Progress Report

Vern brought his progress report home the other day. He has solid B's and one C.  That is GREAT!!!

We are not having the roller coaster grades and can tell he is trying. Most times he loves to be lazy but if you get him to focus he does great. I believe he could be a straight A student if he just decided school was worthwhile.  The medications he is taking seems to be making a big difference. Not to mention the light is back in his beautiful blue eyes.

I don't think anyone has discovered the secret to get kids excited and thinking school is worthwhile. Some take to it naturally while others would rather be doing anything BUT school.

I have been reading Alex Rider books to Vern this fall. He loves them. They are books about a 15 year old boy who is like a 007 James Bond character. Last night we read about river rats climbing on this kid. I could barely get though it but Vern loved it. His eyes were as big as saucers!  THAT is the kind of engagement I want him to have for all his subjects in school.

I will keep working on that. I also need to keep better attention of Vern. I have been slacking off not making mental notes of the funny things he does each day to record in this blog. BAD MOMMY...  Yes, I have been working on other blogs. You can always go read those if you are bored with these. :-)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving

from one of our many pets.

 Followed immediately by:

I guess she is telling us all how she really feels. :-)

Don't Stop Believing

So we were driving in the car one day and Vern was listening to his Ipod.  One of his favorite songs came on and he began to sing out loud. Now remember he is the only one that can hear the music. He loves the song so he is singing LOUD and he sings like he is tone deaf. Also note 95% of the kids at his age sing like they are tone deaf so this is nothing bad against Vern, it is just how kids are.

The song is Don't Stop Believing by Journey. A good old 80's rock tune.  Here is how the song is supposed to start out:

Just a small town girl, livin' in a lonely world
She took the midnight train goin' anywhere
Just a city boy, born and raised in south Detroit
He took the midnight train goin' anywhere

A singer in a smokey room
A smell of wine and cheap perfume
For a smile they can share the night
It goes on and on and on and on

Here is what we heard from Vern:
 
Just a small town girl, livin' in a lonely world

She took the midnight train going anywhere
(great job Vern)
Just a sweaty boy, born and raised in south Detroit
He took the midnight train going anywhereeeeeeeeeee
(hubby and I look at each other and begin laughing - yes our dirty minds took over)
A singer in a smokey room

mumble mumble mumble perfumeeeeeeeeee
mumble smile mumble mumble
mumble on and on and onnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

The rest of the song progressed in that same manner so you get the picture. Now this may not seem so funny reading it but hubby and I were loving it. It was just one of those moments where you LOVE your kids to death because they make you laugh! It was precious and I never want to forget it.

Happy 11th Birthday Vern!!!!!

HAPPY 11TH BIRTHDAY VERN!

He couldn't WAIT to open his presents. He had present time #1 at his Grandma's last Sunday. He loved the black football from Uncle Jim and the playing catch time.

He had present time #2 the morning of his birthday at my house. These are the photos from that. We are having his birthday meal: sloppy joes, green beans, and french fries on Saturday.  He also wants a chocolate cake, with fudge filling, and chocolate frosting. Zowie is he my son or what?!?!??!?!

Yes that is his breakfast in front of him. Chocolate soy milk and a sausage patty with syrup. (Yuck)

Presents #3 are still to come from his aunt in Missouri and my parents. Both of those will arrive in the mail later this week.

I am thinking he is liking his birthday!

Harvest in Iowa

Vern finally got to go back to the farm for harvest. He had been looking forward to this for a while and I am very glad everything worked out and he was able to go.  Vern headed up on a Friday night. Grandpa and Grandma met him at the 1/2 way point. He jumped out of the car with his stuff and hopped into their car ready to go!  It was Grandma and Grandpa's 47th anniversary!

I got a couple updates during the weekend. Saturday Grandpa had to call and tell me how Vern ran and jumped in a tractor at his first opportunity. It was a great time to ride tractors, haul grain in the semi, and combine the corn in a huge combine.  It was extra special that the weather held out and he was able to do a lot of things outside.

Vern's quote: "It was very exciting at first but after a while the combine got boring."  I don't think he ever got bored with the semi.

Sunday morning Grandpa and Vern went for a ride around the neighborhood. Vern got a little worried with no particular destination at hand. He asked Grandpa "Where are we going now!?!"

I sent the camera and didn't get any photos of Vern combining or in the truck but I will share ones that he took during his fun weekend at the farm.

Vern likes self portraits.

Here is a shot of combining corn.

Here we have the tractor hauling in the grain.

Here we have the grain pile where all the farmers store their harvest. It is HUGE!  The picture really doesn't do justice to how big it is.

Here is the conveyor/auger machine that can unload a semi in something like 8 minutes. 

Here we have Miley. She loves sitting in the lawn chair. She is the complete opposite of the dog we have! Vern loves all dogs and had a great time playing with her.

She really is a pretty dog.

Here is one Vern just HAD to take when I went to find the camera. His quote after taking the picture: "Your SOOOO pretty mom."  Made me melt.

Vern was a great kid and wrote the farmer that let him tag along a very nice Thank You.  I appreciate the family that let Vern see a great perspective of farming today.