ABC 123

So, I've finally accepted the fact that my kids are back in school. The older boys started first grade. I had no idea sending them to school this year was going to be as hard as it was when I sent them to Kindergarten. I of course had a harder time with it than they did. This is the first time the boys have ever been separated. EVER! With that said, they are fine with it.

Having two different teachers has been an adjustment. I think the hardest thing is explaining to one child why he has more homework than his brother. I cannot say it's because you are older or use excuses like that. They are the same age. It's hard.

Carson and Owen love being in different classes. They have lunch recess together. It sounds like a whole group of boys always play together at recess. Carson and Owen seem to gravitate towards the same friends. They all seem to play well together.
  


This is Stella's and Isaac's last year of preschool. This also makes me very sad. I swear they are growing before my eyes. The twins are in the same class (yay!) They are so very different. Stella is extremely shy. Isaac is… well he's his own person. I understand he's a good boy while at school so that is good as long as he can behave himself. Both kids love preschool!



I cannot wait to see all that the 2012-2013 school year brings us.

Endings

The school year is over. It flew by. It's so amazing to reflect back on how far all the kids have come over the last year.
The end of the school year brought a field trip and field day for Carson and Owen.
Feeding the lemurs on Lemur Island at Tanganyika Wildlife Park (field trip).


Giraffe "kissing" Carson.

"Cookie" the newest honey badger. Honey badger don't care.
First day of school and last day of school






Catching the bus on the last day of school

  
Apollo Field Day on the last day of school.

Carson, Noah and Owen race.


Water balloon toss.



Ending the school year with a friendly game of tug-of-war. Kindergarden defeated the first graders.



Thank you for a wonderful school year Mrs. Gift!


The preschool class ended their school year by having a fun day of activities and a "picnic" with parents.

Isaac with his buddies Cooper and Tyler.




Stella and her bestie from school, Emalee.


  
First and last days of school.
Thanks for a great school year Mrs. Baird and Mrs. Funk!

Celebrating the end of the year at Orange Leaf.

Stars of the Week

Once again the time has gotten away from me, but I have not forgotten the special weeks in preschool for Isaac and Stella. Both got be be the coveted Star of the Week in January/February. This is a special time for the kids. A true honor.

Isaac was chosen to be the Star first. Being Star of the Week means you get to bring Buddy the bunny home over the weekend. Buddy gets to do everything with the child. Buddy brings a couple books with him, a DVD and a blanket. The student who is the Star of the Week gets to be classroom helper, brings treats to share with the class and in our case had me read their favorite book to the class. Isaac chose to have his Hallmark interactive "Watson" book read to the class. Both Watson the raccoon and I read the book. The best part of being Star of the Week is that the student gets to bring show-n-tell during the week. A pretty big deal in a kid's life. Isaac brought his "Puppy" named Archie one day and his Hess truck the other day. His snack was graham crackers with decorative frosting on top. Isaac LOVES graham crackers!

Parents are asked to write a summary of how you spent the weekend with Buddy.

Buddy’s Weekend with Isaac

Thursday, January 12, 2012


Buddy got to come home with Isaac. Isaac was thrilled that he was chosen to be Star of the Week and that Buddy got to come to our house. We read the books that came home with Buddy right away. Buddy got to go to Isaac’s older brothers’ basketball practice Thursday night. Isaac, Stella and Buddy ran and played together during the practice.






Friday, January 13, 2012


Buddy and Isaac played in the morning. Isaac built Buddy a little house to play in. Later that morning Isaac had to leave Buddy behind while he went to Sack Lunch. Buddy napped while Isaac was gone, but was ready to play when he got home. They raced cars and played with blocks and read books.



Saturday, January 14, 2012

Buddy was excited to go to Isaac’s older brothers’ basketball game. Isaac and Buddy cheered Carson and Owen on to victory. Buddy was a very good bunny while watching the game. Buddy and the kids came home to play and watch football.



Sunday, January 15, 2012

Buddy went to church with our family. We all went to the doughnut shop after church. We learned Buddy likes doughnuts with chocolate and sprinkles. He especially likes sprinkles. Later that afternoon Isaac had a friend visiting from Nebraska over to play. Buddy had a great time running around and playing with all the kids.


Monday, January 16, 2012

Buddy was a tired little thing! He napped while Isaac and Stella were at gymnastics. He played outside with Isaac and his siblings later in the day. It was a beautiful day to play outside. Buddy played a little hide and go seek. He found some really good hiding places.


Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Isaac and Buddy enjoyed their last day together. They played with puzzles and watched the DVD that came in Buddy’s bag.



We loved having Buddy at our house! All the kids loved having him stay the weekend with us. Buddy was very good during his stay. He got to sleep with Isaac at night in Isaac’s and Stella’s bedroom. Buddy liked the tree in their room and the little house the kids made for him. Thank you for coming to our house, Buddy!

Stella chose her Hallmark interactive book to have read to the class, too. Abigale the bunny and I read about the missing purse to the students. Stella treated her classmates to M&M cookies with flowers decorated in icing on top. She brought "Baby" her seahorse and her teddy bear for show-n-tell.

Buddy’s Weekend with Stella

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Buddy got to go to Stella’s older brothers’ basketball game. This was the second game he’s watched the boys play. We got to the game early so Buddy and Stella got to play on the basketball court for a while before everyone else showed up.


