Boating with Grandma

This morning we woke up and decided to take Grandma on the boat for a grand tour of Lake Norman. It was forecasted to be a beautiful day and we wanted to take full advantage of it. I wasn't sure how Grandma would feel about going boating or if she would even want to try it. Sometimes it is a little unnerving being on the boat for hours on end with 3 kids! She was game, so we decided to go for it! What a wonderful time we had. She was able to get a tour of the lake, see the kids swim and jump off of the boat, watch Todd and Trevor wakeboard, and witness me driving the boat (scary, I know!). I made us lunch to take in the cooler and while the kids took a swim break, we all ate lunch. We had tons of laughs and smiles and she had a great time experiencing all of these things with our family. Our day was perfect!

Lazy 5 Ranch

After a vote this morning on what to do, the Lazy 5 Ranch won out. The Lazy 5 is a kid favorite and we can never go wrong going there! Grandma Phipps was very interested in watching the animals, but she didn't want any part of feeding them. In fact, she wouldn't even roll her window down...at all! She had a good time and we all had a lot of laughs. After our drive through the safari, we stopped by the snack bar for some cold water while we watched the kids play on the playground.

Billy Graham Library

Billy Graham's homeplace

The Billy Graham Library

Grandma eating lunch at the
Dairy Bar

Grandma and I dropped James off at school this morning and then we headed over to the Billy Graham Library (http://www.billygraham.org/BGlibrary_Index.ASP). The Billy Graham Library invites visitors to follow a flowing exhibit that chronicles Billy Graham’s journey from being a farm boy from North Carolina to a well known public figure that preached and ministered in arenas in the world’s largest cities. After our interactive tour, we stopped by the Dairy Bar for a chicken salad sandwich and some sweet tea. We finished just in time to pick James up from school. After we left James' school, we made our way over to Trevor's school to pick him up. Once we got back home, the kids were ready to do something (of course). James and Lilly suggested that we go to the pool. So, the pool it was. Grandma enjoys the pool just about as much as we do. She was delighted to go to the pool with us. She enjoyed watching the kids swim around like little fish. She said that they remind her of me when I was little. A love for the water! What a nice day. It was good to spend one on one time with my Grandma!

Grandma Phipps

Grandma Phipps

Niagara On The Lake,

Ontario, Canada

Photo taken 8/2007

I have always been close to my Grandma, but as time goes on and I get older, that bond grows stronger and stronger. I enjoy spending time with my Grandma and she is one of the most amazing people that I know. Last year, we spent our birthdays together in Canada, but this year we weren't so lucky. Grandma has only been to my house once and when she was here, we were flying out for our trip and she didn't have time to see our community and spend quality time with my children. I decided to buy her a ticket to Charlotte this year for her birthday and have her spend some time in our home. Grandma Phipps arrived in Charlotte this evening and is spending the long weekend with us. She said that she would rather ride the bus than fly, so Greyhound it was! We actually had to go to Trevor's school for Open House tonight, so Mom, James, and Lilly were here welcoming committee and taxi home this evening. I am so glad that she took me up on my offer to visit. She is use to living alone in a quiet house, going to bed early, waking up early, and just doing things at her leisure. Staying in our home with 6 other people and 2 dogs is going to be way out of her norm. I just hope that after spending 5 days with us, she doesn't regret it! :)

James' First Day of School

Today was James' first day of school. I could tell that he was a little nervous when I dropped him off but he didn't put up a fuss. I, on the other hand, was a bit teary eyed on the way back to the car. I couldn't help myself. James and I have such a strong, strong bond that is deeper than words can ever express. I know that all mothers feel a bond with their children, and I do with my other two. But the bond that I have with James is just different. I don't want to say that it is deeper or more special than my other children, because it is not. The only thing that I can say with it's regards are that it is just different. When I returned to the school to pick him up, he had just eaten lunch. His teacher said that he had a great day and adjusted well to the classroom setting. I could tell that he was happy to see me. He had a huge grin on his face! When we got in the car, he wouldn't stop talking. His mind was working overtime to tell me about every detail of his day. He told me all about the classroom, class rules, and going to lunch. Lunch is a big thing for him. He remembers going to eat lunch with Trevor when he was in Torrence Creek. His cafeteria is similar and he really thinks that he's something! It is such a relief to see him excited about going to school. I am looking forward to this school year with him and watching him grow.

