crickets

It was crickets around here yesterday.  Except for an occasional sniff from me, which wasn't embarrassing because I was alone and no one knew (except now, because I'm outing myself).

I thought I was totally prepared to put my baby on the bus to kindergarten.  Until it was here.  And then?  Not so much.  I felt very sad, and very lonely and very alone.  And no one could really fix that for me.  I just have to deal.  And I am.  But for a day or two.... I'm sad and I miss her when she's at school.  

But Lily?  Sooooo NOT sad!  

This was during breakfast on the first day.

They were very excited!  Which DID make me happy.

I went to the grocery store this morning and was still kind of in a "zone" from my emotional bus stop time.  But, after lunch I zoned out to some TV shows that I can't watch with the girls, so there's a bonus for having them both at school.  I'm still working on how I'm going to fill my days in the future.

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I was so excited to pick them up from the bus stop at the end of the day.  Abby was as patient as she could be while Lily shared her first day of school ever.  She was so wound up, we wondered when she would crash!  That girl was running on adrenaline, for sure.  Holy cow.  She had all good things to talk about, and she is going to sleep good tonight.  

Abby also had a good day.  It was so nice to have her talk about playing with lots of friends at recess, and "normal" things, instead of worrying about starting at a new school like last year.  It felt wonderful.  

It feels like it's going to be a really great year.  Really.  I'm excited.

Outdoor Education Day

For Abby's last day of school, the third grade participated in Outdoor Education Day in the afternoon.  Lily and I went in to help.  They did several activities, including making plastic bag ice cream (We did it every spring when I used to teach), a watermelon seed spitting contest (sounds more fun than it was-no watermelon eating, just seeds), rocket launching (awe.some.), and kickball.

Our first station was ice cream.  It's a fun project, if you use enough ice, which we didn't.  At first.  It sounded like no one there had ever done that project before, so Abby's teacher was very defeated when it wasn't working, so I suggested adding a bunch more ice (They only used about a cup of ice), and reshaking their baggies.  Voila!  Ice cream!!!

Here the kids are eating their plastic baggy ice cream

Next, they shot off rockets they made last week.  It was a COOL project.  I'm still not sure how the whole thing works.  There was a plastic pop bottle half full with water.  It connected to a device made of PVC, and they used a bicycle pump to pump air into it.  The kids pulled a string to launch it, but I know there was more to it than that.

 Here's Abby's:

They culminated the hot day with Just Dance on the projector in their cool classroom.  They do this every Friday and the kids LOVE it.  Obviously, there are no controllers, just a youtube video, and they dance along.  Even Lily joined in.

Some observations about kids and change and moving, a year later

We have been in our new house just 12 months now, and Abby is wrapping up her first year at her new school, and I have learned a few things about my children, and maybe (?) kids, in general, with how this whole change and moving things went.

I should say that we only moved 10 minutes away, but did have to move elementary schools because of the way the boundary lines are drawn.  Same school district, different elementary.  Abby was able to see some of her old friends, and still does.

The beginning of the year was hard.  She did great academically.  Socially, she had a hard time.  And, she is a happy little girl who always has lots of friends.  Friends have NEVER been a problem.  At her parent/teacher conference after 9 weeks of school (in October), her teacher told us she was just starting to see the "spark" of Abby that we had told her about.  9 weeks!  And, I would say on the friend thing, it took longer than that to not want to go back to her old school.  Now, as in May, she says that she would miss her school if she left.  That's the whole school year.

This picture is from the second week of school (August) when I was so worried about her not playing with anyone at recess that I went in to have lunch with her.  Things are so much better now.  Earlier this month she had her first sleepover with girls from her class.  That was a big step.

Also, a funny story about Lily's little mind.  This spring, we drove past our old house, and she had no idea which house it was.  I had to tell her.  She recognized the front of the neighborhood, but not the house.  When I told her I found that insane, she replied, "Well, it's been a year!"  

So, if you worry about your child missing the actual (physical) house, don't.  :)  

And, I guess school just works itself out.  Not much you can do except pray, and be involved at school.  Volunteer.  Check in with the teacher.  Ask lots of questions.  Make your child talk to you.  At least that's what I did.

We're looking forward to summer now, but not dreading next year!

Enough with the end of school year projects!

Last week, I posted on Facebook that for the first time ever, we forgot to do Abby's homework.  Twice.  In one week.

I've become THAT mom.  That end-of-year mom.  I guess it took her getting to third grade?  Last year, Jen Hatmaker (a Christian blogger/author/speaker I like) posted this (Worst End of School Year Mom Ever) and I laughed along, though I wasn't that mom.  It got shared so much and went so viral, she was on the Today show.  This year, I relate.  Then, I saw this (Parents at the End of the School Year vs the End).

So, this week is my hell.  Next week is the last week of school for Abby and this is Lily's last week of preschool.  So, preschool can't just have a last day and say "Hurrah!"  They have to have a celebration and for the first time this year, they have to decorate a box to race around in at the celebration.  Really?  So, now, we're painting and cutting up boxes and prepping for the race.  Sigh.

