Jumpstart Get Moving Family Fitness Giveaway

I was recently asked to review a new Wii game by Jumpstart. They also gave me the opportunity to give away a copy to one of my lucky readers. I just received my copy in the mail yesterday and did a little sneak peak of it. It's got fun sports games like football, volleyball, baseball, basketball, bicycle riding, and much much more.

So if you would like the fun family fitness Wii game of your own then all you have to do is leave me a comment saying what your favorite activity to do as a family is. For a 2nd entry if you have a blog and you blog about my giveaway and link back here you'll get an entry. Just be sure to come back and leave another comment for your second entry. And to receive a 3rd entry into this giveaway if you tweet about it and leave a link to your tweet you'll get another entry.

Only one winner. You must enter by June 25, 2010 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard time. I will announce the winner on June 26th. Pass this on to all of your Wii fans to give others a chance to win too.

School's Out

Every year from the time I was 10 years old my dad would play Alice Cooper's School's Out on the last day of school. We always looked forward to it. So ever since the girls started school I've been doing the same thing on the last day of school. I almost forgot this year, but the girls reminded me. So in case anyone out there is looking for a fun family tradition for the last day of school or just really like Alice Cooper, then here you go.



Natalie commented this year that she sometimes wishes school would really blow up. And Kaitlyn liked the part that goes, "No more teachers dirty looks". Yup, I think they were ready for school to be out. Maybe not on a permanent basis, but School's Out FOR THE SUMMER!

The Last Day of School

Today brings to a close another school year. This is a very different last day of school though. None of my children will be setting foot back in that school again. Well, not for academics anyways. We are on to new things next year. Natalie is moving on to the middle school and Kaitlyn is going to a new elementary school because we moved. Even CJ could be going to school next year. We had a preschool evaluation for him today. We'll know by the end of the week if he got in. I'm hopeful that the fact that he cried so bad that he had to be brought back to me will help our chances. That sounds awful doesn't it? Not that I want my child so traumatized by school or anything, but I know he can do this and will do just fine. It really will be good for him. But really, that wasn't what today was about. Today was about the sadness the girls felt leaving school today. Natalie was about to cry. Kaitlyn was very quiet. I forgot my camera and did not document today at all. And in a way that might be better. Better for Kaitlyn especially because really I think she just wants to forget this year. She has had a rough year in school this year. Her struggles in reading have really been bothering her and she was with a teacher who didn't seem to understand that or her for that matter. In a class with children that teased her a lot towards the end there. So I think she's looking forward to a new start to an extent. I know that I am looking forward to this for her.

Yesterday, I did take some pictures though. Pictures of Natalie's graduation ceremony. I did cry yesterday at her graduation. I know how bright her future is going to be, but I still can't believe she is moving onto the middle school. So many doors will open for her and she's going to do great, but still it's hard to let go. She really makes me proud. Both of my girls do.

Natalie receiving her award for excellence in all academic areas

Going back to her seat

Natalie with her 5th grade teacher Mrs. Hurlbert

Natalie with the principal Mr. Audette

Natalie with all 6 of her teachers in elementary school. From left to right: Mrs. Hurlbert (5th grade), Mr. Stafford (4th grade), Miss. Kozlowski (3rd grade), Natalie, Miss Krenicki, AKA Mrs. Rossi now, (2nd grade,) Miss Silva (1st grade), and Mrs. Lodovico (Kindergarten).

Then, just for comparison sake I took the picture of Natalie at her Kindergarten ceremony and the picture of Natalie from her 5th grade ceremony and put them side by side. What a difference 5 years makes.


The girls report cards were great. Natalie got straight A's. Kaitlyn improved in a few areas, but mostly stayed the same. I'm happy with how she did and all of her hard work though. I know I've said this over and over again, but next year really is going to be an interesting year for the Barnes Bunch. Possibly three kids in three different schools. I might not know if I'm coming or going.

Field Day 2010

This was a great year for field day. Not too sunny and not too hot. It was Natalie's last year. And 5th graders run the events at the school. Natalie's event was the parachute. She wasn't too enthused at first, but she eventually embraced it with the help of her best friend who was working it with her. The kids had lots of fun.

Natalie running the parachute

Kaitlyn balancing a ball

Kaitlyn taking her shot

Kaitlyn beaning the 5th grade helper Noah

The sack race


CJ checking out the water


Kaitlyn doing the sponge race


Natalie goofing around with the parachute

Kaitlyn's class with the parachute




Getting the instructions for the next game

Racing

Kaitlyn jumping rope

Goodbye Kindergarten!

Another fun activity at the end of the year for the kids. Natalie's disappointed that this is her last field day.

