Just Plain Silly

Wow!  The first week of school was an incredibly easy transition for the kiddos.  I was a bit stressed out because my part time teaching gig started the same week.  But the kiddos - they did great!  This week.... well that is another story.  A bit more drama on the kiddos' side and Disco and I are still crazy busy just trying to keep up.  It really should slow down after this week is over.  So we are in "survival mode" for just a few more days. 

The good thing is that even with the busy weeks and transitions around here the kiddos still know how to have fun!  Disco deserves a dad of the year award for his patience as big sis' dance student.  And we have a grand time playing a household-wide game of hide and seek.  We laugh and laugh - especially because Disco is very creative and stumps us each time with his hiding places.  :)

Below you will find pictures of one of the silly things the kiddos dream up around our house.  And yes, they think these things up all by themselves... Love these kids!

Big Kid School 2012

Tonight we got everyone ready to return to school.  Forms are signed, bags are packed, lunches prepared, clothes set out, and kids in bed.  Little man fell right to sleep.  Big sis is a bit too excited and took longer to settle.  I have no doubt this week will be a little stressful as we all adjust to the new schedule.  But for now the house is quiet and we all anticipate a wonderful school year!  Little man has asked us all week "Is tomorrow a school day?" and he told me "I'm not even going to cry on my first day."  Can't say the same for his mommy....

Here are the kiddos in Disco's white shirt - we plan to take a picture each year to show how much they have grown.  Big sis has one from the night before Kindergarten and now 1st grade.  Little man's picture from the night before Pre-K is his first one.  Off we go!

The Night Before Kindergarten 2011

The Night Before 1st Grade 2012

The Night Before Pre-K 2012

Best After School Activity . . . Ever!

I volunteered/worked at Camp Aldersgate from junior high through college.  Aldersgate runs several summer camps for children with special needs. I have to say I might have been "leading" groups of youngsters while I was there but they taught me more about life than any other experience.  Another great thing about working there was that I met so many future health care workers, teachers, and community leaders - some of whom I still call friends.  :)

It was one of those friends who hooked us up with a tour of Angel One, the med-flight helicopter for our local children's hospital.  It all started when I randomly posted on Facebook that little man wanted to ride on a helicopter because he thought they were cool.  One of the Aldersgate alums is a nurse that works on Angel One and he set up a time the NEXT DAY for the kiddos to check it out!  I was thrilled!  The kiddos were thrilled!  And it was the best after school activity . . . ever!

Zoo Field Trip

Little man's class took a field trip to the zoo in April.  I think I was as excited about the field trip as little man was!  His first big field trip to the pumpkin patch was cancelled due to weather last fall so I knew he was due a "big boy" trip.  It was a fun day with beautiful weather and a whole lot of enthusiastic kiddos.  I spent my morning at the field trip and then Disco joined little man for lunch. 

The whole class stuck together throughout the park.  They are such a sweet group of kiddos - they were so cute pointing out animals to each other and making sure everyone kept up together.  Love me some 3-4 year olds!  I'm definitely going to miss the kids and parents from his class when little man moves up to pre-k this fall.

Bus Field Trip

Little man got to take his first field trip on February 22nd.  He was ecstatic!  I was thankful I could take off work to attend this one.  It was his class' turn to ride the city bus.  Nothing is cuter than a group of 3 year olds enjoying something as simple as a bus ride!  He sat with his best friend and they giggled at all the funny things we saw and heard. Of course we also sang "The wheels on the bus go round and round."  It lasted all of 30 minutes but definitely one of my favorites!

Little man's classmates

Little man and his best friend

100 Days

Big sis had her 100 Days of School celebration recently. She had to create a "100 Days" project. We bought several materials for her to choose from (knowing left unselected would be added to the craft closet). Big sis chose to hot glue 100 petals to a hat. It was SO CUTE! She did a great job with deciding what patterns to create for each row. I had to help some with the gluing process - but not as much as I thought I would. At Hobby Lobby they have a "cool" glue gun for about $6. It was SO worth it because it allowed big sis to be much more independent. And no one in the room yelled or melted into tears . . . success!  Here is the story she wrote about her project and the hat:

LOVE

Big sis had a parent/teacher conference last week.  We have been impressed and happy with her progress this year - she is right on track for Kindergarten.  She is also really good at math - and LIKES it.  Her teacher had her demonstrate a couple of her cool math skills.  What was great about the session was the emphasis on emotional maturity and compassion.  At home, we all know how to push each other's buttons and stir up some frustration over small things.  So it is nice to hear that outsiders view big sis as a sweet and compassionate child.  I don't know why I find that comforting but I do.

Anyway, after the conference we had pizza for dinner.  Big sis enjoys setting the table for pizza night because she can reach all of the plates and cups and food we need for dinner.  She created the following special place settings for everyone.  Oh she is the sweetest kiddo!  Happy Valentine's Day!