In addition to this, Abby's grade level is doing a big mini-ecomony project.  Every student has to come up with a good to sell, market it, create a commercial, and next week they'll have their "sales."

We came up with, what I thought at the time, was a great and original idea.  I still think that is the case.  I'm just not sure I realized the work involved on my part.  She's making bird seed molds (that hold together with unflavored gelatin).  They are cool, but to make a lot is time consuming.  We're using a silicon mold, but we still only can make 6 at a time and the sale is for her whole grade level, which is 4 classes.  I'm still not sure how many we should make.  That whole supply and demand thing.  There is bird seed everywhere!  Plus, I'm doing more of it than I'd like.

(on my dining room table)

(in my freezer)

 (more in my freezer)

Isn't the end of the year, supposed to be the easy time?  Winter would have been a nice time to do this, when we were snowed in, with nothing else to do.  I just scheduled swim lessons yesterday and our summer is shaping up to stay busy.  I guess that's a good thing too.  

I'd really just rather just nap.  (here's a picture the girls snapped of me with my Milo).

Abby's Auction Prize Announcements

At our school's Spring Fling about two weeks ago, there was a Teacher Auction, where families could bid on different "experiences" that teachers offered.  Abby chose two that she was interested in and won both!

One was from the Library teacher and was a free book of their choice, a snack during their next Library special area class, and they got to go shoe-less during class also.  Abby got to redeem it this week and said she felt like a queen.

Her second, which I am sharing pictures of, was to replace the Teacher position on Announcements for one day.  Fifth graders usually have roles also, but Abby's only a third grader, so this was a big deal.  She did GREAT.  I got to stay and watch (and I recorded it).

They have two trunks full of hats to chose from, and the school counselor (she's in charge of announcements) asked if Abby would like to chose one to wear and Abby jumped at the chance.  Here is the one she chose.  We all thought she chose a great one:

Practicing and waiting:

And time for the real thing:

She did GREAT!!!  One of the fellow third graders that were doing the pledge immediately told her she did great as soon as the cameras were turned off, and the kids told hers she was better than Mr. N, who she was filling in for as part of the auction.  Mrs. A, the counselor, said she needed to be part of the team when she was in fifth grade.  I agree.  She was awesome.

The first days of school...

We have officially had the first day of school for everyone here.  Abby had her first day a couple weeks ago.  We are on what they call a "balanced" schedule here, which is essentially a year-round schedule, so she started on July 31.  That seemed ungodly early to me too, I assure you.  But, the 2 week October break is pretty great.

This year was a biggie, because Abby started at a new school this year since we moved in May.  I'd be lying if I didn't say it was a little tough.  We went to the school's ice cream social prior to the first day to find her room and meet her teacher briefly, so she was very excited about about the first day, however, making friends is hard and slow.  

We had a misunderstanding with the bus where she got seating permanently with kindergartners on the first day because she was small and we didn't realize it.  We got that corrected as soon as we found out, but it took over a week for her to tell us.  Now, she is sitting with other third graders and has fun on the bus.

She also has made more friends.  The first week or so, she really only had one friend that she played with at recess, but now we are hearing about lots of people.  She has told me that making friends has been hard.  -but I think it's getting better.  I'm actually hearing silly stories from recess now.  The second full week was a very good week.  I was feeling very home sick for our old school after the first full week, but now I'm feeling like we're going to make it.  Now I just need to get plugged in.  They haven't had anything for parents yet.  I'm still waiting on that.... feeling a little disconnected.  I'm sure it will come too.  I'm just not the best at change.

-and as for Miss Lily...  Today was her first day of Pre K.  She'll be going 3 days a week this year and had a great first day.  She was very excited to be able to take her picture this morning holding a sign "just like Abby does."  She's attending the same preschool she did last year, at our church.

...and of course, it doesn't seem fair to leave you with inaccurate pictures of my girls, so here's the real one (silly faces!):

Worms, Tadpoles, and Furnaces

Today was a very, very long day.

It started great.  I joined Lily's preschool class on a field trip.  We went to a local cooperative farm market that is redeveloping a former concrete facility.  It is in the beginning stages of a multi-year plan, and now they are focused on growing worms.  Yes, worms.  Why?  Because worms make the soil fertile for the future.  It is a really neat project.  There is a ton to say about it and I know about 1% of the information, but the kids learned about worms and how to plant a seed.

Here, Lily held a worm.  I couldn't believe it!  She didn't have to, but she did.  She said it tickled.

Their leader, Miss Rosie, also had tadpoles to show them.  They were crazy!  Look how big there were!!

The field trip was very fun.  The bad news is that after that, my day went downhill...

First, the house we are selling as hail damage that was discovered by the inspection.  So, I'm dealing with roofing contractors and insurance adjusters.   The roof guy comes highly recommended by someone I trust (and was very nice), but it's still more to balance.

And, second...

