First day of school – AM Update

I know you are all waiting with baited breath to hear about the first day of school. Here’s the morning update.

I could not have asked for a nicer first day of school morning. Alan and I got up at 6:15 and found the kids cuddled on Lex’s bed chatting with each other. I don’t know what about. It took a little convincing to get them downstairs, not because they were unhappy but because they were so happy together up there. They came down eventually, got dressed, and ate a little breakfast. They gushed over their lunches (“Oh mom, it’s exactly what I wanted!”) and eagerly posed for pictures. Someday Eve may smile in photos again, but for now we just get the silly face.

lunch

Mini blueberry bagels with cream cheese, “cracker snack,” honeydew melon, and pirates booty. Water on the side and a love note taped on top. Eve even requested it “just like Lex always got last year.” I was planning to write them anyway, even before she requested it!

Lex helped me pick photos from the first day of school last year and we printed and framed them for photos this morning. I love the idea of doing this each year. Like the Flotsam book, for you literary type out there.

lex

Lex was eager to pose while we waited for Eve to get her shoes on.

together

Second grade and kindergarten. These babies sure do grow up fast!

lex 2

We took advantage of a break in the rain for a few quick porch shots. Do you think he looks much different from last year?

eve 1

She looks totally insane here! She was eager, but also nervous.

eve 2

They are both so silly I couldn’t decide which was the better picture.

They both got in the car happily and got out again at school! A big improvement from last year! All morning he kept saying, “I can’t believe I’m in second grade! I just can’t believe it.”

When we got to Eve’s classroom it was crowded with parents but she snuck through, hung up her hat and backpack, declared the “sign in” process to be very easy (they have to find their name on a card and put the card in the bucket), and then went to play. I had to ask for a hug goodbye!! I could tell she was a bit nervous though because she was very quiet and actively chewing her nails. She found her friend, picked an activity table, and started playing. Lex too had to request a goodbye hug. :)

goodbye

Saying goodbye in Eve’s classroom.

Then down the hall to his classroom. He almost cried, but after a few sniffles he talked himself out of it. He found his cubby, studied them for awhile because they have first names on them but are arranged by last name so he had to figure that out, then found his desk. They have desks in 2nd grade instead of tables. They are currently pushed together into groups so they’re similar to tables. He found his desk and was excited to see a bookmark on it. He likes bookmarks. :)

He gave me a few goodbye hugs and that was that.

lex at school

I didn’t take too many pictures in his classroom because I think he’s getting a little too old to have his mommy following him around taking pictures… in front of his friends anyway! No restrictions at home though! :)

Then I did a little paparazzi move and snuck a picture of Eve on my way back down the hall. She had moved on to a new activity table and was happily playing with her friend still. I think it helps a lot that her friend is in the class.

eve at school

Goodbye sweet Eve. Have fun on your first day of kindergarten!

Then I left. All by myself. I managed to not cry, which makes it a no-tears morning all around! It did take some effort though! Now I’m going to attempt a run (most likely a walk ’cause it’s been awhile!) and then have lunch with my friend. I’m sure the bus will be here before I know it!

Hangman

Eve has taken an interest in Hangman lately. Look at the game from lunch today. Before she put in the “P” I was entirely stumped and convinced she was making things up. She told me it was three words and when I got the “U” it was clear they were repeating words. I completely missed the “P” and, to be honest, it’s because I quickly assumed she was making up words. Or changing her mind as she went a long, which she tends to do. When I was completely hung she giggled (a lot!) and started writing the “P”. Up Up Up. She was so proud of herself!

hangman

When I came in to read her stories after lunch I found her rocking her babies and reading them a story. She is so sweet and smart and ready for school!

reading

Speaking of school, here is Eve’s quote of the day:
“I hope there’s not going to be any learning on the first day of school.”

Kindergarten Open House

Eve had her kindergarten Open House on Thursday. I’m a few days behind on the blog but I figured I should get this posted BEFORE the back-to-school posts in two days! The event was the usual chaotic mix of nervous new parents and kids, and old hands like me and Eve. :) She didn’t even really care to go. I said, “You’ll get to see the classroom and meet the teacher,” and she replied with, “I know the classroom and the teacher.” I tried several things, finally just resorting to “Well, we have to go.” She went happily enough.

She did a great job sitting quietly while the teacher, nurse, counsellor, bus driver, and principal all spoke. By the end of the nearly 45m of talking most of the kids were bouncing and chattering, but Eve and her friend/neighbor both did a great job being still and quiet. I commended her on it later and she said, “You’re supposed to be still and quiet and listen to the teacher in school.” Like I said, she’s an old hand at this. :)

crowd

A crowd of kindergarteners. I wasn’t at a good angle for pictures of Eve, but that little girl in the pink hammed it up for me, thinking I was taking pictures of her. :)

on the bus

On the bus, taking a ride around town with a lovie tucked under her arm.

friends

Eve knows a few people starting kindergarten this year, but only one other kid in her class (there are three kindergarten classes this year!). This little girl is our neighbor and Eve’s new classmate. Eve showed her all around the classroom. :)

One thing I did learn is that her class only has 13 kids this year! Lex’s K had 19 kids, mostly boys. With three classrooms now the class sizes are much smaller. I love that.

Teacher assignment

We got Eve’s teacher assignment today!  She has the same kindergarden teacher Lex had.  I’m happy, though she seems rather indifferent about it (and school in general).  The buddy she was hoping would be in her class is not, but when I mentioned it Eve just shrugged her shoulders.  I have no doubt she’ll make friends! 

Last day of school!

One reason I love my blog is because I love reading about this time last year. Whatever time it is this year it’s always fun to read about last year, and the year before. Anyway.

