LAYLA IS MISSING!!!!

After the quick trip back to see family over the weekend, we're trying hard to adjust our sleeping schedules to tackle our week. It's only Monday, but it was already a hectic day.

We all traveled to our destinations to get to work, school and Tricia's house today. We all got there safely and went about our days, either learning, teaching, playing, or modifying

.

Sometime in our day, Dad decided he was going to rush home to pick up Layla. He was afraid that the after school program would not take Layla since we were unable to send the payment in today (due to busy schedules). So he rushed across the city and got there just in time. Layla was pleasantly surprised to be getting picked up and cheerfully left with Dad at dismissal. They spent the afternoon browsing the aisles of Bass Pro Shops and Home Depot. Before that time, they made a quick stop at home and also managed to pick up Zackery.

What they failed to realize was....or should I say Dad forgot... "to notify the school and properly check" his daughter out so they knew where Layla went. This one crucial step sent her school into a frenzy. The great child care providers went into panic mode as they realized "Layla was missing!" They made all the phone calls to Dad and Mom. When they got no answer they went to the next person in line: Bonnie. They even went as far as calling my work place and talking to my principal for this EMERGENCY!

Mom was in the middle of teaching a math lesson, when I could hear my phone going off silently and after 8 consecutive buzzes, I went over to check it out. I thought, "Bonnie knows I'm teaching, she wouldn't be calling me if it wasn't an emergency!" So I excused myself to make the call backs and as I left my classroom, there was Mrs. B running around the corner and looked right at me. "Come with me, HURRY!" So we ran down the hallway to her office where Bonnie was on hold to tell me, "Kids Corner called me since they couldn't get a hold of you and Derek. They said, "Layla is missing. They can't find her. Call them ASAP."

"WHAT?! Okay." *click* I'm frantically trying to dial his number on my cell phone and Mrs. B and I are freaking out in her classroom. Then her phone rings again, this time from Mesa Public Schools and again asking for me.

"Hi, Mrs. Boye. We can't find Layla. We've looked everywhere. Hold on..." (meanwhile I'm trying hard to get Derek on my cell phone)

..."Okay ma'am, we finally got a hold of Dad and he checked her out. Layla is with Dad. We were just worried since we didn't know she was checked out. Okay. everything is okay now. Thank you." *click*

Let me tell you when you hear your child is missing...it's not a good feeling. I told Mrs. B right away that Derek has her. He checked her out. We both took a moment to calm down. "He's dead when I get home!" We both laughed. I had to walk slowly back to the classroom and breathe. That was such a scary moment and Dad now knows the proper steps of taking his child from school. *whew* BIG SIGH OF RELIEF!

"You're being Naughty"

Tonight while Mom was across the city attending her weekly Thursday night class, Dad was in charge of spending time with Layla and Zackery. Here is a snip-it of tonight's dinner conversation:

Setting: Eating dinner at the kitchen table

Zackery: "Layla, you're being naughty!"

Layla: "What?! How?!"

Zackery: "Layla, you're being naughty. You dropped food on the floor."

Layla: "What?! You drop food all the time!"

Zackery: "No! You dropped food right now. Zackery and Daddy will have to spank you."

Layla: "I don't think so."

Zackery: "Layla go get a chair. You're going in time-out right now!"

Layla: "A chair?"

Zackery: "Yes! Get a chair. You're going to time-out right now."

Layla: "Oh, you mean get a chair so I can watch tv."

Zackery: "NO! You're going to time-out!"

Layla: "Oh, you mean get a chair so I can play Wii."

Zackery: "NO! Layla you're being naughty! You need a chair to go to time-out."

Layla: "Oh, you mean get a chair so I can play my DS."

After each response, Zackery get angrier and annoyed with Layla and Layla giggles in her small victory over her brother.

I loved hearing Derek tell me this story when I got home from my day. Hearing about their small sister/brother battles and how the scoreboard always comes out about even. Today Layla earned her point!

New Words & New Problem

Zackery keeps astounding us with new vocabulary he acquires in his day. It's so awesome considering it was a bit of struggle to get him talking.

He's mastered his IEP goals that were created in March 2011. It only took 9 months! The teachers are hoping they can keep him in the program for the rest of the year. This is also our hope because he absolutely loves "going to school on his big yellow bus with his friend Gabriel." I don't want him to lose out on this unique preschool experience and I don't want to stop getting his little crafts that he makes us every week.

But one week at grandma's house----he came back with his current favorite words "wah" and "wah jin." We couldn't stop laughing at dinner tonight when he used one or the other every 5 minutes. He knows exactly how to use the words, too. It's always perfect timing and with just an edge of great comedic timing.

