First Week of School

Allison and Aidan have completed their first week of school! They each came home with smiles and details of their days. Some details are quite entertaining, but first let's see how they started on Monday.

We were up bright and early. I had to figure out the perfect time to leave in the mornings, so we allowed extra time in the beginning of the week. We were up at 6:15 and left the house at 7:00 am Monday morning.

We arrived to school almost 30 minutes early. We all went and sat in the cafeteria with the other early birds until they released everyone to their classrooms.

We took Allison first. She went right in, said hi to her new friends she had met the week before, and started to work. She was excited and ready, and gave me a huge hug before we left her. I love what her teacher had written on the flip pad behind her. It is by chance that it ended up in the background of the picture.

Then we walked Aidan to his Kindergarten classroom. He put up his lunch, hung up his backpack, and went to his desk. He immediately wrote his name on his paper and started drawing his self portrait. When I asked him if I could have a hug, he just looked at me irritated. What?!? This is the kid that sees me walking around the house and yells, "Huggy Mommy!" Suddenly Mr. Cool didn't want a hug. I said, "You had better give me a hug stinker." He smiled and obliged. After a quick hug for Daddy we headed out. 

I made it to the parking lot before completely losing it. My youngest is in school. It was a hard day. Very hard. I survived though. When I picked them up at 3:00 they had smiles and told me all about PE, which specials they had attended, what they did at recess, etc. You know, the important parts of the day, not the math, reading, writing, social studies, or science.

When we walked in door Aidan started dancing, running, and singing loudly in the kitchen. Most of his gibberish songs ended with "hola". It was hilarious. I asked him if he acted like that at school, and he said, "No, I don't act crazy in front of strangers." He said he was quiet when the teacher talked and raised his hand. He must have really controlled himself all day, and it just had to come out. The "hola" is due to him have Spanish specials Monday.

Then, at dinner, he told us how he has three girlfriends in class. We all giggled, and then he said, "Ok guys, I need to tell you something." Arms straight out, hands up to quiet us. At lunch I kissed my first girlfriend. No body saw me." Allison squealed in embarrassment, Tyler put his head on his hand and shook his head, and I said, "You did what?!?" Poor Aidan was surprised at our reactions because he wanted to know what was wrong. In his sweet little mind he was just giving his friend a kiss on the cheek after she had kissed him on the cheek. He is such an affectionate little boy. I explained (over the laughs from Allison and Tyler) to him how we cannot kiss our friends at school. He can give us as many kisses and hugs as he'd like, but at school we need to not kiss our classmates. He agreed.

Tuesday morning my next door neighbor came over for a cup of coffee after I took the kids to school. When I told her the kissing story, she said, "Oh how cute. I hope they don't suspend him like that poor Kindergartener in Colorado." Somehow I had missed that news story last spring and immediately freaked out. I emailed the teacher and explained what had happened and that Aidan now understood it was not appropriate. I then, of course, researched the heck out of that story. When I saw the teacher after school she was just laughing. When Aidan hopped in the car he said, "Mommy, today at lunch I kissed two girls!" That little stinker then laughed hysterically and said, "Just kidding!"

So, that was Aidan's start to the school year. Now on to Allison...

Allison came home saying that learning was fun at Grace. She really loves going to PE every day, and she found her Bible specials very interesting. Her teacher had traveled to Jerusalem this summer and showed the kids pictures of historical sights such as one of the tombs that is thought to have been where Jesus was buried, the type of bush from which the crown of thorns was made, the path he walked before being crucified, etc. Allison really enjoys history and learning about the past. She found it fascinating to see those pictures and put some images to what is written in the Bible.

She also overcame some shyness towards the end of the week. On Thursday during recess she went to join in on a game. She felt like the kids were cutting in front of her and then stopping the game when it was finally her turn. She also said she kept asking how to play, and they just wanted to play not explain. After talking to her more in the car on the way to school Friday it came out that she had stood back, not been aggressive enough when joining in, stared at her feet, and not smiled. I told her I know how hard it is when you're shy and talked her through some things she could do in order to really get involved. 

She jumped in the car Friday afternoon and said during PE she learned the rules of the game, and at recess she smiled and jumped in. She said the game was so much fun and everyone was nice. Score!

Week one is in the books. Allison read 20 minutes each night, mostly without complaining, and Aidan pretty much passed out by 8:00 pm. They are tired but happy. Here's hoping week two is another success.

Summer Wrap Up - August

The first half of August was full of more fun activities, many of which revolved around getting ready for the school year.

The first week of August Allison participated in a volleyball camp at Grace School. One of the third grade moms reached out to us as a new family. Allison and her daughter, Lauren, quickly became friends at the camp.

