First Day of School: 2nd & 3rd

It feels weird to type those grades.  My kids are in the middle grades of elementary school.  You anticipate K for so long and subconsciously forget to think that it just keeps going and going.  That's a theme as this fall has brought a few silly things that have made us feel ushered into middle age.  Haha! More on that later... Here are my cute second and third graders.  I chose Peter's outfit.  Lily chose her own- and surprisingly, I think it actually works nicely- which isn't always the case.  I gave the kids their back to school haircuts.  I took 2-3 inches off Lily's and left Peter's on the long side to preserve the summer blonde a little longer.

 Our bus stop crew was thin the first morning, but THICK with donuts.  Mattie is our high school senior, cul de sac neighbor who is also a lifeguard at the pool, who is also just all around amazing (& follows Jesus). She bought the kids donuts on the first morning.  The other kids really missed out. Grateful for her sweet & cool influence on the kids and we may not let her leave next year. :)

Oh, the many faces of Peter & cute photobombs by BenBen. 

 Bye Bye, Kids!  Like I said in an earlier post, it felt more mixed this year to send them off.  

But certainly, I've adjusted just fine. :)

 The first day of school also just so happened to be our anniversary!  So with a few months notice, I was able to convince Mike to take the day off.  It helped me ease back into having the kids gone and didn't feel so eerily quiet.  His mom generously offered to adjust her schedule to be able to watch Ben so we could run out for a lunch date.  It was lovely.  We sat outside, had complete sweet conversations and dreamed that we were somewhere coastal (it was breezy & warm so that helped us dream).

 And then they came home.  How fun to have Daddy at the bus stop after school!

 And an after school picture to include more of our neighborhood crew.

 Back to the middle age thing, our sweet kitty, Clove, who is front and center here died this fall (Oct 13).  So it was a fun surprise to see she made it into these pics. She was 18 & 3 months (July 1998-Oct 2016).  She had a nice, full, long life.  Mike joked that she wanted to live to be old enough to vote but then when she realized who her choices were, she decided it was OK to go. She had been my kitty since college (and now much prefered to be Mike's kitty).  She was a good girl, living different places through two different years overseas, a new marriage to Mike (adoption by her favorite human would be her boast), and through three new babies and toddlers who pulled her tail and petted her any way but gently. She was sweet, patient, and friendly. We will miss her.  Ironically, she is standing on the rock Mike buried her under.  Haha!  We are those people who buried their cat in the front yard.  Ben talks fondly about "my kitty who's under the ground".

Speaking of Benny, aren't his locks and his cheeks beautiful?!

{We also sold our '99 Civic the same week Clove died.  Also ushering us away from any semblance of our college & young adult season.  We cleaned it up (first wash since it became Mike's car 9 years ago) and sold it on Craigslist.  We had 5 responses to our ad within the first hour of it being listed.  So we sold it quickly.  Mike got a 2014 Subaru Crosstrek and we all love his new ride.}

The first weekend after school was nice and HOT.  This mama's dream to help ease the blow of summer ending. So we hit up the pool once more.  

Field Day 2016 + their school years

Lily just completed 1st grade with Ms Long.  She had a great year.  She tends to be our more shy one so it takes her longer to come out of her shell.  Her teacher did a great job of recognizing that and bringing her out.  For us at home, she is wide open and energetic (like these pics!) & that's is unfathomable to her teachers.  She works hard at school, is a great student and then LOVES & NEEDS to be physically active & outside when she comes home. 

She became a proficient reader in 1st grade.

It is interesting and so helpful to have the older kids only one grade apart in school.  It helps in keeping up with/comparing (gasp!) where they should be skill-wise & its obviously so helpful that they can learn things at similar times and (it goes w/o saying) that benefits Lily.

Lily also loves math & science.  She enjoys practically showing us the ways she uses math skills in daily life- money, telling time.  Its great!  She also loves a good tactile "science experiment" using anything she can get her hands on.

She also loves playing teacher to Ben (& Peter when he'll cooperate).

