First Day of School

First Day of School, Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011. The day Padyn became a 3rd grader and Katelyn became a Kindergartner. They were pretty happy to be going back to school...but I think Mommy was most happy.

Robbie was pretty happy just because he is Robbie...and he has a car.Padyn is pretty lucky to have her best pals in her class again.

And we are pretty excited that Mrs. W is our teacher...

And Mrs. S. is our classroom aid again. We love her.

Katelyn is SO LUCKY to have Mrs. B as her teacher.

And while she thinks preschool was more fun because it wasn't as long, she is pretty happy to be a big kindergarten girl.

The first day of school also coincided with Daddy and my 14 year wedding anniversary. Not that we had much of a chance to celebrate...Yeah Mommy and Daddy!

Photo Friday-Last Days

Summer has officially arrived for us. The rain ended on Monday, no one got the stomach flu that has been going around, we hit the mid 80's, and the girls finished school. Yippee!

Here are some photos from their last days of school. Katelyn was done on Wednesday and Padyn finished yesterday. Now we are relaxing at the lake with Grandpa and Mimi for a couple days before we head back and tackle summer vacation.

Kate receiving her award of "Most Imaginative and Creative Superstar" from Ms. K

Best buds...sadly, we are losing one to another town. She moves this weekend. Kate is very sad about it. Mommy is very sad to be losing her friend, too. But we will be visiting!

Katelyn with her loving teachers, Ms. J and Ms. K. Thank you, ladies for being just the teachers Kate needed. We will miss you!

Robbie has to wait another year before he can be in preschool. He is going to be very unhappy that he doesn't get to come visit anymore. But I'm sure I'll have just as hard of a time getting him to leave Kate's kindergarten classroom.

Padyn's class had "Closing Cermonies" yesterday. Here she is waiting for her certificate.Getting her certificate from Ms. D. We will miss her, too! But at least we get to still visit on a regular basis...

As usual, Padyn was reluctant to take a picture with her sister...

I love how Robbie wanted to be in the picture, but not really...

Paypay and Corcor...future 3rd graders.

Future kindergartners...fighting crime and learning to read. And yes. Kate and C coordinated their outfits. They had a superhero playdate while the big kids were still at school.

Padyn and Bella...always happy to be together.

Happy Friday! Hope you are getting to enjoy the beginning of summer, too!

First and Second Days of School

While today was Padyn's actual second day of school (number 4 in the school calendar year), it was Kate's first day of school. It was only half her class, and she doesn't get to go tomorrow when the other half comes, but still. She got to go. And she was super excited about it. You can see, she thought very carefully about what she wanted to wear...Fortunately, some of the outfit got changed, as you can see in this picture. I don't remember how I convinced her to get rid of the sweatband in exchange for a real headband, but it was genius on my part. As you will see later, she also substituted her pink boots for pink tennies, and she added a lei.

So, you know what was so hysterical about the sweatband? One of Kate's friends in her class came to school with his hair in a sweatband. I'm sure Kate was very jealous and upset that I made her change. All the kids are doing it. Really? It must be a 4 year old thing.

Ok, here's what actually went to school...

And here is Kate Squared. They are investigating the new bunny in their class, Rascal.

It only took about 47 seconds for her to discover the dress up clothes in this classroom are different from the ones in her old classroom. She was pretty excited about this Ariel wedding dress.And this is where I left her. In the capable hands of my friend, Miss J. What's better than being dressed up, holding a monkey (the class mascot), and having your friend's mommy (and now your teacher) read to you and your pal? Not much.

Victory!

Padyn, being fever free for almost 24 hours, was able to go to school today for the first time of the year. Of course, Mommy forgot her camera, so I'll have to get a photo or two off Daddy's iPhone of her first day. It was a bit anti-climatic being the actual 3rd day of school and all. But she enjoyed it, so that's all the matters.

Those other two kids? They both had fevers all day. For those of you keeping track, that's day 3 for Kate. Robbie had a fever on Wednesday, then was clear on Thursday, then feverish again today. He was a whiny, snotty mess. Kate? You couldn't tell in the slightest that she might possibly be sick. Even her cough was a bit less today. But that fever...hanging out at 99.6, despite Motrin and Tylenol. She better be ok for school on Monday or Mommy is going to start pulling her hair out!

