Lex’s class does an activity they call Incredible Equations each morning. The kids have to think of equations that equal the date. For example, on December 5th, they could say 4+1. That’s an example most 1st graders would say. Lex prefers more complex equations, often involving multiplication and division. When I asked him if he came up with an equation today he said his was 10×2+4×2=28. (Alan is reading over my shoulder and told me there’s no need to type the parentheses because Lex knows about order of operations as of last week.)

I can’t wait for his parent teacher conference next week!

Today was Walk/Ride To School day.  Close by kids walk or ride their bikes and the busses drop other kids off at the end of the mile long bike path between the village and the school.  Kids usually enjoy it.  It’s great exercise for them and a great way to get some morning energy out before class starts.  We’ve missed it every week this school year so far.  This morning we had the right combination of remembering, enough time, and interest.  Three important factors.  Alan even stayed home with Eve so that we could make it happen.  Turns out it was COLD outside!  It was about 31° when we left.  Lex and I made it about one house down the road before turning around to come back and dig some gloves out of storage.  I guess I should bring the whole box of winter gear down soon :(    Anyway, we rode and walked to school because Lex kept getting too tired to pedal anymore.  Poor boy.  We made it, and we were only about five minutes late!  I left him with bright red cheeks and a runny nose.  It was fun, but this might be our one Walk/Ride To School day until spring.

Look at this awesome book Lex made at school this week. I wasn’t sure of the best way to show it, but hopefully you can see the details here. Click on the image and it will get bigger. I LOVE it.

I love that he drew himself as a smiling sunshine. I love that he likes playing games with mom. We are lying on our bellies playing Trouble. Notice that he started drawing me standing up then erased it when he remembered that we usually lay down when we play that game. He even drew a house around us. I love that he wants to be an astronaut when he grows up. He even drew the safety line. I love that he drew Eve with big curly hair and that he drew me taller than Alan. When we asked him why he said Alan was bending down. I love that his favorite food is oatmeal. We share the same breakfast every morning. I love that he wrote his name down his arm. I just love this little book. It makes me smile :)

This is a dorky thing to say, but I really look forward to Fridays during the school year. For the obvious reasons, of course, such as the impending weekend,but more so because of the folders of papers that come home from school Friday afternoons. I love the little notes home from the teacher about what they did this week and what to expect next week. I like seeing all the projects and worksheets they do. Sometimes they are many and boring (Lex brought home a slew of color recognition worksheets this week. Really? In 1st grade?) but other times you get a beautiful painting from art class, or a fun book like the one above. This week we were supposed to get information about reading groups in Lex’s class. They did reading assessments this past week and his teacher said she would send home group info on Friday. I was disappointed to finding nothing about it in his folder. Next Friday he won’t be in school so I’m going to have to wait two whole weeks to learn more! The other disappointment in his folder was the photo order sheet. Class photos will be taken next week when we are away. We can do make-up photos in October, but he won’t be in the class picture this year. Bummer, I know!

Good thing this adorable book came home to make up for the downers. I’ll just keep reading his All About Me book and smile every time. :)

The big day finally arrived. Lex slept late (bugger!) and we had to wake him up. I made pancakes for breakfast, not to celebrate but because we were out of most everything else! He fussed a bit about going and tried to hide under the table, but when I got him to talk to me he decided it would be best to leave sooner rather than later so we could arrive a bit early and he could be one of the first ones in the room. I think it’s easier for a kid like him to see the kids trickle in as opposed to having to walk into a full classroom. Unfortunately it seems everyone else had the same idea! The parking lot was packed and Lex immediately got apprehensive again. He dragged his feet into the building, but luckily for me didn’t put up a physical fight. I had to pull him along when we got into the building and he suddenly “forgot” where his classroom was. Good thing he showed it to me over the summer! When we got to the room it was pretty full. He immediately started crying. Poor boy. His best buddy (so sweet!) ran over and said, “Hey brother, welcome back!!” and tried to pull him into the classroom. Lex fell (prat fall really) and wailed louder that he got hurt. His poor friend had huge eyes and felt awful. I found myself trying to reassure both of them. Then a sweet little girl came over and gave Lex a big hug. Lex cried some more and hid under the cubbies. I felt so bad for him. I got his stuff put away and gave him big hugs and left. His teacher took my sobbing son and walked him back into the classroom, while I walked my sobbing self down the hall. Again I was thankful that he did not put up a physical fight.

Eve and I spent the morning grocery shopping. She was so excited for school that she packed her backpack (spare clothes “just in case,” a water bottle “in case I get thirsty” and a snack) and carried it around the grocery store. Then we hit the library quickly, then home for unloading, lunch, a few stories, and back in the car headed to her open house. She starts school tomorrow but today they had an hour to meet the teacher, see the classroom, and meet their classmates. Easy peasy for Evie. She had fun. She was very tired by the end though. Then back in the car to pick up Lex and head home.

Back at Lex’s school he was all smiles at pick-up. He said he had a great day, “except for the very beginning,” and liked gym class best. I guess Tuesday’s are gym days. Good to know. So far he’s planning on going back again tomorrow! :)

I wasn't about to attempt photography today, but here is a picture of him from last week, smiling with his new backpack.

Eve got a new backpack too. I'll try to get a good "first day of school" picture of her tomorrow :)

Eve went straight for the sand table at open house today. She loves sand.

Today is Lex’s last day of kindergarten! He’s pretty excited for summer vacation (we all are!) but it was so cute to see his whole class this morning at drop off. They were all bouncing and full of energy. Lex brought his teacher a gift and he was so cute when he gave it to her. He said “This is a present for you for being such a great teacher this year.” :) He picked it out, Eve wrapped it and decorated the paper, I wrote a thank you note. The teacher LOVED it! We got a set of connecting octagons, similar to what we have here, except, as Lex told his teacher, “These are octagons and mine at home are hexagons.” Lex also brought in his yearbook to have everyone sign it. I guess one of the boys (with an older brother!) was doing that yesterday at school and Lex thought it would be a good idea. I can’t wait to see it. I was going to plan a special last-day-of-school something… playdate or outing or something, but we have been so super busy these past few weeks that I think we all just want some downtime. And I have a Board meeting tonight anyway, so it would have a been a rushed “something” anyway. Instead we’ll have snack and make pancakes for dinner and just chillax! Looking forward to it… on that note I have to go meet him at the bus stop! Last time for two years, I think!! (Because of Eve’s preschool schedule next year I think I’ll be picking Lex up at school every day)

Quick Update: He got off the bus today very sadly. He started right in telling me that they celebrated two summer birthdays today and went outside to eat popsicles. I thought that sounded like fun and asked why he was so sad about it. Apparently he had been planning to get all his classmates to sign his book at choice time, but they went outside for popsicles at choice time instead, so he was only able to have a few people sign it on the bus. He was so sad. I wish I could cuddle away all of life’s little disappointments. Sigh. I’m pretty sure he was over it by the time we finished snack though, so it definitely falls under the “little” disappointments category!