandpa Carey got her "Diary of a Wimpy Kid:  The Last Straw" for Christmas.  She is really enjoying reading it.  I asked if she would read it to me, and she read it as fast as I would have read it to her.  I had to stop at a few different words, to be sure she understood what she was reading.  She did understand what she was reading, and the context.

When we returned from Hawaii, Ava presented a handmade card each to Doug and me, which told us how much she missed us and loved us.  Grandma Carey said "She was not prompted.  She did this totally on her own."  That sounds very much like Ava.  She is very crafty and continues to enjoy making things / drawing things. 

The TARGET gifted program starts on January 15th.  We had to buy new school supplies specifically for her to use in that class.  I bought some super fun folders and supplies she should really enjoy.  I am really excited to hear how her day goes that day!  Hoping this is the start of a really fun time in school for her.

Peace, love and smarties,
Shelly, Doug, Ava and Liam

2013: Here We Come!

Okay, so I haven't been able to come up with a super-rhymey, cutesy "2013" phrase.  Stay tuned.  I will try to do a better job blogging this year.. I will try to do a better job blogging this year... I will try to do a better job blogging this year...How crazy the last year has been.  Between Daisy Girl Scouts, swimming lessons, gymnastics lessons, homework, working on the deck outside, finishing up the retaining wall, laying sod, you name it, 2012 it has been a full year!  So full, blogging got squeezed right on out of it!

Doug and I just got back from a trip to Hawaii, to celebrate our 15 year anniversary a few weeks early.  We kicked around the idea of going somewhere over Christmas break, since the kids would have a host of grandparents who could help watch them while we were gone.  Originally we thought about going to Greece, but they had zero cruises available and we know their economy is in the toilet right now.  I have ALWAYS wanted to go to Hawaii.  Grandfather got to go to 48 states, and came 500 miles from Hawai'i while in the Navy.  I decided I'd like to round out his list for him.  ;-)

Hawaii it was.  Once we decided in LATE NOVEMBER, Doug THREW together a trip.  How lucky we were that it all worked out... Normally people would have booked vacations like this by, oh, say AUGUST?????   Fortunately everything was still "bookable" and flights were available.  I appreciate his hard work in planning it all.  It worked out so well!  It sounds like everyone had a great time back here on the "mainland" while we were gone.  The kids enjoyed Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Sherry snuggles, lots of snow and just plain "getting spoiled" by family.  :)  I think it was good for them to be apart from us.

In Hawaii, we tried to fit so many things into such a short trip, I think we exhausted ourselves!  I don't think we slept more than 5 hours a night.  On our drive back from Michigan to Georgia, I started getting the chills, so I knew I had met my "Waterloo."  The next day I had a fever and flu symptoms, even after having the flu shot in early December.  I digress. 

Cliff notes version of our trip? 
12/20 - Ava's holiday party at school.  Drove from there to Aunt Jean's house in Rockholds, KY.
12/21 - Continued driving to Michigan.
CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS!
12/27 - Flew from Detroit Metro to Phoenix, from Phoenix to Maui.
12/29 - Flew from Maui to Lihue, Kaua'i.
01/03 - Flew from Lihue, Kaua'i to Honolulu. 
01/04 - Flew from Honolulu to Phoenix, from Phoenix to Detroit Metro.

I will post more pictures and detail later.  For  now, we officially have a blog entry on the books for 2013.  Woo-hoo!

:)
Peace, love and ALOHA,
Shelly, Doug, Ava and Liam