The Weekend!

And just because we had a busy week last week with school starting, the weekend was also full of plans too! 

Gracie had a birthday party at this place called Bear Paddle.  It's in Fox Valley and it's totally cute.  It's a little pool and they offer swim lessons and birthday parties.  It was for her friend Amber from Kindergarten.  Lots of her other Kindergarten buddies were there but now they are in different first grade classes.

 

They got to play tug-of-war with the raft.  Gracie won!

 

Then the instuctors were moving the raft and they had to try and stay on.  She did good.

 

And of course swimming isn't swimming without a noodle ride!

 

All the kids had so much fun.

 

Then they all got to clean off by going throug the "car wash."  The pool here is actually saltwater.  

 

It really was a neat little place.  I got some information on it.

 

Here is Gracie with her friends...of course Lacey, her BFF was there, but so was Kate, Marin, and Allison.  And they are all in my Girl Scout troop too!  They are the cutest little bunch of girls you've ever met.  I got to hang out with their moms during the party and they are cool too!

 

Amber's mom wanted to do what we did at Gracie's party....sit by Amber when she is opening your present.  Gracie picked out some Lego Friends.  In fact, she got lots of them!

 

Today we went on a nature walk and brought a scavenger hunt too. 

 

The kids were so excited.  Everytime we found something on the list, I would stamp it.

 

Walking on the bridge was one of our favorite parts.

 

Grandpa came with us and Presley made sure he didn't get left behind.

 

And everytime we passed a bench, we had to take a break. I guess it was deserved because I didn't realize how far this little hike was.  When we got back to the car, we realized we hiked 2 miles!  No strollers. No wagons. No bikes.  Just our feet!

 

We also found a little pond.

 

So of course we had to go throw rocks.

 

It was fun.

 

It really was nice and the kids loved it. We found everything on our list too!  We even found buried treasure on the path because we found 2 spraypainted X's!

 

The kids did good considering....there were some complaints but we agreed that next time we would bring our bikes.

 

It was a busy weekend for Daddy too because Uncle Frog and Uncle Chad came up to go the Cubbies game.  They even had a limo come pick them up!  But first the kids got to go sit in it.

 And Friday night was also our ice cream social at school. The kids got some pretty yummy ice cream!

 

Such the cutest pic!  Although all my pics are out of order.  oops!

The First Day of School!

Today was the BIG day!

The First Day of School!

My kids were up and ready to roll.  They were all excited and I made them signs.

 

My first grader all ready to go.  She is so excited to be able to eat lunch at school, have recess, and get to have art, music, and health class too!

 

She is growing up so fast but yet still wants to be a firefighter.  

 

My sweet girls all ready for school. Boy do they really know how to make their mama feel old!

 

All right...seriously, how did my little twinnies become old enough to go to school?  They were so excited and I think meeting their teacher yesterday helped.  Presley has decided he wants to be a policeman and Evie want to be Izzy (from Jake and the Neverland Pirates).  Although I think she only said that because she was watching the show when I asked her.

 

Isn't she not the cutest little preschooler you ever saw?  So proud of my big girl!

 

And this boy was ready.  I even got him to wear a polo shirt for the first day!

 

We hit a slight snag however because as you know, I am mom of the year and totally forgot to submit the medical forms.  Ugh!  How stupid could I be?  Luckily Chuck was off yesterday and had to run to the pediatriction's office TWICE because they couldn't find if Presley had the chicken pox vaccine.....It was a complete nightmare.  We had to get up early today to take them to the nurse.  Thankfully we were good to go or they would have not been able to start today.  Lesson learned!

 

The proud mama and papa with their school-aged children. I'm scared to blink for fear they might be heading off to college next!

 

And then because I am THAT mom, I snapped pics as I was driving through the dropoff line to drop Evie and Presley off for their first day.

 

Daddy got out to help out.

 

A teacher grabbed them and off they went.  There were no tears.  No looking back. Only smiles and a "Bye Mommy!"  AAHHH, it was like taking a knife.  I had to let go a lot today. And it made me happy but it did indeed hurt.

 

After I sobbed on my way to school with Gracie,  I had to distract myself with some Eric and Kathy so get me laughing.  Gracie just couldn't wait to get to school and get started. She loves to carry my keys for me every morning and open the door.