Instances:

• His fried potatoes fell off his fork on at his way to his mouth -- "wah"
• Layla forgetting to finish her homework -- "wah"
• Mommy can't find her phone -- "wah jin"

On a side note -- he also came back from Patricia's house on Tuesday and she had these words to share:

"He's doing great keeping his hands to himself. He's doing good not hitting or pushing with the kids anymore. But...he's starting to kiss everyone. So I had to keep reminding him and telling him not to spread his germs. We don't want anyone getting sick"

Compliments

After my evening run, I quickly chatted with our neighbor. In the midst of our conversation, he paid Layla a great compliment. "Your daughter is such a sweet child, always well-mannered, and nice to others. She's always a joy to see and talk to."

Music to our ears to know that all our parenting hard work is shining through. Great job Layla!

HAPPY NEW YEAR FAMILY

7 days into the new year and the Boye's are already busy. We all returned to work and school this week. So as we begin to juggle the many components to our lives remember to keep us close to your hearts and in your prayers.

We love all of you and a day doesn't go by that we don't miss and think of you. Be blessed this year!

Day 2 - Winter Break

Thursday of our break was very busy! Mommy had a full agenda as we needed to conquer Christmas prep before we made our trip back to Dinetah.

First, mom ordered and picked up more Christmas cards for our family to send. Then we stopped and got a bite to eat since Layla and Zackery wouldn't stop bugging mom with their pleas of hunger. So as Zack ate the "Make a Funny Face pancake" and Layla enjoyed her "Rooty Jr.", mom worked on addressing the rest of the cards.

Then we drove across the way for the post office and bought some stamps and Layla helped with putting the stamps on. Zackery just merely got in his sister way. As soon as all our cards were addressed and stamped, Layla and Zackery took turns putting the envelopes in the mail box for official mailing. They really enjoyed putting the mail in the box.

As soon as we were done with that task, we drove across the city to Chandler to get Zackery a hair cut. He definitely needed one! He is becoming such a big boy as he sat there as still as a 4-year-old could be and repeatedly asked for his lollipop until the very end. He looks a tons better! He even remembered that he got a key and ran to put it in the slot for his second surprise, a toy!

We then made our way to local department stores for some Christmas shopping! Mommy definitely waited until the last minute to get the gifts she needed. Layla was an excellent helper! Zackery, not so much! Luckily, Dad came along and helped with wrangling the pre-schooler so Mom could finish up.

We concluded the shopping with a Birthday Lunch at Benihana. We used Mom's special birthday certificate and we were all so happy to get a huge table to ourselves. We all enjoyed the food we ordered and Mom even enjoyed the sushi Dad ordered as an appetizer. Our chef, Allan was awesome and even practiced his Navajo on us. For one of his tricks--spinning his spatula around his finger--he lost the spatula and it almost hit Layla. We all laughed in the end because her reaction was so delayed and she made the funniest of faces. Zackery took out his chopsticks and pretended to be the chef. When the crew came out to sing for Mom, Zackery tried his best to sing along, which sounded more like mumbles. We all rolled out with bellies full and raced back to our home to get ready for our trip.

Day 1 - Winter Break

The day didn't bring much excitement. Layla and Zackery merely enjoyed staying in their pjs for a majority of the day, playing inside and outside with their toys. I was simply pleased that they were entertained without relying on the television and wii.

I was busy cleaning the kitchen and organizing the mountain of mail that awaited me. I'm happy to report kitchen is 80% completed.

Then the afternoon brought a tiny car ride to a colleague's home to pick up our order of egg rolls. The kids were happy to take the ride.

The best part of the trip came on the way home when a storm of laughter erupted from the backseat of the car from the two of them. I looked in my rearview mirror to find them sharing the Itouch and watching an episode of Hannah Montana. Their laughter came from the bellows of their bellies. BIG HARDY LAUGHS that put a huge smile on my face. My heart beamed a 1000s times over and I made a conscious decision to lock this memory into my brain. Forever the image of the two of them conversing and laughing as brothers and sisters do.

As for our evening plans, we drove across the city to Chandler to enjoy the Christmas Lights extravanganza at another colleague's house. We made small diversions thru the streets to see other light displays to hear the "ooohs and aaahs" from Layla and Zackery. When we turned the corner to Dr. Idso's house, the squeals of delights were louder and Layla exclaimed, "Oh My God, this is crazy!!! You weren't kidding?! This is just so crazy!"

It took a few momentsf or her to catch her breath as she squealed in delight over the huge display. She was more blown away when we got out of the car to see the display up close and personal and were met by the man, Dr. Idso, himself carrying a huge bowl of candy canes.

His firepit was already blazing and chairs surrounded his car port. He had a table of goodies set up with hot cocoa, marshmallows of various sizes, graham crackers, chocolate, hot dogs--all good for roasting over the pit.

What a night of fun enjoying the treats and chatting with co-workers on Winter Break. Layla and Zack enjoyed time with the other "teacher kids" eating the sweets and investigating the lights more closely.

It is definitely a sight to see and I'm so happy to make this a Christmas tradition for our family!