Still Home

Second day of school, and Padyn still isn't there. Today Padyn and Kate have fevers, but Robbie doesn't. (They all had a fever yesterday. Did I mention that?) So, Padyn isn't at school and Kate does not get to go visit her classroom today. What am I going to do with these children? Never mind that I don't feel 100% and could use a nap...

First Day of Second Grade-Postponed

Today is the first day of school for Padyn. Unfortunately, Padyn is currently in the kitchen at home playing with homemade playdoh instead of sitting at her desk doing something slightly more academic. She woke up this morning with a fever, sore throat, and stomach ache. In fact, all three children have a fever today. Robbie's could be caused by teeth coming in and Kate's....well, we all know that Katelyn gets almost every illness that comes within a mile of our house. She had a fever a week and a half ago, then again about 6 days ago, and now again. What is it with this child?

But back to Padyn. After carefully picking out her back to school outfit last night, putting everything in her backpack, and being mentally prepared to start 2nd grade, this morning came as a shocking disappointment to say the least. We did still take her to school (after calling ahead to make sure it was ok). She met her teacher, saw her desk, and carefully said hi to some friends. Then we headed home.

Ironically, Padyn almost missed the last day of school last year due to the stomach flu. She missed the second and third to last days of school, then managed to be upright enough to pull off the final day. Apparently we just don't do transition well.

Maybe tomorrow we'll have some second-first-day-of-second-grade pictures to share. And hopefully some pictures of Kate's first visit to her new classroom. But that's only if the fever monster decides to take up residence elsewhere.

Photo Friday-Last Day of School!

Today was the first day of summer vacation, which means that yesterday was the last day of school! I swear, it totally snuck up on me and caught me all off guard. I really felt like I was teaching again...I was all emotional all day and sad for my girls that they would not have these same teachers again...I was quite pathetic. The girls? They were pretty happy about the occasion...

Katelyn with Teacher T...

...and Teacher M.

Katelyn was all smiles and bounces yesterday. She loves school, but she also loves the idea of summer vacation. Not that she really knows what it is yet, but she assures me that she LOVES summer! She's been asking non-stop over the last couple weeks, "Is it summer yet?"

Padyn with Mrs. D...

and Mrs. F. We are so sad that Mrs. F is retiring this year and we won't be able to see her on a regular basis again. She was really a great teacher for Padyn. Both of her teachers were. They gently pushed Padyn with regards to her social shyness, and she really grew academically under their care. I will miss them, too.

But Padyn was especially sad yesterday that her good buddy is getting on a plane tomorrow and moving to Virginia. It's been very troubling for her over the last few weeks. It breaks my heart.

Fortunately for her, her cousin Bella just moved into town, and her best bud, Corinne is coming home from her six month stint in Australia in less than a month! (Mommy pretty excited to have her friend coming home, too.) Her sadness should not linger too long. Cause really, that's no way to start the summer...

Happy Friday and HAPPY SUMMER VACATION!!!

The First Day of the Next 13 Years of Her Life

Padyn started kindergarten today. She seemed less anxious then I did. And boy, was she ready. She had her Hello Kitty backpack, Hello Kitty lunch bag, and new Hello Kitty pencil set to bring with her to her first day of school. Why wouldn't she be ready?

Ready for school...I love how her backpack is on upside down. I didn't correct her.At school...well, parked down the block from the school. Since it was the first day, it was a little crowded. We had to walk a bit to get to P's classroom.Padyn had seen her classroom on Friday from the outside, so she was pretty keen to check it out this morning from the inside. She immediately found some toys and a clipboard to draw on. But most exciting? Her friend Danielle was in her class! We didn't know this until this morning. I'm sure this is why Padyn was so eager for us to leave.Danielle was first to spot that her and Padyn's cubbies are right on top of each other. How cool is that?

And Kate? She wanted to be in kindergarten, too. Well, she wanted to play on the kinder playground, anyway. I'm not even sure Padyn would willingly climb up this little structure.And tomorrow? Only 179 days until summer break...