Friday, November 11, 2016

Poco a Poco

In Guatemala there is saying for Poco a Poco, it means little by little....step by step...and I am happy to report that at the current moment with incentives in place Ashton is improving in  his behavior both at home and school.  Last week his school called us in to follow up on the incident Ashton had had a few weeks ago threatening to bring a gun to school and shoot a student.  The meeting was much different that I anticipated.  They basically  told us that Ashton's behaviors where getting in the way of his learning and wanted to brainstorm how we help make him more successful.  So this week he started a new incentive program at school and he seems to be rising to the challenge. 

We also received his report card and had his parent teacher conference with his teacher Ms. Porter.  Even though he is frequently off task, amazingly he isn't too far behind.  His teacher reports that when he wants to he can read a level B book and can write using sound/letter correspondence.   She also says he is a leader and enjoys socializing with his peers!  He loves working with others!

Praying we can channel his gifts! :)

He has also been the little love bug lately...telling both daddy and me that he loves us!  Sometimes I just wish I could bottle up his 5 year old self!

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Whirlwind October


Just love their expressions here!


October is always a fun month.  The kids had a great time dressing up and going trick-or-treating last night.  Of course Ashton was adorable as a Ninja turtle.  We really tore up Pop-Pop's neighborhood.  Ashton got so much candy his basket was too heavy and even cracked!  He was tired he fell asleep as soon as we got in the car to go home.


Ninja muscles

Behaviorally we have started Ashton on a new behavior chart and he seems to be rising to the challenge.  Hopefully we can keep up the consistency and we can extinguish some of those negative behaviors.

I continue to adore his kindergarten writing!  He spells his name and I love his S, it looks like a 3.  I don't want to correct it because it so dog gone cute!  Of course his name is note on this sample, but since it said I love mom, I just have to post it!  He also reading a little bit.  I think for the most part its a lot of memorization, but I can tell it's coming!

I love my mom and other things:)


Ashton recently got a new bunk bed (from Tia Colleen) and he has been quite happy sleeping on the top bunk!
Ashton in his bunk bed!

Both Ashton and Lily have attended art camps at the Delaplaine Art Center in Frederick and have made some pretty cool stuff!  Earlier this month they did a mixed media project.  Yesterday they did sugar skulls.

Mixed media
Last weekend we took Ashton and Lily to Diggerland in NJ.  I thought Ashton would love it!  He got to ride in a backhoe, operate a mini-digger, and drive a skid steer and dumper truck.  I think he was a happy boy!

Ashton and Daddy on the dumper truck
We also visited a fall festival with my sister.  Ashton had a fabulous time jumping on the jumping pillow and playing with his cousins in the corn maze.   They didn't have a pumpkin patch, but basically a collection of really big expensive pumpkins.   Of course  Ashton wanted one to carve.  Thankfully Daddy got in on the carving action, so with teamwork they were successful.

Ashton Daddy teamwork


Ashton's pumpkin