Meeting with the principal....

So I met with the principal this week to discuss the ridiculous rule that the students were not allowed to wear hoods. I of course did my homework and first checked the parent handbook from the first day of school and then called the district office to find out whether it was a district rule that I was unaware of. I spoke to somebody there and there was no such rule, but since I had called in it was policy for them to send an e-mail to the principal alerting her of my concerns and then if I didn't get anywhere with her I was to call them back for an official complaint.
Mrs. Schmidt is her name, and when I arrived with my handbook in my purse and ready to let her have a piece of my mind....suddenly she had this phony smile on her face and she sat and shook her head to everything I said! How annoying is that. She said she had never made up such a rule and that they are allowed to wear hoods, even though when I called to make the appointment with her she said it" was not a new rule but anyways.. what time do you want to come?"So it was a not new rule yesterday and today it is not a rule!? She said there is no gang problem and that she had to ask some boys at lunch last week to remove their hoods because they were sitting on the bench with their hoods on and they looked like they were hiding. I asked her hiding from what? She didn't know what to say. She then went on to say it was too warm for the hoods. I told her if I'm not mistaking it was cold and foggy last week right? I told her it was unacceptable to not allow the hoods or it if it needed to be a certain color hood we should be notified in writing of any dress code changes according to the handbook! She again said she never said it was a rule but said she told the teachers to tell the students not to wear them. I think she was contradicting herself?
So I made it clear that she needs to make a new announcement that it IS OK to wear hoods when it is cold, and it needed to come from her or the teachers soon since it is winter. She then said no problem we will do that and sent me on my way! What a waste of energy on her part to try and do such a ridiculous thing without thinking that somebody would have a problem with it. What next, no umbrellas in the rain because it could be used to hurt somebody? To this day there has been no such announcement per the parents and students that I have seen since Wednesdays meeting, so I guess I give her until this Friday when I'm off to go visit again. Let's worry about more important things like we need more tutoring!

Venting!!

I don't normally do this type of blogging.....but this is really bothering me. How is it that Jordan came home from school the other day and told me that they are no longer aloud to wear their hoods on their sweatshirts or beanies on their heads because it is gang type behavior! Are you kidding me?! Do we really have gang activity at the school? Do we really need to enforce this type of stuff on our K-6 students? I was furious all weekend thinking about it. Not only is it insane to not allow anything to keep their heads warm, this is winter even though we are in California, but we were never notified of any dress code changes! I thought a lot about it and then called the principal today to schedule a meeting. She asked what it was about and I said the "new rule about not allowing the children to wear hoods or beanies." She said in a snotting way" it is not new but anyways when do you want to come?" I really am going to have to be good tomorrow when I go at lunch to meet with her!That nasty woman does not scare me! Maybe when your 7 or even 11, but not me. I say bring it on! I even contacted the district office today to let them know of my meeting and to verify if it was a school rule or a district rule. It is apparently up to the school to enforce stricter rules if there is a problem in the school, but if you've ever seen the school you'd know it is not an issue. We have a very high population of Mormons at the school, along with a high population of Indians at the school, who most of which are stay at home moms and constantly volunteering. It is not a low income neighborhood or school where some of those things are more of a problem. Well enough. I will be in the principals office tomorrow, not because of bad behavior thank goodness, but because of an insane rule that I can not tolerate! Wow what is coming of this world that our children are not allowed to keep warm!!

