First Day: Middle School (gulp!) & 2nd Grade!

Five weeks of rainy - but fun! - summer break is over and now we step back into the friends, teachers, routine...and homework of a new school year.

Bring on 6th and 2nd!

My babies.

Oh my, this child needs a haircut so badly but he's been wanting to "grow it out."  I'm choosing my battles, but eventually, it will be cut.  Oh yes, it will be cut.

And even with this crazy hair, this boy is my soul.  He can be so funny and silly most of the time but he seems to understand when I just need to sit and snuggle with him quietly.  Which he does, but only if I promise not to try and kiss him on the lips :).

Chewie is the only teenager in this shot (~17 in dog years) and his school days are spent moving from the couch to nap, then to the sunny spot on the floor in the foyer to nap, then to the stairs to nap, barking at the FedEx man, then to other couch to nap, barking at the UPS man, and eventually sleeping at the entrance to my office.  

He's learned to strike the right nap-bark balance.

Oh, this girl. She is my heart.

I started worrying about Middle School when she was in 3rd grade.  Middle School is by far the most awkward, fun, strange, growing, weird, silly, frustrating and hormonal of all the school years.  And all that's before you add in fun stuff like Asperger's Syndrome. You can see why I started getting nervous long ago.  

But, guess what?  She's not worried at all.  She's excited and cannot WAIT to get in there and meet people and learn and do and explore!    

She is a voice of reason that calms me. I'm taking her lead and giving up all my worry.  

Well, most of it.  

As a mother, it's my prerogative to worry, right?

Have a great year, my loves!

Field Day 2013!

It's field day at school for the kids today, which explains why both children were fully dressed in swim gear by 6:45 AM this morning.

Fun+water+sunshine+no school work = the ultimate motivator!

Every year I volunteer to be on the field manning one game or activity for both the morning and afternoon sessions.  Yes, I'm crazy.

The field at Salem Elementary School is ready!

Will and his wet buddies showing off their Salem Salamander tattoos.

Eliza Grace and best friend, Melissa after they spent a lot of time dunking their teachers!

5th Grade Finale

Eliza Grace waiting her turn to accept her Elementary School certificate of completion!

She thanked her teachers, especially Mrs. Gray (seen here), the school principle, Mom and Dad and even her little brother.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: the teacher makes all the difference.  Mrs. Gray helped Eliza Grace way beyond the classroom education.  She made her feel special, loved, and wonderfully appreciated.

Sweet angel with her certificate and her lovely smile.

Congratulations to our darling girl!

Here we go again!

After a nice five week summer break we started school again today. 

(Yes, really.  In July. Year round schools. And yes, we love it!)

When I asked Eliza Grace what she wanted to wear on her first day of school she said (as is typical), "I don't care."  But then she said, "Oh wait, you always take a picture on the first day so I guess it has to be kinda decent."  

Okay then, we're shooting for 'kinda decent' around here.

Anyhoo, I do take a picture every year. In this case, pictures.

Let's start with the basic "sister arm around brother" pose. 

 "What should we do next, Eliza Grace?"

 "Oh wait, I know!"

"We dance!"

*Rolls eyes, "Brothers. What can you do?"

"C'mon, Eliza Grace.  Let's dance!"

"Oh well, if you can't beat 'em"

"Put your hands in the air like ya just don't care!"

And then, the inevitable digression into bunny ears.

Hope you have a great day at school, my very silly (& very cute) 5th and 1st graders!

Field Day!

 

 

 

Almost Time For A Kindergarten Farewell

Will's last day of kindergarten is coming soon. 

It really has gone so very fast. I say that every year. And every year it is true.

Mrs. Germano and her assistant, Mrs. McPhail, have been the most wonderful teachers.  I am pretty sure that Mrs. Germano told Will she loved him every single day, even when he was scolded, even when he was praised.  What he has learned from her, far above and beyond the reading, writing and arithmetic, is that an adult, someone outside of his family, loves him, cares for him and expects the best for and out of him.

It's a priceless gift.

The past couple of weeks have been full of end of the year activities. First, they had their annual kindergarten show. That's Will in the Carolina blue polo shirt on the top riser with all the tall kids.

Suffice it to say, I was never, ever on the top riser.  

I was always, ALWAYS on the bottom riser.  Sigh.

ANYway...

In the show, Will was one of three cool mice.

He was a little shy.

And his left shoelace was untied.

But he sure looked cute up there!

Here's a quick 94 seconds of the show:

(Ok, seriously, how cute was that little Anaise
-white dress, front row?
That girl is destined for Broadway!)

Anyhoo, a week later his class had a family ice cream social and each student received a personalized book with pictures from throughout the school year.

Then Mrs. Germano presented them with a Kindergarten Certificate of Completion :)  She also told the children that she would, in fact, be hugging and kissing each and every one of them.

 

She also thanked the parents for sharing their children with her and then she teared up and could not talk.  Which of course set me to boohooing as well!

Only two more weeks and my baby will be a first grader!

Recorder Club Performance

Eliza Grace joined the recorder club at school this year and they performed at the Spring curriculum night.  Here is Eliza Grace introducing their first song.

We were very impressed with how great they sounded!