Where have we been?

We have been at home and just taking it easy. Well, I say that but actually Brent has been busy wrapping things up at FSU! Yeah! I got a pedicure and went shopping with MiMi! We took Cullen cruising in the convertible last Saturday! It was a slow ride around the neighborhood, and he was strapped in the car seat. I'm not sure if he enjoyed it or not because he fell asleep! He did ask to go for a ride in the tractor again. I'm not sure why he called it a tractor.

I need to send a Big "CONGRATULATIONS" out to Hannah! She was accepted to Georgetown! WOW!
Hannah, you are terrific! Great Work! I know you will make the right decision about your college!

I promise pictures of the family visiting from Mobile and vacation will be appearing soon. I haven't had access to a home computer lately!

See YA!

Ph.D.

Congratulations to Dr. B. Cullen Estes!

He had his last defense and is officially a Dr.!

I am so proud of all his hard work and determination!

I Love You!

This is a picture of Dr. Estes and Cullen at the beach!

What's Up?

I have been a slacker. Sorry for not posting anything for a while. Here is an update of life's fascinating events at our place:

• Nana, Aunt Brandi, Emily and Brittany came to visit the last weekend in February. It was alot of fun. Poor Cullen still asks for them time to time. Pictures to come!
• I got a major haircut. I mean major. It is short! Thanks Mom!!!
• The attacker at daycare no longer attends. Cullen still talks about him.
• I had a bad cold. It put me in bed! If you know me, then you know that is a big deal. Thanks Brent and MeMe for taking care of me and Cullen!!
• Aggie and Nomar went to the vet. They saw Dr. Green. Both are fine! After Dr. Green saw both dogs, Cullen began saying Cullen's turn, Cullen's turn! He wanted the vet to listen to his heart! Cullen now asks to go see Dr. Green. He is a very nice man! Maybe we could get a discount on all three if we used Dr. Green for Cullen, too? HA!HA!
• We are going on vacation during Spring Break. It is Brent's early graduation present! Cape San Blas here we come!
• During our vacation Brent will be completing his last defense for his dissertation. GOOD LUCK!!

I will blog when I return and add pictures!

Victim!

Cullen has gone from being the aggressor to the victim. On Wednesday, I picked Cullen up from daycare. He was very happy to see me. When he runs up to me I notice the scratch marks down the right side of his face, on his check and on his neck.

I get his note to read it because the afternoon girl knew nothing about the incident. It seems Cullen was playing with some toys in the corner when one of his "friends" attacked him. He was bleeding from his neck and crying. They took him to the office, doctored him up, and loved him. When they write these notes they will not give you the name of the child who does the attacking or who they attacked. We are fortunate that Cullen can verbalize very well. When I asked he told me a boy did it. When his daddy asked he said, "Isaac did it!"

This kid has a wrap sheet longer than Cullens. I believe his past offenses have been a lot more serious than hitting with a toy hammer. Cullen has come home in the past saying, "No, No Isaac. Share. Not nice."

The daycare assured us that the situation was being addressed. When Brent picked him up Thursday afternoon, there was a daddy having a heated discussion with one of the directors. Brent heard this, "Sir , when a child requires all the attention of both teachers it leaves nothing the others. There have been many incidences where he has been aggressive. Sometimes certain daycares just don't work out." Could it have been the attackers daddy?

Was this the kid that Cullen hit those times, and he just snapped?

Salad or Grass?

It is either feast or famine with Cullen. He goes through stages where he eats nothing and then other times we cannot keep him full. He is beginning to try a larger variety of things.

Last night, MeMe brought me some of her salad that she had left over from lunch. This was no ordinary lunch or salad. She and Brent went to Pappadeauxs yesterday for lunch. This was a spinach and shrimp salad with a light bacon dressing. It was amazing!

I had already fed Cullen and was giving him a bath when I began to eat my salad. He decides that he wants a bite. I give him a spinach leaf with the stem still attached. He looks at it, plays with it for a moment, and then pops it in his mouth. He gets an odd look on his face, chews and swallows. "Good grass, Mama. More grass, please!" I laughed and told him it was spinach salad. He repeated, "Salad." "More grass Mama, More grass Mama." So I gave him more salad. He finished the salad portion for me. I did get a few shrimp!

Anyway, will I have to watch him closer when he plays in the yard? I fear he may try a variety of grass thinking it may all taste the same!

Aggie and Nomar...

Aggie and Nomar are doing great!

I don't think they have many complaints...

Einstein or Frankenstein

Today was a very challenging Friday at school. My students are ready for the weekend and did not want to be at school. Who am I trying to fool? They are ready for the weekend on Monday. So, am I. Anyway, today was challenging.

One of my students has a bad case of "learned helplessness." He does not want to do anything. He wants someone else to do the work for him or lead him through it step by step each time. For the nine hundredth time today (a slight exaggeration) he was at my desk with a math problem for me to walk him through step by step.
I said,"We just did a problem like this."
He replied,"Nonuh, it had different numbers."
I said,"Yes, it had different numbers, but you use the same steps."
He stated with a bit of confusion,"Is that how it works? The numbers always confuse me."
I replied,"Your sounds of confusion do not fool me. I taught you this myself. I know you understand it."
"OH! The answer is 5/7", he says in a soft voice.
I exclaim,"Way to go Einstein. Have a seat and finish, please."

I watch as he quietly returns to his desk with his head down. As he was walking, I was wondering why he looked so sad.
Just as I started to speak, he asks,"Do I really look like that guy with green things sticking out of his neck?"

Needless to say the class went wild! Of course, I explained to him who Einstein was...

After a brief history lesson, he asks,"Can I buy his brain and put it in my head?"
The madness had to stop because I was losing the battle here.
I told him the brain was so old that he wouldn't want it...

"Yeah, your right. I want a young, fresh brain. Do you know anybody?" he asks.

MY DAY....