Jordan's first West Coast Hurricanes Game

The tournament was held at this place in Manteca called Big League Dreams. It was great. There are fake fans in the outfield and the fields are replicas of some of the major league fields. The infield is turf and the outfield is real grass. Look at the pictures closely for the fans. Oh yeah and they have real stadium seats for the real fans! Awesome. For the kids not playing they have a great playground, batting cages, and even a indoor soccer facility, a fairly decent snack bar(with not so decent prices) indoors with heat, and AC, a bar, and each of the fields can be seen from inside. Very good idea considering the heat in Manteca and for this weekend the cold in Manteca. My mom and sisters came to watch the game. Kiana and Drew played at the playground all day and the arcade. I know they were wasting every bit of change we gave them on those stupid claw things that nobody ever wins! (except for the little girl who crawled into one, did you see that?!)
All but Jordan went and had lunch at Chili's and we had a great day together. Thanks for coming and cheering on my little slugger. :) Jordan's coach has set up a blog for the team and he has done some really good posts. We've added it to our family list on the side, check it out when you have time. He actually re-enacted the whole first tournament. The Hurricanes played some really good games for their first time ever playing together. They won the first game 12-6 and then they played a team from Nevada, they lost the first game by a bock, which totally sucked because we were tied up at the time, and then they played them the next morning at 8am, it was freezing, and they were close again, 7-5 Nevada Outlaws, and we ran out of time and they called the game!! We later found out they are the best team in Nevada and have never lost a game. Man do we want to play them again in a couple of months.

Jordan was the lead off hitter for the first game and he got a base hit! WooHoo! Go #23!

Jordan, Jordan, he's our man! If he can't do it, no one can! I don't really cheer like this for him at the game so just want to say it now. He'd kill me. :)

Looking for his sign.....

Jordan and CK team captains at the beginning of the game for the toss.

Just warming up for game two....

Drew .......

LOST HIS FIRST TOOTH! I know he's seven, but mine lose them slow, and grow them slow.

Family Pictures :)

So at 9:00 am on a Sunday, we all met at a park close to Lisa's house met for surprise family pictures for my mom this Christmas. A friend of Lisa's is starting a business and took them for us. Here are a few shots of everyone. Pretty good for the most part considering it was freezing cold outside and luckily the rain stayed away for the morning. Tim, Karen, Lisa, Kalei, Dave, Shelly, Jamal, Kristen and Gabe, Jordan, Drew and Kiana! :)

Shelly and her boys all grown up!

The grand kids.

Jordan playing on the playground waiting for one of his cousins to arrive. We won't mention which one. :)

Kiana also waiting...

And Drew, still waiting....

Lisa and her family.

Us.

And finally me and my sisters!

So, as I was trying to find frames for all of these shots, I realized that what would be even better than this, would be to have shots of all the Barnum side of the family to add to my hall way photos. Does this sound at all like Mary Barnum?! Well I would love to have a picture, even if it's just a snap shot of your families and then I can blow them up to 5x7 and complete my project. Anytime is good. Thanks! Love you all.

Christmas Eve

Drew feeding Kalei her bottle. She's the center of attention these days at our gatherings. Lisa, Mom and Shelly, obviously not posing for the picture, just hanging out.

Kalei just looking at the world form her swing, or maybe at herself since there is a mirror on the bottom of her swing mobile. :) Isn't she cute? Oh and I wonder who bought her the cute t-shirt?(All my mommy wants for Christmas is a silent night)

Gabe and Kristen

Here Drew is laughing at the box of Boogers he got from his Grandma and Grandpa Barnum :)

Mom opening her family pictures from all of us.

And, Don and Mary opening their family picture.

My family generally has tried to take turns opening gifts so that everyone see what the others get and it makes it last longer too. But my Grandpa who just turned 86 never seems to get it and as soon as a gift is passed out to him by one of the kids he starts to open it. So he always seems to get to go first. Then he just keeps going, and going. This year was no different in that as soon as one gift was given to him, he opened it, but this year he missed a gift and ened up being the last person to finish!

Drew and Grandpa playing air hokey, I wonder who cheated? Oh I mean won?!

We had Christmas Eve at Dave and Lisa's house. It was fun, we all brought a little something, and ate and enjoyed each others company and ate some more of course. A little cookie here and little Sees candy there, hey it's the holidays right?! We had a great time, and were able to pull of the surprise of family pictures for my mom after all.

More Christmas Day....

I guess you can't tell so much in this picture, but it was hailing big time for a short time on Christmas morning and the wind was whipping! Santa came to visit. :)

HO! HO! HO!

Drew holding up his new hoodie from Auntie Katie and Uncle Clayton.

Jordan wearing his new hoodie from Auntie Katie and Uncle Clayton. Thanks guys.