Alyssa and Caleb

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EASTER 2011

I hope you each had a wonderful Easter.  We spent the weekend back home with our families.  It was the first time Caleb spent the night in Hereford and he did well!  We had a great time.  Alyssa got to color eggs at her Nana's house and on Sunday we went to church with Stephen's family.  We ended the weekend with a big easter egg hunt at Nana's house.  I hated that the weekend went by so quickly. 

 

10 things....

10 things I love about Family Fun Night!

10.  Watching movies like Hannah Montana, Flushed Away, Space Chimps and other movies we would not normally watch together!

9.  Pillows and Blankets in the floor of the living room.

8.  Popcorn, pickles, and a coke can make any childs eye light up!

7.  Sleepy heads carried to bed.

6.  Competition at its best--especially when playing UNO.

5.  One word...Wii!

4.  A clean bedroom before the weekend  (requirement for having FFN).

3.  Moments of quiet when the movie is on.

2.  Watching my husband be silly with his little girl.

1.  Seeing my child having fun with us and knowing that she knows how loved she is!

Why I choose to send my child to private school…..

                Every year around this time we have to make a hard decision on whether to leave Alyssa in private school or send her to public school for the next school year.  This is always a struggle for me because having that extra money would be sooo beneficial to us—especially now that we have 2 children instead of one.  The decision is not an easy one and not for everyone.  I put it in Gods hands to show me and guide me in the direction that is right.  It is a decision that is not always easy to make and we literally were signing up for public school last year and at the last minute changed our minds.  How did we get into this whole public/private school debacle anyway??

    Our journey with private school began when she was 2.  Alyssa never went to day care.  Stephen worked evenings when she was born and so he kept her during the day when I was at work.  What a blessing!  The year she turned 2, Stephen changed jobs that summer.  We had to find daycare and it just killed me.  I could not imagine sending my child with someone else to take care of her all day.  Stephen’s sister was kind enough to keep her for awhile that summer until we found someplace to put her.  We checked into a couple of options, but I kept thinking about our church’s Montessori program.  It was more of a school type atmosphere with an “extended day” program.  The director met with us and showed us around.  She was very nice and helpful and we signed her up and waited the few weeks until school began. 

After a few really hard weeks adjusting to her new envirnment, she began to enjoy her “school”.  She had the BEST teacher who really cared about her and her well being.  She understood our situation and that Alyssa had not really had much contact or play time with other children and she worked with her.  It was the best decision we ever made for her.  She started learning so much!  She was interacting with children and was enjoying being there everyday.  She would come home singing songs that her teacher had taught them about the days of the week, the months of the year, songs in Spanish and in English!  She learned much more than she would have staying at home.  She stayed in the Montessori program until it was time to graduate to Kindergarten.  Stephen and I were never planning on her staying there after Montessori.  The more I thought about changing her the more uneasy I felt.  So I justified leaving her there in Kindergarten because they had a full day program where as the public school only had a ½ day program.  She had an awesome Kindergarten teacher and of course she was attending school with all of her friends she had met and played with in Montessori.  These kids have a really good relationship together.  They have bonded and seem to watch out for each other. They have a kindness and sincere love for one another that I have not seen with my nieces who attend public school.

 This leads me to one of the main reasons I choose to leave her in public school.  They are teaching my child about love and service to others.  Alyssa has a caring and loving attitude towards everyone.  She hurts when someone else is hurting.  She sees the good in everyone—even those kids in class that are the “trouble makers” or the ones you wish your child did not hang around with.  I love that they are teaching her about her faith and that she can openly praise and worship while at school.  She understands more about her faith and religion than we do at times.  She teaches us! 

                Here are a few other reasons I choose private school for my kids.  Smaller Classrooms-granted Alyssa’s class is large, but compared to public schools and the budget crunch they are in, I think her class will remain small in comparison.  She also is around the same group of kids every year.  Her class does not change much from year to year which is a big deal if you don’t do well with change.  Education and Quality teachers—her school  has some really great teachers who care for their students and want them to succeed.  They are all experienced teachers who have taught for many years and with many of those years at her school.  These kids are ahead of most public school kids in the same grade.  They use the best teaching resources and educational materials.  They recently received a donation for smart boards and laptops for each room.  I remember hearing a few years back that of the graduating high schools in our city—3 of the Valedictorians were products of her private school.  Wow—what a great basis for a lifetime of learning!  Activities—she participates in many activities through the school(most recently PSIA—the equivalent of UIL in public school) and through other organizations (but with her classmates).  She is able to help raise money for good organizations like St. Jude and the  American Heart Association—but also collect things for the local food pantry, nuns, meals on wheels, deployed soldiers, as well as her owns schools playground fund.  What a great learning experience for a child.  To me, they are not just education my child in the basic math, reading and writing, but are forming her as a whole person to love and care for others.  Stewardship and Education rolled into one built on religion and love of God. 