Friday, January 27, 2012

The morning was spent reading books and playing. Buddy chose to take a nap while Stella (and Isaac) went to Sack Lunch. Buddy played with Stella and Isaac when they came home. All watched Peppa Pig together later that afternoon.


Saturday, January 28, 2012

Buddy found himself playing with Stella and her brothers most of the day. Buddy and “Baby,” Stella’s sea horse, got along very well. They even found themselves hanging out while Stella went to the Kid Zone at the Y.


Sunday, January 29, 2012

The family drove Daddy to the airport so Daddy could go on his business trip to Florida. Buddy loved seeing all the jets! He couldn’t believe how big some of them were. Later in the day the kids and Buddy watched the movie Astro Boy. Stella’s grandma, “Gee Gee,” came to visit from Nebraska. Stella took Buddy to her cousins’ house to play and spend time with Gee Gee.


Monday, January 30, 2012

Buddy watched Stella and Isaac do gymnastics. He observed with Stella’s mom and Gee Gee. Buddy loved watching the kids jump in the pit and do front rolls. After picking Carson and Owen up from school Mom surprised everyone by taking them to meet “Buckets” Blakes, a Harlem Globetrotter. Buddy and the kids got autographs and their picture taken with “Buckets.”


Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Stella and Buddy had a nice morning together. They played outside on the swing set and dug for dinosaur bones in the back yard.

The family loved spending another weekend with Buddy. Just like last time, he was very good during his stay. Buddy and Baby slept with Stella every night in Stella’s and Isaac’s bedroom. Thank you for coming back to our house, Buddy! We are going to miss you.

Music to my ears

All four kids had school Christmas programs this year. Both programs were a joy to watch. Little kids are so darned cute to watch on stage.

Carson's and Owen's program was on a Monday night. Just the Kindergartners participated in the school Christmas program. Some may say it was far from perfect (poor music teacher had technical difficulties with the music not playing) but looking through my eyes it was perfect. The kids knew every song, with or with background music playing. Carson had a small speaking part. Both boys sang their little hearts out and jammed out more than most (at a school Christmas program.)

After the program was over we went to celebrate a job well done at Orange Leaf. That's a huge treat in our family!

Stella and Isaac had their preschool Christmas program on a Thursday afternoon. I was surprised with how much they knew. The knew most of the words to every song and saying. Their program had students that ranged in age from 3-5 years old. Their Christmas program was pretty adorable!

A Pair of Preschoolers

Another first.

Stella and Isaac have officially started preschool or as they like to call it big preschool. They were so excited for preschool to start. They want to be big just like their brothers. Much to our surprise the two Littles have the same teacher that the Bigs had last year. I'm not sure what the teacher thinks of this, but we are thrilled. Mrs. Baird knows Stella and Isaac. She got to see them three times a week- twice a day last year. She assured me she was excited to have Stella and Isaac in her class this year.

Stella and Isaac did just what I thought they'd do on the first day of preschool. They marched right into their new classroom like they owned the place. They stopped for a quick picture with the teachers then went off to play. No goodbye. No "I love you." No nothin'! Yes. This is how I wanted it, but there is a little part of me that would like a little wave goodbye with a "love you."

Stella and Isaac had a very successful first day of school. The teacher sang their praises. She knows how to make me happy.
  



Mrs. Baird, Stella, Mrs. Funk, and Isaac on the first day of preschool. 

If you haven't noticed each milestone in my children's lives is bittersweet for me. I hate letting go of my babies. I hate to think they are able to do things on their own. I love to see my babies turning into little kids and becoming more responsible. I love seeing their personalities and glimpses of who they are going to be one day. I try my hardest to hold on to and enjoy them where they are now in their lives. I know that the time with them flies and before I even know what's happened they have moved onto the next phase in life.  

Last time ever

Carson and Owen have officially joined their brother and sister for summer break.

Preschool is over...forever for them. They will never ever go to preschool again. This is one of those bittersweet moments for me. I tend to get a little sentimental about things like this. I hate that my kids are growing up right before my eyes. Why can't time slow down?

I guess there's nothing I can do about it, but try to enjoy the moment.

The first day of school vs. the last day of school.

Ready for the last day of preschool.

All the kids in the class made their very own dinosaur t-shirt to wear on the last day of school. They all looked so cute in them.

A "picnic" with family and friends.

Friends from school.

Goodbye Mrs. Wilbur and Mrs. Baird. We'll miss you!

Already Over

How can it be the end of the school year already? Didn't the kids just start last month? Friday was the last day of Kids Day Inn a.k.a. preschool for Stella and Isaac.

This is sad for so many reasons.

Stella and Isaac had a great year and really enjoyed going to KDI. They had great teachers who taught them so much while making it fun to learn.

Ready to go to "preschool" for the last time of the school year.

The class after their indoor picnic. I asked the teachers their secret for getting 10 kids to sit quietly while eating ice cream and Oreos.

They laughed.

I was serious.

Last day of school balloons and bears to take home. The bears were decorated by the kids and had a hidden pouch on the back filled with bubbles and sidewalk chalk.

Goodbye Mrs. Whightsil and Ms. Pasteka.