 

As soon as we got there, we ran into Miss Stewart, Gracie's new teacher!  And look!  They match!  Aw, super cute!

 

Now this year is not only totally cool for Gracie because she gets to be there all day, but her BFF Jackie is also in her class.  Yes, my girl Holly decided to have her daughter come to Wesmere this year too!  They were so excited but I think Miss Stewart may have had a heads up because they don't sit near each other.

 

We joke that were going to be HMP's!  Although I think we are already.  We took this picture like half and hour before the bell even rang!

 

And then we made Miss Stewart do it too. See the look of HMP in her face?

 

But we didn't hang out in first grade all morning.  We did go to our own classes to get ready for the day.  When the bell though, they we were...following our girls down the hall snapping pics with our camera!

 

And yes, we did walk into the classroom with them.

 

And yes, we had to take pictures of them sitting down at their desks.  

 

I called my mom at lunch to see how preschool went. She said Evie and Presley came out smiling and talked about how they read the book "Pete the Cat", played at the park, colored, and Presley even talked about a boy named Ethan and Evie said she made a new friend too but can't remember her name.  I'm so happy they had a great day!  Presley even asked if he could go back tomorrow and I had to tell him he has to wait for 4 more sleeps.

Gracie had a fabulous day in first too!  I peeked in a couple of times (you didn't see me Nikki) but all seemed well.  I watched her at recess out my new classroom window (it has a great view of the playground) and saw Gracie playing.  I also saw her walking down the sidewalk hand in hand with Jackie. She was all smiles after school when she came back to my room.  She ate most of her lunch and enjoyed the little lunch card I hid in her lunchbox.  She even got to go to art today and that was a huge deal too. And then she got to play with Jackie after school for awhile and that made me happy too.  I got a little bit of work done.

My first day?  I had a good one.  I really did like my class and I think I am going to enjoy teaching 2nd grade.  I have a nice group of 23 (my smallest class ever) and I think it will be great! 

(But I am so exhausted and glad tomorrow is Friday!)



"Twas the Night Before School Starts......

Well, tomorrow is it. The BIG day! I just put to bed a first grader and 2 preschoolers.  Where has the summer gone?  More importantly, where has the summer gone?  Never in my life have I felt older.  I can't believe this will be the first year that all my babies are in school.  I don't have toddlers anymore.  I have fully potty trained kids whose backpacks are packed and ready to go and first day school clothes picked out by themselves.  Sigh.

This morning was meet and greet at Evie and Presley's new preschool.  They are not attending the same preschool Gracie went too.  They will be going to Bonnie McBeth, the preschool in my school district.  This is them walking proudly into school this morning.

 

Seriously.....wasn't it just yesterday they were growing inside my huge belly?

 

We went into their classroom. Room 103 in the blue villiage, and started to play.  Me?  I got to fill out lots of paperwork and forms.  Double paperwork and forms.

 

They got to find their little cubby hole where they will have their supplies stored and where they will hang up their new backpacks.

 

I took some quick pics of their classroom this morning because I know I won't be able to be in here much.

 

It looks like lots of fun. Lots of books, dress=up clothes, and even a kitchen set!

 

We also stopped for a quick pic outside their room.

 

This is their teacher Miss Lindsay.  She seems really nice and I know they are going to love her!  It looks like Evie already does.  Presley is not too sure....

 

They were even trying to find their names on the bulletin board!

 

After I spent a long day at school getting ready for my own first day, it was home to paint some nails,

 

pass out some back to school cards to let my kids know how proud I am of them,

 

and hand out a special gift just for this night. 

Gracie got "The Night Before First Grade."



 

Evie and Presley got "The Night Before Preschool."  We read the books and they were totally cute and made me want to cry.  We talked about how they were going to make new friends, learn the ABC's, learn how to count, and have fun!

 

Gracie's new teacher, Miss Stewart, gave not only Gracie, but Evie and Presley some "ready confetti."  Totally cute!  We read the poem.

 

And got it ready to take to bed with us before we picked out our clothes for tomorrow and brushed our teeth.  

My kids are growing up and growing up fast.  I am so incrediably excited for all of them.  I know they are going to grow in their learning and grow with new friendships.  I only wish I could be there to see it all happen but hopefully they will be excited to tell me about it. I am so proud of all 3 of them and just want them to be the best they can be.  Stay tuned for tomorrow to see how the first day goes!