Needless to say, Alyssa has continued at private school and will be entering the 3^rd grade next year.  When the school sent home the intent to return form I felt that pain in my heart I feel each year at this time.  But when I think of all the positives, I say “yes” and patiently wait for Caleb to be old enough to start too!  We may have to sacrifice the things we would like to have (the nice vacations, new cars, big house, new clothes, BIG savings account), but we are sacrificing for our children and for them to be the best they can be!  Isn’t that what we are suppose to do as parents?

Let me tell you a little story.....

My sweet little girl is now a Storyteller!

Alyssa was tested early last year for speech issues.  She had a "step" when speaking (almost like a studder, but not as bad) and a few issues with getting the words she wanted to say out.  She has been in speech therapy for a little over a year.  I have noticed a change in her speech and her teacher was even questioning why she was in speech this year. 

At the beginning of the year it was announced that her school would be participating in PSIA, which is the private school equivalent to UIL for public schools.  The 2nd grade class could participate in the Storytelling competition.  The objective of storytelling is to hear a story and be able to retell the story in your own words to a group of judges who have not heard the story.  A note was sent home to parents to sign up their kids if they were interested in trying out.  I debated back and forth on whether to sign her up or not.  I did not think she would do very well with it and didn't want to set her up for disappointment.  I honestly did not think I had sent in the paperwork.  A few months later Alyssa was telling me about her storytelling practice during recess.  I questioned her why she was going to it and she said because her name was on the list.  I must have signed her up and just didn't remember doing it.  Oh well, I thought, it would be good for her to practice--still not belieiving she would ever make the team.  Weeks went by and she kept telling me about her practice and how different kids were quitting.  I was proud that she was sticking with it and not quitting.  Well, needless to say, Alyssa made the team (somewhat by default since all but 3 kids quit!). 

This weekend she will be competing in Lubbock (a town 2 hours away) and for all of her hard work she is being rewarded by getting to go on Friday night and spend the night at a hotel with her friends.  I am so very proud of her.  Even though she may not bring home a blue ribbon, I think she is a winner.  Her speech has improved so much and she was never concerned that she could not or would not make the team.  She is an amazing little girl that I learn from all the time!  Good Job Alyssa!!!

Another year older...Happy Birthday Alyssa!

8 years ago today God blessed us with a perfect Angel....we named her Alyssa.  I can't believe how quickly the time has gone by and I am amazed at what a beautiful young lady she has grown into. 

Alyssa age 1

Alyssa 2

Alyssa age 7

Alyssa also celebrated her first communion today on her birthday.  What a great way to remember when you celebrated communion for the first time.  She looked beautiful and was so excited about her dress. 

 

My wish for you this year is to continue to grow and learn, but keep your innocence and sweetness!  You are a one of a kind special girl!  I love you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALYSSA!!!!

Back in the swing of things--Happy 2011!

The Romo's Christmas Eve 2010

Christmas has come and gone.....and as usual it went by sooo fast!  It was a very special Christmas this year.  Caleb experienced his first Christmas and Alyssa experienced her first Christmas with a sibling.  Both were big milestones in the Romo house!  Alyssa, of course, got her most desired present from Santa--an ipod touch.  I love her excitement at everything that occurs at Christmas!

A new year has already begun and we are back into the swing of things.  No big new year resolutions...for me it is just one more thing to keep up with and try not to fail at!  I just want a happy, healthy, and financially successful year. 

Over the Christmas break, Caleb turned 6 months old!  Wow..it went by so quickly.  It seems like he should still be the little fragile baby I brought home from the hospital.  Instead he is an 18 lb chunk of fun!  He is sitting up on his own and plays with his toys and big sister.  He talks and talks and can now say momma and da da da!  He still hates to lay on his belly and will probably walk before he crawls.  He loves his bottles, but now eats fuits and vegetables.  I love to see his little personality start to come out.

We have alot coming up this month and will blog about them more in the next few weeks!