Reflections 2010

For the first time the kids entered the reflections program that our PTA puts on. This year the theme was "Together We Can" Maddie came up with the idea to put all of our hands together to take a picture. This is how it turned out.

Carter drew some great Alien Monster guys. He was very proud of his work.

Both the kids were very proud of their work and we were excited to find out that their pieces had been chosen to move on to the district level!

Both

Vote for Maddie!

Maddie is in fourth grade now and with that comes some fun privileges. She's officially considered a big kid on campus and gets to eat lunch with the 5th and 6th graders. She also had the privilege of running for student council. I love how she is such a go getter, it makes me so proud. I never have to encourage her to do anything at school, she always wants to participate in anything she can. So naturally she came home so excited about running for Publicist. We made this cute poster together (Thanks for the slogan Uncle Chris)


Grammy helped her prepare an adorable rhyming speech which she gave in front of all the 4,5 and 6th graders. When it was all said and done, Maddie did not win and was pretty disappointed but I'm glad she tried and I think it was a good experience for her. She's already looking forward to next year. (We'll just have to make sure she doesn't run against the most popular girl in 4th grade.)

Sawyer's first day of preschool

Last week Sawyer had his first day of preschool. I didn't put him in preschool last year because of the new baby and having a Kindergartner I thought it would be too crazy for our schedule. Next year he will start Kindergarten so preschool was a must this year. We signed him up for Tuesdays and Thursday mornings.

He was very anxious about going. On one hand he was excited to go because he knew that meant he was a big kid now but on the other hand he was very scared and shy. Chris was able to come with us on his first day which was nice.

Here he is all ready for his first day in his cute outfit and his backpack.

Here he is in the front of the school

Once we got inside he was very nervous. He would not let go of my pant leg for one second. I was nervous for him. When it was time to sign the kids in at the door I had to sign him in and say goodbye. At first he wouldn't let go of me so the teacher had to have the asst. teacher come and get him from me. He didn't resist but had a very sad look on his face and it broke my heart. As I turned to leave I started to tear up. How could I leave my baby! I felt like I was abandoning him. As we walked outside, I told Chris I couldn't leave yet, I had to make sure he was okay. I went back in and got eye contact with the teacher without him seeing me. She gestured a thumbs up and I was relieved. I knew he'd be okay.

Here he is with his teacher Ms. Heather. Isn't she cute? She is the sweetest teacher and just loves the kids. (Sawyer is so hard to get a good picture of for some reason by the time the camera snaps he has a weird look on his face)


When I went home it was so weird and quiet without Sawyer around. It was kinda nice. Libby took a nap and I though to myself, I can get used to this!

I was excited to get back to the school to see my baby so I headed back a little early with a Root beer Slurpee in hand.

I was first in line to pick him up and when he came out he gave me a huge hug and said, "Mommy, I am not a shy guy anymore! I love preschool!"

Sawyer loves preschool and has been excited to go to school each time since that day. He wakes up in the morning and gets so excited when he finds out that its a school day!

First day of School 2010

On Friday before school started (not long after getting home from our trip to Palm Desert) we went over to the school to see the kids teachers. The kids both seemed very happy with who they got. Maddie also enjoyed seeing some of her friends at the school and finding out who everyone had.

Our school starts incredibly early compared to the rest of California. No we are not on year round school we just start early and end early (before Memorial Day which is kinda nice) Anyhow it does feel kinda weird to be in school when the rest of the country (or what seems like) is still in Summer.

Needless to say, we had a long Summer and the kids and I were certainly ready for school to start. Our new school year began early Monday morning at 6:00 am when the kids awoke very excited for what the day would bring. Maddie had her clothes all ready set out.

The kids got ready, and I even got showered and ready too! (I know crazy huh? Probably the only day all year I don't drop them off wearing PJ's) Chris went into work very early that day so he was able to come home and join me in taking the kids to their new classes.
Here are the big 1st grader and 4th grader ready for a great day.

Aren't they just adorable! They are growing up too fast (sniff sniff..)

(Chris would have you admire his freshly cut grass)

We got there early at 7:30 am and the school was already bustling with parents. We dropped off Carter first. He was excited to be in the big kid classrooms and to have his own desk.

His teacher this year is Ms. Aleman. She was very nice to pose for a picture. Carter has had a hard time adjusting to a longer school day, and I feel a little bad for him.

We said goodbye to Carter (no tears this time) and went over to the big kid side of campus to Maddie's Fourth grade classroom. She has a male teacher, Mr. Lawrence whom she is very fond of and seems like he's gonna be great. We noticed a stark contrast from dropping Carter off to dropping Maddie off. With Maddie there was no pose with the teacher, or dramatic send off. The teacher was talking to the students and had them sit down and didn't really acknowledge the parents. There were only two parents there. The desks were piled high with 5 huge textbooks and there were so many desks 33 to be exact! Carter's classroom only has 18 students, BIG difference.