Peter had an exceptionally outstanding year of 2nd grade with Mrs Jefferson.  Last summer we went through the process of getting him an IEP again.  (He'd had one as a preschooler & kindergartner but was dismissed at the end of K & during 1st grade.)  I can't say enough wonderful things about the staff at our school who helped with that process and helped him this past year.  Mrs J was super organized, super smart, & just so gifted at teaching.  He also had a SPED teacher (Mrs B) that we adored.  His reading improved dramatically.  I feel like it finally "clicked" for him the last 9 weeks.  He has always LOVED & been captivated by books since birth.  He would naturally spend hours just sitting and looking at books.  But he began to instinctively choose to read them instead of look at them. He impresses me so much with his love of reading!  He has come so far!  Way to go, Peter! 

He is also just a SWEET child.  So happy to see Goo & Mommy.

 Another interesting fact about the 2015-16 school year is that school was cancelled on the last day!  We had a huge storm and power was out for 48 hours.  So these pics will have to serve as our spring/end of 1st and 2nd pics. 

First Day of School 2015-16 {2nd & 1st}

Backing it way up to the first day of school.

 Our bus stop crew:  Its so fun to have two new families this year!

End of the School Year

The end of the school year was sweet for a lot of reasons.

All year, since both of the big kids have been in school, I've been telling Mike that if he took time off during the week, we could have some time together sans kids- which would be nice for both of us.  Well, he finally did that the second half of the last week of school.  I love me some Mike but let's be honest, it was also to get some of my list done to be ready for summer.  Who are we kidding?!  Life is so ongoing, we are never ready, and things never stay as you put them.  But it was nice to have the time with him & get some stuff done.  We spent the afternoon of his second day off (next to the last day of school & the final "full" day of school) at the kids' school for their end of the year parties.  If he hadn't been off, he wouldn't have been able to come.  So it was really great to have him there & be present for life at their school.  It was a sweet year & I regularly feel overwhelmed that people pour into my kids and are there to teach them day after day.

If I haven't said it here, I have said it in real life 1000s of times.  

Lily's teacher was outstanding in every way.  

We were beyond grateful.

 Peter also had a good year.  I think that my expectations for Peter's teachers will always be high. Because I want them to see where Peter needs extra help, love him because he is an awesome kid, and know how to challenge/encourage him in just the right ways.  I can't even do that!!  His teacher really did build Peter up so well!   I am grateful.

And at the end of the day, as I prayed about Peter, brought my thoughts/concerns to God, the Spirit reminded that our Father sees Peter, He knows him, He made him and there is purpose.  I am thankful that my God is so personal, for me and for Peter.

There is always more to discover & learn and I am thankful that our Shepherd leads us.

I am thankful for this boy and all the ways he blesses us.

And the final morning!!

I like them.

--- the littlest crew member and cheerleader of his sissy & bubba ---

Concerts & Field Day

The big kids have both had spring concerts at school.  They have been SUPER cute!  

Peter's was about "Bugs"- cute songs with hand fun motions.  They've both been really excited and enjoyed singing the songs around the house.

Here is Peter, in the center of the top row.

 Lily's was cute kindergarten type songs-

'just because I'm shorter than a grown up'

'big dreams'

'everyone has something they can do'

It has been really sweet for me to feel like I know all of the kids in Lily's class this year.  

I am looking forward to that in Peter's next year!

Lily is on the front row, third from the left.

 And I remembered to take my real camera & zoom to Lily's- so here is the cute little love!

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Field Day was last week.  I hadn't made it to Peter's last year because I was in the hospital after Ben's birth.  I wasn't sure what to expect but it was lots of fun and HOT! Hot! HOT!

Dancing for the opening song- Peter has a really cool teacher- love him.

 Relay Races in a Sombrero Hat while skipping :)

 Carry the Sponge under your Chin :)

 1st Grade's Turn- Go Peter!

 Again, love his teacher- so loving towards his kids. 

Tug of War 

 Goo & Pop were so generous & spent a lot of the day with us!

 Peter's Class

Later on the Blacktop- it was HOT! HOT! HOT!

 Lily's class in a pass the pig relay- it was looong & hot, have I mentioned it was hot?

But I really loved being there and seeing them. 

ReHydration Station

 And later in the afternoon, the final was a Omnikin Ball Game.

 Whew, we went home hot and tired after a pit stop for milkshakes.  It was a really fun day.

This guy was a good sport.

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an adorable kitty cat at the school carnival