Monica's Musings #6

That's right, it's time for some more random thoughts from me.

Kaitlyn is finally having an IEP written for her reading disability. This has been something I've been pushing for since last year. Now that she's more than a grade level behind in reading they are willing to say yes there is something going on here. Better late than never I guess. So Monday morning I go and help them write the accommodations and goals for Kaitlyn for next year.

Is wondering if I should be concerned that the new school Kaitlyn will be attending next year never returned my phone call about coming in to look at the school and registering her there. That was two weeks ago and no one called me back. So we're just showing up there today.

CJ has been sleeping (napping and at night) all week long without "Bob". "Bob" is his name for his pacifier. It's funny, he no longer asks for him before going to bed, but he looks for him when he gets up. I am still hanging onto "Bob" though. I don't really know why. I mean clearly he doesn't need it. Okay, sure it takes him a little longer to go to sleep at night, but it's not like he's crying. He's actually talking to himself. It's really cute actually. Part of me is hoping he'll just stop asking and then I can toss them because I'll know for sure he doesn't need it anymore. Maybe part of me just doesn't want him to be such a big boy though.

Speaking of being a big boy, we are going next week for his preschool evaluation. Honestly his chances of getting in are rather slim. There are some 30 spots for over 80 applicants. They take children based on their needs. So this is one of those times where I have to hope that he is super shy and doesn't show them any of what he's capable of actually doing. I'm hopeful that his previous delays and failure to thrive might actually help him here. Yes, I really want him in this program. I know it will be great for him to be away from me a couple of hours a day and to get so much interaction with other children his age. He's really such a little sponge when it comes to doing what other children are doing.

If CJ does get into this preschool program then I will have 3 children in 3 different schools!

My reign as the PTA president is about to come to an end. Somehow I have the feeling that I'm still going to be involved in a more behind the scenes sort of way next year even though I won't have children there.

Natalie graduates from 5th grade next Tuesday! I cannot believe this day is almost here. She is getting so grown up. Seems like just yesterday she was giving us her first smile, or laugh. Where does the time go?

2010, the year of change for the Barnes Bunch!

Boston Trip

Natalie took a field trip to Boston this week and I got to go with them. We went to the science museum there where we saw an IMAX movie and then to Quincy Market. I had three girls in my group including Natalie. One of the girls was there for lobster. She had to buy a lobster for lunch at Quincy Market. So as soon as the IMAX movie was over that was our mission to find this girls lobster. Once lunch was over I took the girls down to the wharf where we hung out looking at the boats and the water for a little while and then headed back to Quincy Market. There we did a little shopping and watched a street performer. Then we got some ice cream and went to meet a group of people to walk back to the science museum with so we could get on the bus and go back home. It was a beautiful day in Boston. There was a lot of walking, but we had a great time.

In the Science Museum



Seeing what it feels like to be a bird in flight

My group at the Wharf

Natalie

Don't jump Natalie!

No, don't push her in the water

A view of the boats

Just hanging around



Three silly girls

We saw Joe's restaurant on the walk back to Quincy Market

A street performer

He got that hat on his head while playing the bagpipes

Juggling while playing the bagpipes

Trying to ride a unicycle while playing the bagpipes

He did it!

Found Cheers, where everyone knows your name!

It was a very long day, but it was so much fun. I'm so glad I got the opportunity to go and spend that time with Natalie.

Middle Grade Authors

As the mom of two girls between the ages of 8 and 12 when I came across this new blog about middle grade authors I said this is for me. And then I realized they are also giving away free books! Free books! Who can say no to that? I want free books. My kids want free books. I know my oldest will devour these books and eventually I hope my younger daughter would too. Go check it out for yourself though and see if you'd like to enter the giveaway as well. But at the very least look at their blog and see what they are starting over there. Certainly looks like it will be interesting. So hop on over to From the Mixed Up Files and check out what they are doing over there.

School Wide Field Trip to the Rock Cats

This week the entire school went to a local baseball game. My friends and I tagged along on the trip. We did not go as chaperones so we could stay for the whole game and keep our kids since we knew they were leaving early. I'm glad I was there for fun too and not to help because those who were there to help went on bathroom trips a lot. It was a beautiful hot day. The Rock Cats lost the game, but we still had fun. I left my camera in the car so there were some shots that my friend got for me of the kids.

Natalie and Kaitlyn sitting with their class



Me and CJ watching the game

A shot of the school on the big TV

After the school leftNoah, Mikayla, Kyle, Hunter, CJ, Natalie, and Kaitlyn

Natalie

Kaitlyn

A few shots from the game



On the Cool Beans Cam again

Game over! Kaitlyn, CJ, and Natalie

A very fun field trip!