The Latta Family

Today in my senior English class, the guidance counselors came in and we helped all of the kids fill out their Common College Application.  I remember these kids when they were freshman.  Back then they were goofy and silly.  Today, they're a little more mature, and way more fun.  Wasn't it just, like . . . last year they were freshman?!  If it goes this fast for me- with students . . . what will it be like for my own kid?  My own freshman that my email inbox is inundated with- just this weekend: information from CollegeBoard on taking the PSAT and SAT.  I also got an email from a local college offering information on baseball Showcase Camps, and a flyer on the recruiting process for college athletes. How is this little kid that's a whole head taller than me, and stands in my kitchen and pretends to pitch in the World Series on the regular- getting email about his post secondary life?! I've been missing this kid lately.  I mean- yes, he goes to ...

Sometimes parents like to brag on their kids like: All A's!!  Or Terrific Kid!!  Or Raised Money for Charity!!! Not me. I like to keep it real.  I'm bragging about Alexa tonight, but it's not about your typical bragging things.  She's growing up and getting so brave. The other night we were were sitting on the couch watching Sister Act  and suddenly she says, "Ugh.  There's a moth flying around."  Sure enough.  There WAS a moth.  She calmly got up, got a tissue, and captured it, and threw it away.  I was stunned.  Two years ago- around this time she completely freaked over the teeniest bug in the world, in the shower with her.  Tonight, she didn't even blink her eye.  I would have reacted more than she did!  (Although- that's not saying a whole lot, as critters of any variety tend to make me excitable). Tonight we had yet another completely calm reaction.  She had gone into the bathroom to take a shower, a...

I have the cutest group of Freshman this year.  I love them almost more than my Freshman group from 2 years ago.  And that group was my favorite group- since the year before them!!!  Do you see a pattern?  One of my favorite things to do with high school students, is to tell really dumb jokes and laugh and laugh at their reaction.  I mean- they want to laugh a little bit; but at the same time, it's just so dang bad they're really in horror over how I can make such bad jokes.  Today was the best worst joke ever.  We are reading The Odyssey .  And the main character has just met a cyclops, defeated him, insulted him, and stolen a few sheep to top it all off.  As we're reading the story, and I'm re-capping what all has happened, I said, "He made a baaaddd choice stealing those sheep!"  There was silence.  And then . . . "Latta! That was the WORST joke!"  I paused, and said, "You mean . . . a . . . baaaadd joke?"  ...

On Sunday, Alexa and I were in the mood to do some crafting.  It had been awhile since we'd done anything, and I think we both needed to do some artistic out-letting.  I had no plans or real intentions when I went into the craft closet, but I remembered I had seen a lady do some cute fabric coasters, on Pinterest, and I looked through my fabric and discovered I had some leftover painter's cloth.  I love that fabric because it's easy to work with, and can easily be embellished. So here's what I saw on Pinterest. Here's my version: Aren't they just the cutest little punkin coasters?!!!

Alexa has always been a pretty good sleeper.  When she was colicky- no matter how bad the day was, she would still go to bed easily and sleep fine.  When she was a temperamental toddler, there was  comfort knowing- she may be driving me to the bring of insanity, but she'll go to bed.  She was one of those kids that would tell me she was ready to go to bed.  What a pleasant surprise that my high maintenance, temperamental girl- was a good sleeper! Andrew was the kid that I would jolt awake to find him staring at me, when he was in early elementary school.  Or there was about a 3 month period where he slept on a pallet beside the bed, when he was about 3 years old.  When he was an infant it took me 45 minutes to get him to the sweet spot where I could lay him down and he'd stay asleep in his crib.  In the last few months, Alexa has come in to see me to tell me she's had a bad dream, more than she has in the previous 3 years- maybe even 4 years....

The other night Alexa said, as I was saying "Good night" and tucking her in to go to sleep, that she had crumbs in her bed because she ate a graham cracker in her bed earlier.  I said, "oooh- that's a bummer.  We'll wash your sheets, until then . . . have a crummy sleep!!!"  And then I laughed all the way down the hall because my jokes are so hilarious. So I just went into take her sheets off her TWIN sized bed, but first I had to remove the following items: 10 Beanie Boos (stuffed animals). 3 stuffed animals that can also be pillows 3 fleece blankets: 1 is a unicorn snuggly fleece blanket.  The other 2 are intended to be throw blankets.  (FYI- she has a comforter as well).  Please keep in mind we live in North Carolina that is having record high temperatures and it's like living in the jungle.  Granted we have a/c, but . . . 1 body pillow 2 regular bed pillows 2 journals 1 flashlight 2 bracelets 5 books 1 finger puppet 1 eraser 1 small s...

Welp, it's here.  Summer is officially over.  North Carolina is back to school tomorrow.   Alexa is super nervous as she's going to a new building with new friends (long story, but there are 2 elementary schools back to back.  For years they've been separate entities.  Now they've combined and have a primary school of K-2, and her school 3-5. She's at the "new to her" building.  With a teacher that taught her bff last year.  With several of the same specials teachers, and 13 kids she's been in school with for 4 years.  She's going to be fine.  I know she's going to be fine.  She's all kinds of worried about these new kids and new building) Anyway- to try to help her focus on the positive things, we made a list of the things we were looking forward to.  She made a list.  I made a list.  While I was working on my list- I kind of laughed to myself, because this is how I envision tomorrow going, seeing all the kids af...