AJ's First Report

Avery had her first little report to work on this week.

This slip of paper just came out last night...not sure how long it's been in her backpack.

I showed her a couple of different ways we could show her information and she decided on a flip book.

She drew a cute cheetah on the front. 

 Wrote the questions at the bottom of each page.

When you flip it up you see her answers and a picture she picked.

Where does the cheetah live?
Africa and Asia.

 What does the cheetah eat?

They eat meat.

 What does the cheetah do in the winter?

They do the same thing as always.

 She will be presenting this on Friday.

Once again, I wish I could be a fly on the wall of the classroom.

New Kids

I'm sitting here listening to Avery and Kyndra talk on the phone with Landon about their first day of school. They are talking about what they did, who they talked to, their teachers names, what they played with...the weather, what they had for dinner.

I think they had a great day and the anxiety was all mine...

They got new tennis shoes.

They can walk to school in less than 5 minutes.
Grandma and Shad walked with us to school.

Avery has a cubby.
They met a few new friends.

Avery colored a bear.
They had a lockdown from noon on.

Kyndra has a real locker.

They learned the rules.

They ate lunch.

They got Wednesday envelopes (I haven't thought of those since I was in school!)

They each wrote a little.

Kyndra made a "Keep Out" sign to hang while she is doing homework.

Wait...back up...lockdown? Hmmmm is that what they do in the city? There was someone wandering the streets from the pre-release center so they locked things down. I'm glad they were/are safe and necessary precautions are taken...but the first day of school!

My pictures were limited in number...I was too busy visiting with all my high school classmates that I saw at school! A mini class reunion!

The first day is over! They did it and I'm so proud of my little new kids!

Where did it go?

I know it's a cliche...but as I watch Avery play on her first day of kinder I can't help thinking it.

How did they grow up so fast?

They say it just goes faster once the kids are in school...

how is that possible?

Who said I was ready for this?

Who said I was ready for them to be heading out the door every day?

Who said I was ready for them to have more fun with each other and friends than with their Mom?

Who said I was ready for her not to want me to walk her to the door?

Wait a minute...I did!

I said it!

I said I couldn't wait for school to start,

I said I couldn't wait for them to not be so needy,

I said I couldn't wait for them to grow up,

...it was ME!

Well, I got my wish, and then some.

They are growing up before our eyes.

They are both independent, and smart, and beautiful.

And they are both out the door today.

*sigh*

I think I lied!

2009/2010 Open House

After waiting patiently for Joe to get home we headed down to the school to meet the teachers!

We read the list and...yippie...
Down the hall we head,

pausing briefly at the door of the 2nd grade classroom.

In we go...

and BAM!

Kyndra gets stung by a hornet!

BAD hornet!

I stomped on it but the damage was done.

It was hard to get her back into meeting her 2 new awesome teachers.

At least she had her Keens and cool ankle bracelet on!

All was not lost.

Next, the long walk to the kinder room...

It was actually pretty uneventful...no scary music...no accidents.

Avery got her cubby,

Joe fixed a computer,

(we LOVE this teacher)

and we were on our way.

Next edition to The Bugs Story...THE First Day of School!

Slipping Through My Fingers

Supply Significance

As I fill the supply list for Grade 1 & 2 I find myself thinking about what some of these items signify for the year ahead. Come along on a little shopping trip with me...

• 36 pencils - American brand only
• Writing, lots and lots of writing. Great! I'm excited about the writing...however, I couldn't find "American" pencils at WalMart, Target, OR Fred Meyer. Hopefully a same-colored cousin will do.
• 1 box of Crayola Crayons (24 count)
  
• 1 box of Crayola fine tip markers
• How many??? I got the 10 count, keep your fingers crossed.
• 1 box of Crayola regular tip markers
• Again, how many! My blood pressure is rising.
• 10 Elmer's white acid free glue sticks
• 22 cents at Target! Score! But 10 sticks! Writing and gluing, that is what she is going to master this year.
• 2 or 3 large boxes of Kleenex
• Costco, last isle, another lady and I hold our lists up squinting...is it the rectangle or square box? Ummm, rectangle, they are larger. I grab mine, she follows suit. I wonder where they store all these boxes at the beginning of the year.
  
• 1 plastic 3-brad pocket folder
• What the??? Oh, the folders with holes and pockets, duh! Wonder if it'll get used this year or just spend time, empty, lonely, in the backpack while papers get shoved on top like last year.
  
• 3 Composition notebooks (no spiral or tear out)
• OK, I know what this is, whew! Three full rows sold out at Target, only black at Walmart, too many choices at Fred Meyer. Convince Kyndra to get the ones with the highest paper count. Again, lots of writing, how exciting.
• 1 package of sheet protectors
• Very curious. Found without a problem with rainbow edges but I wonder how these will be used...maybe a portfolio.
• 2 pink pearl erasers
• Once again, I should start at the store I save for last...WalMart!
  

I did it! I survived filling the gut bomb inducing school shopping list! First grade HERE SHE COMES!

First Field Trip

There is only one kindergarten year.
They are only 5 once.
The first field trip happens just one time.
It is overwhelming how much happens during this first year.
How long until cliques and groups start appearing?
How much longer will she be proud to have me "helping."
For now, I have my little flower, growing and changing every day.
I don't want to miss a thing!

These are just a few pictures of her first field trip to the pumpkin patch. What a great one!

Pumpkin Patch
Searching,
seeks, finds,
picking, poking, weighing,
There is just one perfect shape-
looking, deciding, keeping,
discovery, exploration,
satisfaction.