This was fun. Early in the month two envelopes came in the mail for Allison and Aidan. When they opened them confetti flew out everywhere. Inside was the cutest letter that stated their teacher for the year. It was an exciting way to share the information!

We worked on that bucket list more this month. We did an indoor scavenger hunt. They honestly tied!

We had a lemonade stand, and the kids raised money for CAPS - Citizens for Animal Protection Services. They are located near our house, so we took the $45 in earnings over a couple of days after. They loved the lemonade stand, and it brought a ton of neighbors out. Thanks to Laurence for working the entertainment section as swing pusher.

This indirectly involves the kids. Tyler and I paid off all of our credit card debt this month! Although many of these were already at $0, we closed most of the accounts with the exception of two major ones. We have been chipping away at this for as long as we've been married. Typical American story: pay some off, run some up, pay some off, run some up. Well, done! Huge accomplishment!

We gave tie-dying another go. This time, thanks to a kit from Hobby Lobby, we had success!

This school year we will have to get up 45 minutes to an hour earlier than in previous years. We all chipped in to help make a month and a half worth of breakfasts to put in the freezer. We have two types of breakfast tacos, two types of breakfast sandwiches, three types of pancakes, and french toast.

This past Tuesday Aidan had a "Teddy Bear Picnic" at school. The parent information session ended early enough for us to see the kids going on a bear hunt. He was involved and smiling from ear to ear.

We had to spend a little time at the pool this past week.

A HUGE, HUGE, HUGE moment occurred late this past week. The backbend kick over has plagued Allison for two years. Look at what she accomplished just a couple of days ago!

Friday morning Omie and I took Allison and Aidan to Meet the Teacher. 

Aidan and Mrs. Wilson

Miss Joyce and Allison

Friday night Allison went to a sleepover at her new friend Lauren's house. It was all Grace girls. She had a great time and said everyone was "so nice". She will go to her first day at a new school tomorrow having friends! I am beyond grateful to Lauren's mom, Wendy, for reaching out to us. Wendy texted some pictures from GattiTown.

While she was having fun with her friends we went for sushi with Aidan. I think he liked it. This was in the driveway afterwards. My phone takes horrible pictures at night with the flash. It was really cute.

Finally, today we had to finish strong. This morning we went to the farmer's market to check one more off the bucket list.

Then Allison has been begging to go to the mall with just me. We went around lunch time, ate at Rainforest Cafe, and did a little shopping for her. My mother and I love shopping together, and it really is fun to start with my daughter. Girls love to shop!

That's a wrap. Summer break is over. We still have a few things on the list, and we will finish up strong Labor Day weekend. 

Tomorrow is going to be so incredibly hard for me. My youngest is going to Kindergarten. An entire era is ending. I am no longer a stay-at-home-mom with a baby/toddler/pre-schooler at home. It is certainly bitter sweet. I have loved being with these two at home the past six years, and I am so grateful to Tyler for making it financially possible. We have made so many wonderful memories, and I am looking forward to the many more we will make with two in school. 

Summer Wrap Up - July

So much has happened yet there has been so little blogging. We have been chipping away at that bucket list and having tons of fun along the way.

Of course there has been much swimming at the club. This is their attempt at synchronized swimming.

We went to the circus again this summer. Aidan begged and begged for this all year. 

This clown came up to our seats and had fun with Allison.

Afterwards we headed to Joe's Crab Shack. Allison has asked to go so many times because someone at school went and drank the "Shark Bite". They each had a Shark Bite and cracked some crabs. It was actually really fun!

Our next adventure was to one of our favorites: Houston Museum of Natural Science. We did the butterfly exhibit and the Paleontology Hall. 

This was so cool! A Preying Mantis

We loved this one. Clear wings!

In late July a couple of moms from Grace School organized a play date for incoming Kindergarteners. We headed to the park by the school, and Aidan was able to meet some new friends.

Finally, we decided to mark off "make a t-shirt" on the bucket list by tie-dying. What a disaster! We bought Rit dye, some 100% cotton t-shirts, and pretty much thought we were set. Umm, no. We ended up with a mess and in the end, completely purple shirts.

Throughout the summer there has been much reading. Allison had to complete a summer reading log for the first time. She had to read 10 books. This might sound like a small task, but when you are going to camp, holding butterflies, and royally ruining t-shirts time runs out. We did get all 10 books read, but it was a close one.

Another July event worth mentioning - Aidan earned his orange belt!!! He loves Taekwondo, and he really it pretty good at it. He is so attentive and puts in great effort.

Allison is really enjoying her new gym, and they have been on her to get her backbend kick-over. She practiced and stretched nightly. Aidan supported her each time.