Pre-K graduation

I don't know what it is that Campbell always seems like a baby compared to Nolan. Even on the same birthdays, Campbell just seems younger than Nolan did. It's some messed up mind game that my brain plays on me.

Nolan is a September birthday and Campbell is a June birthday so Nolan was almost a whole year older than Campbell when going into kindergarten. It seemed like Nolan would never start kinder and with Campbell, it's hard to believe he's already starting.

Campbell is a total ham at home. He's sooooo LOUD....like deafening. Then when he's in a group of new people, he completely shuts down. His birthday is at the end of the month and he's already talking about how shy he gets when people sing "Happy Birthday" to him. He keeps asking if we can just eat cake and not sing to him.

So I was pretty nervous about his Pre-K graduation. I just knew that he'd bury his face in some teacher's leg or run off stage, but my baby proved me wrong...big time.

Check him out! I couldn't believe it myself!

He was up there, no fear, acting like it was just part of his normal routing to perform in front of 100 people.

 

He was even being his usual comedian self with his crazy facial expressions.

Look at how much he changed over the year. I'm a little nervous about this one starting kinder. I think I'll stay close to the phone just in case they call. He spells T-R-O-U-B-L-E! 

I think my brain might be playing tricks on me because forever this little guy will always be my baby boy. He's always been able to make me melt with those eyes and that sweet dimple. I turn into mush.

First and last day of 1st grade

Nolan just finished up his last day of 1st grade. It's so hard to believe I have an almost 2nd grader!

Here he is on the first and last day of 1st grade. Good to know that he wanted to be an astronaut at the beginning of the year and I asked him now and he said he wanted to be a ninja.

Can you say parenting fail? Imagination counts for something, right?

 

Here's a pic of all his first and last days of school so far in elementary. 

The top left pics are his first and last day of kinder. I think kinder is when he changed the most. Look at that baby face with the red shirt on.

He said this was the pose that they made him do for school pictures so he did it completely unprompted. Can you tell he's a photog kid? And is it just me or does he looks like he's in high school here?

First grade has been a great year. He's an amazing reader and his artistic skills always amaze me. I'm so so proud of this sweet little boy. It's a little bittersweet being the end of the year at Chisholm Ridge because Nolan has done so well, learned so much and had great teachers both years. I'm praying for an easy transition to his new school. I loved being able to peek in on him during the day every now and then and just blowing him a kiss in the hall when I saw him pass by. He still waves at me like he hasn't seen me in weeks.

Ok I have to stop talking about it or I'll start crying.

Here's to a new chapter in both of our lives.

First day of 1st grade!

So just as I'm getting over dealing with my baby turning one I'm dealing with my oldest starting 1st grade. AHHH! It's too many milestones for one mom to stay emotionally stable!

I love having Nolan at school with me. Seeing him in the hall waving like crazy to me and blowing kisses will put any bad day into perspective. The bad part about me being at school with him is that I'm always working when it's "Meet the Teacher" night. Luckily, I have one amazing husband who wrangled three young kids and was the parent so I could work.

This year he has Ms. Shue whom he already loves and talks about daily. He's totally crushin' already on her.

 

And here's my big kid on the first day of 1st grade. It was the first day of school for both of us. Can you tell we're sleepy? As for now, he wants to be an Astronaut when he grows up. It sounds like he could support me when I get old and wear diapers, so I'm cool with it.

 

Here's Nolan with his beloved kinder teacher, Ms. Japhet, his 1st grade teacher, Ms. Shue and the principal of our school, Mrs. Villines.

 

Nolan loves school which I absolutely cherish and pray that he always has a love for learning. 

 

He came home from the first day of first grade and said, "I already feel like a 1st grader!" Wow, that was quick!

 

And this is where I almost lose it because the photo on the left is my baby boy starting Kindergarten last year and here he is in the same hall on the right with this noticeable confidence looking like he's grown 5 inches in a year. 

 

By the time this boy is in 5th grade, I'll have to be down the hall just trying to get him in the frame of the picture because he's grown so much. 

First day of Pre-K

Monday was Campbell first real day of Pre-K! I gotta say that it's been the easiest year so far with the transition of school for him. I think it's really helped that he's been in the same place for almost three years. I saw an idea on Pinterest have them say what they want to be when they grow up on the first day of school to see how it changes. This year, he wants to be a blue jockey, of course.

Nolan was the sweetest big brother the first day of school posing with him and getting him all set with his stuff in his cubby.

Let's hope that all this excitement about school continues. I love that both my boys love school.

Meet the Teacher for Pre-K

I can't believe that school is almost starting. I love the routine of school but absolutely hate the START of school. It's so stressful and overwhelming as a teacher and mom of three until we get our routine figured out. But it's coming, so I better just build a bridge and get over it (as I lovingly tell my students).

Campbell's meet the teacher was today. Luckily, he already knows one of his teachers. He had her last year for half of the year and so did big bubba, Nolan!

We went ahead and brought his backpack with his naptime turtle and blanket. One less thing to worry about the first day on Monday.

As soon as he saw his classroom, he started playing peek-a-boo with his teacher.

And he didn't waste one second to start doing a puzzle with Ms. Sherry.

Here is he with his two teachers.

Campbell misses school so much. He loves his friends and being the class clown. Hmmm, wherever did he get that?!