Thanksgiving Parties

The kiddos really enjoy having family join in school activities.  Thanksgiving parties and programs were a big hit this year.    Big sis had a cute, cute, cute Thanksgiving program followed by a feast which aunt K, grandmother, grandad, and myself were able to enjoy.  The lighting was awful so the video wasn't much good.  But we did capture a few pictures.  Little man had a feast which both Stew and I were able to attend.  His whole class was so cute and excited about all the moms and dads who showed up.  They are so sweet!

Merry Christmas 2011

I've been slowly catching up while on Christmas break . . . not enough to catch up on blog posts yet.  But I've finished school, spent plenty of time with the kiddos, and started shoveling myself out of all the things left unattended this year.  Life is good! 

Wishing everyone a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

JOY!

Freedom Parade

The pre-k and kindergarten classes at big sis' school have a Freedom Parade every year.  The first year big sis was a little overwhelmed by the process and was in tears when she saw us.  This year she was so excited and loved marching and waving at us.  Her class was so cute!

Best part - we get to do this two more years since little man starts pre-k next year.  :) 

Backpack

When did he get old enough to carry a big boy backpack?????

Playing school

Both kiddos have been playing school around the house this week.  Big sis pulls out her easel and starts teaching the alphabet to her "girls" as she calls them (her barbies).  Little man packs a lunch box and backpack with highly important stuff (the contents of both are such a random assortment of importance to a 3 year old boy).  They really are excited about the new school year!

The first day of school went well for both kiddos this week.  Little man woke up and literally told us "I don't want to go to school.  I want to stay home.  I want to dress NOT in clothes."  Bless his heart, he wasn't the least bit excited about his transition to the 3 year old class at daycare.  BUT - da duh da duh - we all live with big sis who was SO excited about her first day of kindergarten even little man couldn't help but get into the "school is cool" spirit.  He even told me in the hallway that his teacher was not mean but nice and he happily ran off to play with his friends once we arrived at his class.  :)

By today, Friday, big sis was still quite enthusiastic about school.  This morning she happily yelled "I'm a Kindergartner!"  Little man looked at me with his big blue eyes and asked "Will I be there too?"  I gave him a hug and happily said "yes" while thinking "way too soon buddy, way too soon!"

As I was posting about school tonight I began to reminisce and started looking through baby pictures of little man on my computer.  I found these pictures of big sis and little man which just warmed my heart (big sis was 3 and little man was almost 1).  I know I have posted these pictures before (maybe even 2 or 3 times!).  I have a similar picture of me reading to my own little sister.  We were a bit older in our picture but the sentiment is the same.  I hope these kiddos continue to love to read and love school!

New School Year

First Day of Kindergarten

First Day of PreK-3



Walking to big sis' school



















Big sis' new room/seat



Little man's new room/seat



'Twas the Night Before Kindergarten . . .

Big sis was so about excited starting Kindergarten by the end of Sunday night.  I even pulled out the hair dryer that evening to give her a pretty do for her first day back to school.  I'll have to save that for a motivational tool more often - she was ecstatic about the special treatment.  Sigh . . . she is such a girly girl!  At least we know Aunt K will come in handy if this "princess" trend continues.  :)

I stole this idea from somewhere to take a picture of her at the beginning of each school year in a men's dress shirt.  As the years pass (another sigh) we will have a reference for all of her growth.  She thought it was so silly and laughed about how big the shirt was.  My favorite part of the picture is that you can still see that she lost her first tooth this summer.

How did she get so big already???

Kindergarten 2011

Little Man's Promotion

Little man just had a big week last week!   Gymnastics was Tuesday and then Thursday was his "promotion" ceremony.  We dropped the ball telling everyone about his gymnastics demonstration.  But we had no idea the promotion party would be what it was until Thursday.  We had received a note about having a party at 4pm for his teacher on Thursday.  So I dutifully went out and bought a thank you gift and Disco and I planned on attending the gathering.  But as the week progressed we were informed that the activities started earlier and earlier and there was more to it than just saying thanks.  Thursday afternoon I hurried as fast as I could over to the daycare to find that the kiddos were wearing graduation hats and getting certificates and singing and having a potluck party.  I texted Disco as quickly as I could to let him know I had arrived but I spent most of my time snapping pictures on my phone, again.  I tried to video them singing but you can't hear a thing on the clip.  Sigh.

Anyway, little man was over the top excited again!  It was really a sweet little gathering of kiddos and parents.  Little man's "girlfriend" informed me that she was taking little man to the beach the following week.  Unfortunately that was not possible.

True to form, the party on Thursday ended promptly at 4 pm (which was when we were originally told it started).  Disco arrived just in time to walk us out to the parking lot :(

Little man will have to start in his new room this week without his best bud. She will be back the following week so if he is sad without her it won't last too long.  I hope he takes this transition well. We are a bit nervous because he told us all week last week that he didn't want to go to school anymore. This was his only sign of anxiety about the transition but from past experience we know to be prepared for a few pep talks and tears. Just in case.

Here are the pics from his promotion party - I just love how excited he was about the whole afternoon!

The Graduates

The Processional



Our Little Graduate



The Celebration (CUPCAKES!!)

He was just SO PROUD! :)

So proud, that he was doing a happy dance!