Sadie's Special Day

Thursday night Sadie did not want to go to bed--I think she was too excited. She kept saying "Sadie wake up." Marc and I both had Friday off to spend with Sadie on her birthday... It was a great day! Here's how it started:

We went in to wake Sadie up. (She was already out of bed cooking some breakfast in her kitchen!) We asked her what day it was and she said "Sadie's birthday!" We asked her how old she was and she replied "Two!" We sang Happy Birthday to her and then she wanted us to both lay on her bedroom floor with her.

Next we asked her if she wanted to open one present. Of course she was very excited for that! Her dad bought her this octopus bath toy because he taught her how to make an octopus "sound". She loved it!

After we got ready, we took Kinnick to the sitter for the morning so we could spend time with Sadie. (Although when we dropped him off, Sadie kept saying "Bubba go too!") We went out for donuts at Steve's Bakery (the best donuts in Streator!)

Next it was on to Bloomington to the Children's Museum. Sadie LOVED the water table. This was the first thing she did. After a while we tried to get her to see other things and she just wanted to keep playing here. Later when we were on the 2nd (and 3rd) floors, she kept asking "Where water go?"

This is one of those two-sided things where you can make impressions. We started Sadie off with hand prints and then showed her how to do her face. Marc and I were sitting on the opposite side of the wall laughing as she made little face impressions all the way across!

Next we went to visit the "hospital." Sadie looked very cute in the little Dr. coat (but didn't leave it on very long.) We never made it out of the "maternity ward"--she loved taking care of the babies (I wonder why!)

Checking out the cows...

Driving the tractor with Daddy.

This is a two-story climbing apparatus that Sadie decided to check out. I figured she would go in a little ways and then come back out. It was very crowded with kids and it was HUGE! Our little dare-devil made it all the way to the top and some kind school age girls helped guide her down and out the opposite side--it was fun to watch her! (I must admit I was getting nervous because I couldn't have made it in too far to get her!)

The last thing we did was paint. Sadie really liked this, although her favorite part was using the squirt bottle to clean off her paint.

Sadie was also very fascinated with the construction going on outside of the museum. She kept looking out the windows asking questions. We had to walk through it on the way in and out of the museum and she kept saying "What's that?"

When we got into the car we asked her if she wanted to go to McDonald's for lunch. She said yes but she also said "Go home and go to bed." What parent can argue with that?

(Her party with her friends was Friday night... more to come!)

Happy Birthday Sadie!

Time goes fast...
March 27, 2009

March 27, 2008

March 27, 2007

(Birthday Party pictures coming soon!)

Why I Teach

I've really struggled lately with working and having my own two sweeties to take care of at home. My heart longs to be with them every day, all day; yet another part of me knows that God has blessed me with the ability to teach. I'm still planning to take some time off and be a "full-time mommy", but until that time gets here, I need to record these thoughts to get me through the hard times:


This is Anthony... You would never guess it by looking, but this sweet little face has caused me much heartache and grief. However, this same face has giving me much cause to rejoice--today was a rejoicing kind of day! Anthony did several things today that AMAZED me:

• Anthony wrote to 13 completely by himself!
• Anthony stoped at the door to the gym (on his way into P.E.) and checked to make sure both his shoes were tied. (Granted he wouldn't have been able to tie them...)
• Anthony brought me a domino from the math center that was broken and said "What's wrong with this?" I told him it was broken and then said "It looks silly." Anthony repeated, "This one is silly Mrs. Gorsch!" (He then brought me a double zero domino and said it too looked silly!)
• When my students were leaving art today, Anthony stopped to pick up a pencil off the floor--he then replaced it to its rightful spot in the pencil cup and smiled at the art teacher.

