New Territories

The LAST day of school was filled with joyous yips and yells, a little anxiety for new friends in a new school in a new neighborhood, and some sadness for completing Kindergarten....not to mention {Summer Break}!

First day of Kindergarten:

Last day of Kindergarten:

After moving into a new house just three weeks before school let out, we had our share of tardy's...Notice the black socks, LONG hair, uncombed hair, and "really mom?" expression compared to the first-of-the-year "YAY!  SCHOOL!" expression?  I felt how he looked, in both pictures, on both days.

Watch out Summer Break, HERE WE COME!!!

Graduations {Tanner & Taylor}

Taylor graduated from Apple Preschool on May 17th!  He sure was excited, and loved preschool with his friends.

Teachers Miss Becci, Miss Amy, Miss Jamie,
Miss Tawnya, Miss Kari and Taylor and his little friends. 

Tanner graduated from Hawthorne Elementary Kindergarten, on May 30th.  Mrs. Holton was so patient and kind! We both loved her and are going to miss her when we go to our new school.

Tanner HAD to stop and have a discussion about his diploma with the principal. 

Tanner and Mrs. Holton.  

We are so proud of our graduates!

Student of the Week

Tanner is Mrs. Holton's Student of the Week this week!!!  She sent home a questionnaire, and a request for pictures.

His answers were to cute...just wanted to share.  :)

What is your favorite animal?  "Baby Kitties (but he says his 'k's' with the 't' sound.  LOL!) and the Macaw birds at the zoo."

When is your Birthday?  "I don't know...I wasn't born yet mom!"  December 13th, 2005

What or who is your favorite pet?  "We don't have any pets...someday I'd like a kitty."

What is your favorite TV show?  Scooby-Doo

What is your favorite sport?  "Ice skating, and swimming."

What is your favorite book?  "Tom Saywer"  (We still need to finish it...he and Taylor LOVE it!!!)

Where would you like to go on vacation?  "To a lake to play, swim, and catch fish."

What do you want to be when you grow up?  "A Dentist"  (that came out of nowhere!)

What is your favorite food?  "Chocolate.  Chocolate chips.  Hot dogs.  Hamburgers.  Corn on the cob.  Eggs and Sausage."

What is something you love?  "Halloween, and Legos"

And we included a few pictures.  He is so excited!!!  As part of student of the week, he gets to take a "Show & Tell" item on Friday....he already has a long list of things to bring...LOL!

quite possibly the worst picture I've EVER taken!
My only excuse is that there was a window between
me and him.  LOL! 

And so it begins.

My favorite childhood game was "School".  Sometimes I played it by myself, other times with siblings.  Sometimes I even played it with friends and cousins.  But what I loved more than playing it, was setting it up.  Making a roll.  Setting out pencils and papers for assignments.  Digging through my mom's stamps to make "good job" stamps on "assignments".  Making up the names of my students or peers.  Telling imaginary "William" to sit in his seat, or praising "Jane" on her beautiful script.

*sigh*

So is it any wonder that I got a degree in teaching?  And have loved teaching high school?  And am now teaching Pre-Kindergarteners?

I've been looking forward to today for a long time.
Today is the first day that Tanner brought home homework.
*squeal!!!!!*

One back-to-front, a four page reader for the week, and another book for the week.

I just pray I can keep this enthusiasm up.  And that he doesn't take a hour to get two pages done every.single.day.

Any suggestions for helping him to FOCUS?  The boy is so easily distracted.  It's killing me! 

There's a First for Everything

Tanner is beyond excited.

I am beyond nervous.

Our apartment is smack dab between the bus stop and the school.  We live less than 3 blocks from the elementary school.  The bus stop is two blocks in the opposite direction.   And for Tanner to ride the bus frees up a good 30 minutes in the morning...so I said, "sure!  Why not?" For him to ride the bus means I don't have to wake up a sleeping baby to go pick him up.  HEAVEN!

He absolutely loved it!

And I think I like the extra 30 minutes to get dishes done, laundry started, and the family room picked up (how in the world does it get trashed the hour before school starts?!).

The question begs, When will I let him walk to the stop by himself?  I'm thinking when he's about 18.  Or at least 10. LOL!

First Day of Kindergarten

I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't have taken him in myself, but my first-born is a Kindergarten-er!!!   WHEN did THAT happen?  HOW did THAT happen?

It really snuck (sneaked?) up on me, that's for sure!  We were ready last night, after Father's Blessings and family prayer, and 10 hours of sleep for the little boys.  Despite the fact that we forgot to set out clothes, (so I put his backpack and supplies and clothes out at 12:15 this morning,) we still had a yummy breakfast and got hair combed early enough to snap some pictures. 

Growing up we'd always stand on 'the rock' in the side yard for our "First Day of School Pictures"...and since we don't have a rock, we opted for the front steps.  Of course, Taylor and Kortlen had to be part of the excitement, too!

We walked Tanner to school and found a surprise when we got there - the teacher we thought would be teaching took a retired teacher's place in the 1st grade, so we are now the students of Mrs. Holten.  She is really nice, new to the area, and I hope Tanner is on his best behavior for her!  She has 25 students in both her morning and afternoon classes!  That's a lot of 5 year old boys and girls...wow! 

**Thank heavens for my mom...who brought me boxes of Kleenex's when I was sick last month...I totally forgot to buy some as part of the school supplies!  Guess I'll just restock when I get to the store next time. 

I tell you, I was more nervous than he was!  "Would he be nice to the other kids?  Would he be a friend?  Would he raise his hand or just spurt everything out?  Would he wait his turn?  Would he cry when I left?  Would I cry when I left?"  He did great, and it didn't even phase him when I walked out the door.  

Lucky for me, I was able to step outside my comfort zone and become buddies with a few of the moms there...I'm really excited (the two I met also had boys) to know some of the parents, and we had a very nice visit waiting for our boys to come out the front doors after class.

He is so ready for this.  I am also ready for this.  I have a feeling it's going to be a GREAT year!!! 

I think that even Taylor is ready for this.  :)