We had an appointment scheduled for furnace/AC cleaning at our new house and they found a TON of problems.  Like a lot.  Like it's a trainwreck.  Our new house has 2 furnaces and 2 AC units.  I don't think the original owners ever did routine maintenance and they weren't very good units to start with.  It's not good.  

I'm in one of the moods where I'm thinking being an adult right now isn't very much fun anymore.  When did I get old enough to have to be this responsible?

2013 Talent Show

On Thursday, Abby participated in her school's Annual Talent Show.  It was a very big deal. She did an act with one of her best friends, and their teacher helped them put it together.  They chose a rhythmic poem from their Reading book to do together.  They had to audition back at the beginning of February, and they got chosen to perform.  Since then, they have had a couple rehearsals after school, and finally the big show.  The gym was so packed that it was standing room only, but the girls did great.

Here is the video:

Veteran's Day Program

The second grade at Abby's school puts on a Veteran's Day program every year, so this year Abby got to participate.  Lily and I attended and it was an excellent program.

It started with floats that the second graders designed.  You could definitely tell which floats the boys created and which floats the girls did.  Here is Abby's team's.  They used American Girl dolls for theirs.  Abby brought in Kit to be the Statue of Liberty.  Doesn't she look great?  :)  You can see (kind of) behind theirs, one of the other floats with Army guys.  

Here is Abby getting lined up after her class came in.  She had a speaking part, so she got to be in the front row.  She was one of the first groups in, so that is why she looks like she's all by herself.  It filled in a lot.

Abby and Lily afterward.  We all wore red, white, and blue to honor the veterans.  We are so thankful for them.

A Second Grade Mexican Celebration!

Today was the culmination of a unit that Abby's class has been working on about Mexico, and boy, was she excited.  It was the Mexican Celebration!

You can tell I have lost my blogging mojo, because I hardly took any pictures.  Nonetheless, it was very fun.  The class was divided into groups and each group was in charge of a "shop" at the market that they needed to set up when we got outside to our location (the outdoor shelter).  Once they were set up, their teacher, Mrs. E, had them all close their eyes and talked them through an airplane ride and landing and being transported to an outdoor market.

First on the agenda was a Mexican Hat Dance.  It was great.  Then, we headed into the Market and the kids shopped.  All of the shops were selling handmade creations (by them):  maracas (Abby's group), tissue paper flowers, mosaics, a cup game, and pinch pots.

Next, they got to sample Mexican cuisine provided by the parents.  I brought in tamales, but there were many things to sample.  The funniest thing was that among all the moms there, and many of us are active PTO moms that know each other, we all thought everyone else would send in chips and salsa so we didn't do that, and then NO ONE sent in chips and salsa!  Isn't that funny?  We decided maybe that was better because that might have been all they would have eaten if we had it, but this way they tried more.  I was excited because my tamales (which weren't homemade, but still new to me) were a hit.  

The big finale was pinatas.  One for the boys and one for the girls.  :)

So far second grade has been very good to Abby. 

Second Grader!!

Oh, how I am going to miss her.  I didn't get enough summer, but she is sooo excited about this year.

For those of you who will inevitably say, "School already?  It's only August first!"  Our school is on a balanced schedule so she gets breaks throughout the year.  It's our first year doing it, so it feels early to me too.

Weekend Recap

School is out for summer!  Craziness.  Abby ended her first grade year with the annual running of her school's "Little 500," as I mentioned in my last post.  We went, of course, and it was fun.  They really do it up.

This first picture is the whole first grade with their cars.  We had the singing of the National Anthem, and they sang "Back Home Again in Indiana," followed by them blowing bubbles.  They then started their engines. 

We had a flyby by a military helicopter which was SUPER cool, and then it circled and LANDED right there in front of us!  It was awesome.  I wish I had video.

All the kids went out in heats to run, and then they had a final heat of the winners.  Here is Abby all lined up to run.  She didn't win, but I think she had fun.

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We then left her at school to finish her day (the race was in the morning and she had a full day).  When she got home, The girls and I had a girls only road trip to Grandma and Papaw's house.  Matt had a retreat for church all weekend, so he wouldn't didn't miss us.

While we were there, we visited a cool trampoline/playset place where the girls got to jump until their hearts were content.  It was actually a showroom for high end playsets and trampolines, but they sell play passes and host birthday parties.  My mom bought a pass for 6 visits on Groupon.  It was fun.  I even jumped with the girls for couple minutes and it didn't hurt my knee!

My sister kept trying to get a good picture of the three cousins and caught this keeper.  Hilarious.  Poor Jacob.  Just let me play, Mommy, and quit trying to take my picture!  

My goal for this week is to get the girls on a summer sleep schedule.  After waking up at 5:45 all school year, I need a break.  Last night I let them stay up to watch Dancing with the Stars and then we read for a few minutes.  They both slept until about 7:15!  I can do that!  I thought it would take longer than Tuesday with Lily.  Pray that my good luck continues!

Wordless Wednesday

Gingerbread House Day at school