Now these tasks might not seem like much when you think about a typical K student at this point in the year. This tasks REALLY don't seem like much when you know that this is Anthony's 2nd year in Kindergarten, however, I need to share his story from the beginning...
Anthony walked into my classroom last school year. Along with my other students he entered, somewhat timidly. When I asked Anthony his name, he just looked at me and grunted with a scowl on his face. When I gathered my class on the rug for a story, Anthony didn't think this was a good idea. He refused to come and yelled (very loudly) "I hate you! You can't make me!" In fact these two phrases were the only phrases I heard from Anthony for the first several weeks of school. Not only could Anthony not write a single letter, count, or name shapes and colors; he couldn't name farm animals or simple everyday items--he couldn't even say his name! He was lower intellectually then most 2 year olds and he couldn't perform most simple self-care tasks!
It didn't take a genius to realize that Anthony probably needed some extra help, so I referred him to our RTI team and b/c of the extreme nature of his case, they bumped him to top priority. After months of struggling to meet his needs our psychologist finally came to collect additional information. Anthony mostly communicated in grunts and mean facial gestures, so it was obvious he needed speech therapy. Our psychologist attempted to test him, but his lack of communication proved to make this near impossible--he scores came out in the extreme low range of "mentally impaired."
When we sat down to discuss Anthony's progress we were hesitant to send him to a self-contained MI classroom b/c it seemed that there was more to him. The team decided to try leaving him in my classroom and providing him with additional help in the form of special ed pull-out. (He began receiving speech services in the fall, but his pull-out help did not start until spring.) Typically special ed students are not contained, but my opinion was that there was no way he could go to 1st grade this year (even with his special ed services.) The team agreed and suggested that my classroom would be the best environment for him to repeat Kindergarten. I hesitantly agreed, but in my mind I was thinking "I did my time! It's someone else's turn."
Through all of my struggles to give Anthony as much love as possible I continued to pray for him. I had glimpses into his home life and it wasn't good. The only thing I knew for sure was that God made this little boy and God loves him, so I tried to see him through God's eyes--some days this was easier than others!
It's so rewarding to see that he truly is a different kid this year! He is by no means excelling academically, but everyone who works with Anthony can't believe the difference they see him. What an amazing privledge I have to lift this little child up to God in prayer... (Him along with MANY others!) God has used Anthony to remind me the importance of loving ALL of his children and to remind me what a difference he can make in the lives of children through me... This is why I teach.

Like Mother, Like Daughter

Yesterday, Sadie put on my tennis shoes and said "Turn on exercises, Mommy!" She then began doing some pretty hilarious moves...

I love the daily reminders that little eyes are always watching!

2009 Family Photos

Yesterday we had a family photo shoot... It didn't go as well as I hoped (meaning Sadie pretty much didn't cooperate at all after she spent the whole morning showing me how she was going to smile!) However, we ended up with some cute shots...

I love those chubby cheeks!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Girls Weekend!

I left Friday after school for a girls weekend! Friday night we had a shower for Abby (her wedding is coming up in May!) It was so fun to see my girls and spend time visiting (without any kids!) Our husbands were on Daddy duty! On stayed in a hotel with Liz & Jennifer Friday night and Saturday we attended Hearts at Home conference. It was a GREAT weekend!

These pics are from Chevy's restaurant:
Jennifer, Kristina, & JoniKay

Amy, Stephanie, & Abby

Amy, Liz, Jennifer, & Kristina at Hearts at Home

Ready for April Showers

10 Things I Love...

Kinnick...

1. I love coming in every morning to get you up and get you dressed. You're usually awake and laying contentedly talking to yourself. As soon as you hear my voice I see you looking for me. As soon as you see my face, your face lights up with the biggest smile and it brightens my day!

2. I love the way you will stop eating sometimes just to look up at me and smile.

3. I love the way you "sing" yourself to sleep.

4. I love the way you smile at your sister when she talks to you (even if she has just got done "patting" your head very hard or jerking you around).

5. I love watching you sit contentedly with your dad--he loves to get your biggest smiles!

Sadie...

6. I love the way you do animal impersonations--my current favorites are you penguin waddle and octopus (compliments of daddy!)

7. I love the way you yell "Mommy!" every day when I get to Miss. Jennifer's (both at lunch time and after school) and run towards me... until you get just close enough for me to reach you. Then you grin, turn, and run the opposite direction. (I also love watching you run as fast as you can--it's adorable!)

8. I love putting you to bed every night--your dad and I are usually exhausted and ready for a break, however, as soon as we sit down to relax we start talking about how cute you are and how we just can't get enough of you...

9. Obviously we don't like it when you are defiant (which can be quite regularly), but we LOVE the way you say "Nope" with a big emphasis on the p sound! (Sometime we really want to laugh at you!)

10. I love the way you love your brother. You are such an amazing big sister! It amazes me how sweet you can be... and so protective of him!

Hair Cut

I finally went to a hair place in Streator to get my hair cut (I guess after 3 years of living here it was time!) I loved the girl who cut it--she did exactly what I wanted!