School decision

Our decision to move Trevor to the new Military Academy was a well thought out process and was planned a while in advance. It was not a whim or on the fly decision that we made. Since moving to North Carolina, Trevor has been in the public schools. Before living here, he was always in private Montessori and I knew that he was getting a well-balanced, advanced education and was being exposed to things and opportunities that would help him exceed in life. We have not been pleased with the education (or lack thereof) that he has been getting since moving to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. In particular, we weren't really happy with his school last year (Bradley Middle School) from the time that he began there. I am always looking for alternative education that is the right choice for my children, rather than just assume that they are going to get the education that they need and deserve from our local public school. With that said, I have been on a mission for the last year. Searching magnet schools, charter schools, and private school options that are available to us. In doing so, I came across the Military and Global Leadership Academy and began my research.


Of course, I have had some doubts along the way. Am I doing the right thing? Is this going to benefit Trevor? Is this the right school for him? How will he adjust to changing schools (again)? Do I expect too much from public schools? (NO!) What about the friends he already has? Is he really going to get a better education? What kind of person will he become? What kind of influence will the school have on him?

Trust me, I could go on and on and on about my doubts. But as a parent, we have to gather and analyze all of the information that we possibly can. In doing so, we find answers to some of our questions. And then, make a decision as to what we feel is best for our child.

After researching the school, I found that my mission and goals for Trevor go right along with the goals and mission of the school. I looked at graduation rates, success rates, and scholarship information for programs like these across the states. Overwhelmingly, the students who were in these programs were granted college scholarships, had a 98% graduation rate, and went on to become successful, productive members of our society. A big part of my decision came from the fact that this school teaches leadership and character development. Any school can offer honors classes and advance placement. And of course, I want Trevor to be part of that and I am proud of the fact that he is in honors classes. But it takes a special person to be a leader. I want Trevor to know what the qualities of a leader are and to recognize those qualities within himself. In addition to the rigorous coursework, he has mandatory community service projects that he must complete (30 hours minimum) in order to pass. We need to instill in our children that they must be compassionate and help others that are not as fortunate as we are.

The school itself is a brand new facility. The building is big, brand new, and very nice. It has state of the art technology with flat screen computers in every class. The library is massive with amazing books. The student population is small. It will never have more than 600 students (100 per grade level) so that means no overcrowding that comes standard in our neighborhood public schools. (Our local high school has over 3,000 students!) The school has a diverse student population which will benefit Trevor in his future endeavors. There is bus transportation available, but the school is in Charlotte and it starts at 7:15. With that said, (a HUGE drawback!) the bus stop at our house is 5:20 AM. Yes, 5:20 AM. That is just ridiculous. Todd works about 5 mins from the school. So, he has been taking Trevor to school in the mornings and then going to work. I have been picking him up at 2:15. With the school being new, it is in the process of starting the PTA. I have volunteered my hours, skills, and time and hope to help the school get off to a great start.

So, there you have a update on why we chose The Military and Global Leadership Academy. Is it the right choice? Only time will tell. Of course, we still have our doubts. But as a parent, you always do. I know in my heart and in my mind, that we made this decision to the best of our ability. I really feel that we have done the right the thing and I believe that Trevor will see the benefits of this program.

Trevor's First Day of School

Today has been a long awaited day for Trevor. This school year brings new and exciting changes and challanges for him. He will be attending a new school (once again!). This year, he is going to The Military and Global Leadership Academy in Charlotte.

The Military and Global Leadership Academy is a new school that is opening this year. The following is a brief description taken from their website (http://pages.cms.k12.nc.us/mgla/):

The school is grades 6-10. The academy will grow a grade a year, graduating its first senior class in 2011. The new Military & Global Leadership Academy will offer rigorous advanced placement and honors classes to prepare students for college. Students also will be provided with structure to foster positive attitudes, teamwork, responsibility and sound decision making.
The school will also focus on character education, international studies and technology. Because of its challenging academic and leadership standards, the school is not a boot camp and is not recommended for students with discipline problems.

The academy will provide:
A foundation of academic rigor and challenge
Development of students’ problem-solving, creative and critical thinking skills
Enhancement of geography, politics and economics to gain global perspective
Community service component
Mental and physical wellness
Effective communication skills
Enhancement of responsibilities of citizenship and government
Exploration of military and national organizations that support a democratic society

Special features:
Uniform school
Drill and ceremony
Community service
Academic competitions
Intramural sports
Parades, color guards, ceremonies
Code of conduct
Grading requirements
Small school - 100 students per grade level