Just in the first few days we've noticed that fourth grade is going to be a lot different than 3rd. Maddie has a planner and homework every night in just about every subject. She has to bring her textbooks home and it just seems like she's given a lot more responsibility which she is gladly receiving. It makes me a little sad to see my little girl grow up, just in the past week I feel like she's no longer a little girl. When we talk she understands more about the adult world I live in. I can see how I'm going to like having a buddy like her around while I'm cooking dinner or taking care of little ones. She's had to grow up a lot in the last 6 months since Libby has joined our family as I've given her much more responsibility and that has also made her mature.

I'm so proud of my Maddie and I'm starting to feel kinda old with a fourth grader! (My own memories of fourth grade are not so distant)

Oh, and I forgot to mention, Chris and I went to Coco's for breakfast after to celebrate!

End of School Year Activities

Our kids ended school on May 25 which is 2 weeks earlier than we used to end. The school district changed their schedule this year and we started earlier which is why we ended earlier. I actually really like this new schedule. It's a little hot when school gets back in session but that's okay we just get lots of summer clothes for school!

The last week of school Carter and Maddie both had awards assemblies and Carter had a Kindergarten picnic on the last day of school. Here are some fun pictures I took.

Maddie received the scholastic achievement award. We are so proud of her!
She did such a great job this year.

Maddie adores her baby sister and loves to have her come to school. She always likes to show her off!

Carter's Kindergarten Picnic where he received his Kindergarten Treasure Book.

This is Carter's good friend from church, Caleb. It was fun having them at school together. They were in different classes but played together on the playground and rode the bus home together. Too bad his family is moving this Summer and won't be at our school next year.

Sawyer had fun playing with Carter on the Kindergarten playground. Before I know it he'll be playing there as a Kindergartner (a year from this Fall!)

Carter was happy to have his Grammy there to celebrate with him.

Carter enjoyed sharing his Treasure book with Grammy

Carter with his teacher Ms. Maloney

Riley's Farm Field Trip

Chris is such an awesome dad.

Maddie came home from school a few weeks ago with a flier about an upcoming field trip to Riley's farm. She was so excited about it and wanted me to be a chaperon on the trip which I've done in the past. With a new baby nursing all day and not on a bottle yet it was out of the question. Her immediate response was "I'll ask Daddy" So when Chris got home from work she asked him to come on her field trip with her. Chris agreed to it and was actually kind of excited about it. We put it on the calendar and Maddie looked forward to it for several weeks.

Chris took the day off and had some great one on one time with Maddie. She felt so special to have her daddy there with her. She sat next to him on the bus and snuggled up with her Dad. (Chris wonders how long this will last :) It was so fun to hear about the fun things they did. They learned all about pioneers and got to be in a real log cabin and see handcarts and covered wagons. I'm so glad that Chris is the kind of Dad that loves doing stuff with his kids!

Kindergarten Program

Carter had his Kindergarten program today. It was just adorable to watch him really get into the songs and do all the motions. He is such a cutie pie! I video taped the whole thing so that Chris could watch it when he got home. He was sad not to be there for it. Carter also got a writing award and the California Scholastic Achievement award. We are so proud of him. Wait to go Carter!

Carter is Child of the Week

In Kindergarten they select a child to spotlight each week. It is a pretty big deal and Carter has been waiting all school year to be the "Child of the Week". He was so excited when he was picked and brought home a poster to make. We had fun going through pictures of his life and deciding which ones should "make" the poster.

On Thursday Grammy went to his classroom and played her guitar and sang for the kids. She has so much fun and they just love her. She even wrote an adorable song for Carter. She told a fun story to the kids as well.

Chris and I got to go in on Friday. We brought all the kids a little bottle of Carter's favorite juice, Odwalla Apple juice and Orange juice. I also made rice crispy treats, another of Carter's faves. We enjoyed watching him interact with his friends. Sawyer also enjoyed sitting next to his big brother.

Buddies Forever

His cute poster that we made together

Carter with Ms. Maloney, his teacher.

Halloween at School

Carter got to dress up for Halloween at his preschool. They did a little parade through the building and even visited the Senior's eating their lunch on the other side of the building. He came home with tons of treats and Maddie was so jealous. (Her school is pretty strict with the healthy food only at school rule).





Maddie's school did a parade in the morning in their costumes and had a harvest party later in the day, with healthy snacks of course!

Carter's First Day of School

Carter was very excited to have his turn this week! Carter's first day of preschool was today. He is going 2 days a week for 3 hours each day. He was a little anxious since his class this year is in different location than it was last year. He kept asking me if the same friends were going to be there. I really like the location, it is in a beautiful new community center and has a little gated outside area for the kids to play. Maddie went to preschool here and loved it. His teachers name is Ms. April and she seems very nice. When I came to pick him up he had already made two "buddies" as he put it! I think he is going to have a great year. I can't believe that next year he'll be in Kindergarten. He is growing up so fast!

Maddie's First Day of School

Today was Maddie's first day of Second Grade. She was so excited last night she could hardly sleep. Her teacher's name is Mrs. Scott and is a very good teacher. She is actually in a second/third combo class which should be interesting. She has a new set of kids in her class which we are happy about and we hope she makes some new friends. When she went to bed tonight she was so excited for the next day, she told me "I wish it was school everyday!" I wonder how long that will last.