Today was the last day of school. I now officially have a 2nd grader and a kindergartener! Both kids passed their grades (surprise!) and are considered “more than ready” for the next grade.

kids

A proud second grader and an excited kindergartener! (This is a pretty awful photo setup! I was trying to be quick and just super excited that they both had agreed to stop and smile for me!)

After a busy morning spent playing with a new friend, Eve spent most of her last day of school outside (I think the para was inside cleaning the classroom!) We brought our treat bags and another child (mother) brought fancy cookies. Eve came home all wound up!

Lex’s class did Step-Up day first, then had a goodbye assembly for the 5th graders. Then lunch outside, lots of popsicles, and games for the rest of the day. He brought Sorry and was happy that his classmates all took game sheets from his folder. He got the teacher I wanted and can’t remember any of the kids in his new class. I got a lot of “maybe he was in my class” or “maybe he was in the other class” but no certainty. But that’s ok. I asked him, “When you looked around the classroom, did you feel happy with the group of kids around you or did you feel nervous or uncertain?” He said he felt happy and comfortable. That’s good enough for me.

After school we went to the science museum to play with some friends we haven’t seen this year. That was fun, and my parents surprised us there too!

paperwork

Look at all the paperwork that comes home at the end of the year! (Don’t look at the crazy naked girl in the background)

hat

Lex brought home this paper hat that says “A hat for Eve” She put it on and agreed to let me take a picture of it…

tongue

… if I also agreed to take this picture! She was seriously over tired tonight.

Happy afternoon. Happy day. Happy Summer Vacation!!!

See You Later Alligator

finished treat bags

See You Later Alligator!

We made treats for the last day of school tomorrow. Along the same lines as our Dr. Seuss treats, I came across this adorable end-of-year treat idea on Pinterest. Her candy color scheme is better than ours, but we had lots of fun making them and the kids are super excited to deliver them tomorrow.

Eve and I had an in-depth discussion in the grocery store the other day about which candies would be best and how much we would need. I bought two very large bags of candy, but apparently that was nowhere near enough. We rummaged through the cabinets (a perfectionist would have returned to the store, but my “good enough” approach to life these days sent me to the snack cabinet instead!) and found a huge supply of Goldfish, Cheerios, and Kix. The kids thought Goldfish would be best, so Goldfish it was! I think that will be good to balance out the sugar hit these kids will get if they actually eat the whole bag at one time!

filling candy bags

Doling out the candy! At the last minute Eve invited a friend from school over to help with the treat bags. She was more of a distraction than an actual help, but her mom helped and we all had a fun afternoon anyway.

lex writing

Now comes the hard work! Writing To: and From: on 40 bags! Lex powered through his own pretty quickly and then helped Eve finish off hers as well. Lex was so sweet he even wrote “From: Lex & Eve” on all of the bags for his classmates.

eve writing

Eve and her friend did a lot of giggling, but not a lot of writing. Once her friend left Eve and Lex worked together to finish up the bags for her class.

lots of treat bags

I like this kind of treat. They are fun.

happy kids

They are so excited to hand them out tomorrow. They each gave a bag to each other as well. Sweet siblings (making sure they get their candy too!)

We are all excited for the last day of school tomorrow. Well, I am anyway and projecting on them. The kids haven’t expressed much interest either way. I think they will be most happy on Monday when we aren’t heading to school. :) Me too!

Inventions, ice cream, and missing teeth

Lex’s class did an assignment where they had to make and write about an invention. Or, to be precise, a “contrapawackinvent.” I have NO IDEA what that means. He hasn’t told me anything about it except that he was pleased his teacher let him write straight through snack time. He apparently had a lot to say about his contrapawackinvent!

bulletin board

The long one in the middle is his.

close up

A close up. Can you read it? You may have to click on the picture to zoom in a bit.

Tonight was the annual ice cream social at his school. Sort of a final farewell, hosted by the PTO. The kids had a great time, of course. Ice cream and playground after dinner, lots of friends, what more could you (as a child!) ask for. :)

ice cream

Yum!

The excitement of the evening however came when Lex did a face-plant off the monkey bars! He stood up, spitting out wood chips and missing a tooth! Fortunately it was the one that was hanging on by a thread anyway! He was hoping to loose it this week, at school, so he could get a little treasure box from the school nurse. He lost it at school, but won’t be getting a treasure box. Oh well. Several people jumped in and tried to help him find the tooth, but he seemed relatively indifferent.

looking for a tooth

Looking for a tooth. I didn't get any pictures of the wood-chip filled face, too busy taking care of the boy to be taking pictures of him, but once I knew he was ok I whipped the camera back out!

is this it

Is this it? Nope, just a wood chip.

upside down

A face-plant didn't keep him down for long!

slide

Oh yeah, we brought this smiley girl as well. :) She was smiley until she got her little toe caught in the slide. Then it turned to tears (two ice cream cones and half hour past bedtime may have also contributed to the tears!)

sweet

Sweet.

Game Folder – part 2

I learned more about the game folder today! Lex made a sheet of games for his classmates. He and another girl in his class started it on Friday. They are going to hang it on the wall on Monday and fill it with activities and games for their classmates. We made copies of this game sheet for each of his classmates. I have no idea how this will play out on Monday, but I think the idea is absolutely adorable! He’s such a sweet genius.

game sheet

Four part game sheet. We made copies for each classmate, one for Eve, and one for Parrish. Plus the original that Lex wanted to hang on to, just in case.

classmate

Lex wrote out a list of his classmates, alphabetized in alternating colors (he did all of the blue names, then all of the green names, how's that for mental work!?). Then he glued the list on to the inside of the folder. I don't understand this part of the plan, but he said it was important.