Kindergarten Graduation

I made it. My baby graduated kindergarten and I didn't cry like a blubbering idiot. There were moments where it was mighty close.

Here is the first day and last day of Kindergarten.

Is it just me or does he look like he is going to be in middle school next year?

It's crazy how I felt like Nolan would never start kindergarten, but maybe that's because I was paying for daycare for 6 full years. He's an old kindergartner with a September birthday. But I know what's going to happen now. Next, is 2nd grade, then middle school and then I'll be wondering how in the world he's graduating high school.

 He's been through a lot in his kindergarten year with mom down the hall and finding out every little misstep before he even had a chance to tell me, baby sister being born two weeks after school started, and Aunt Tonya passing away in the Spring. I'd say that he's done exceptionally well with so many big changes.

He's our little book worm. I wish I could take credit. He's this amazing little boy who's learned by osmosis. I remember at the age of 2 him playing with flashcards and putting them in order from A to Z and then backwards from Z to A. His mind absolutely amazes me. I'm so insanely proud of him and so grateful that he has a love for learning.

As a teacher I've learned really quickly that you can teach ANY kid as long as they're willing to learn.

I've loved having him at school. Yes, even those days that I almost strangled him because he embarrassed me. I just have to remind myself that he is such a sweet kid with a very kind heart and he needs to make mistakes to learn from it. Sometimes his mistakes just happen to embarrass me, but I'm sure I embarrass him more.

Kindergarten has been full of a lot of wonderful memories. His teacher, Ms. Japhet, is seriously made of the special stuff in heaven. She has insane amounts of patience and I'm so thankful that we were blessed to have her as Nolan's teacher and she has helped him grow so much this year.

I had the opportunity to go on Nolan's fall field trip while on maternity leave and Justin went on his zoo field trip in the Spring. Notice their cute shirts. Yep, another Daddy creation. Each class had a different color.

And many friendships were formed.

But most of all, this high energy boy is growing up and when I told him that I was a little sad that he was growing up so fast he told me that he wouldn't eat so much. How sweet is that offer? Although, the poor thing can barely make it an hour before telling me he's hungry!

I'm so so proud of you, Nolan, for the sweet boy you are and the one you're becoming. Keep on being your happy self because when you're happy, mama's happy.

Rice Rice Baby...

Every year the Kindergarten teachers at my school do rice babies. They fill up a sock with rice to weigh as much as the child did at birth. I've been looking forward to this since last year when I knew Nolan would be joining me at my school.

Unfortunately, the night before rice babies, I got several late night calls about my sister's condition getting dramatically worse. I had to miss it in order to be with her, but I'm grateful for those last precious moments with her. Thankfully, my husband dropped everything so he could be part of this special day for Nolan. 

It was a wild day Justin said but Nolan loved every minute of it. He had a lot of scooping to do because he was my biggest baby of all at 8 lbs. 4 oz. We will not discuss the weight gain during that pregnancy.

Lots of copy paper box lids bassinets were carefully wrapped for each of his rice babies. Later, the babies were swaddled and given the same hair color and eyes that the kids have to match them.

Here is Nolan's artistic rendition of his rice baby. 

 

I love walking by his room everyday to see his artwork on display...another perk of being a mom/teacher at the same school as him. 

This paper was my favorite. In case you can't read it, it says, 

"When I was a baby, I drooled. 

Now I can read. 

When I grow up I'm still staying with my Mommy. Good stuff" (I love how he always gives me a Patty Duke hair do')

Wordless Wednesday

The first day

He started school this morning,
And he seemed so very small.
As I walked there beside him
In the Kindergarten hall.

And as he took his place beside
the others in the class,
I realized how all too soon
Those first few years can pass.

Remembering, I saw him as
He first learned how to walk.
The words that we alone made out
When he began to talk.

This little boy so much absorbed
In learning how to write.
It seems as though he must have grown
To boyhood overnight.

My eyes were blurred by hastily
I brushed the tears away
Lest by some word or sign of mine
I mar his first big day.

Oh how I longed to stay with him
And keep him by the hand
To lead him through the places
That he couldn’t understand.

And something closely kin to fear
Was mingled with my pride.
I knew he would no longer be
A baby by my side.

But he must have his chance to live,
To work his problems out,
The privilege to grow and learn
What life is all about.

 

And I must share my little boy
With friends and work and play;
He’s not a baby anymore –
He’s in Kindergarten today.

Poem written By: Georgy

Meet the teacher - Nolan

Meet the teacher was at my school last Thursday. It has been a crazy week to say the least. New school year, moved to a new classroom, trying to prepare for my long term sub, fitting in 3 doctor's appointments this week, car dying (TWICE!), and being 9 months pregnant. Whew, just typing that made me tired.

I raced to the doctor and came back just in time for Meet the Teacher. It was a great turn out. Normally the joke is that by the time they're in 5th grade, the parent involvement isn't the best but I was pleasantly surprised to meet all but one of my students in my homeroom!

Justin came too, thank goodness to document Nolan's Meet the Teacher. It's a Catch 22 when it comes to teaching at Nolan's school. I'm so excited about being part of his day every day while at school but I'm also a teacher and must wear my teacher hat. Since I was busy meeting my own students, Justin came to play the parent role.

And he got to meet Ms. Japhet. The funniest thing is that I had her daughter last year in my class. So now we're just switching and trading off. Although I haven't seen in her the classroom, I see her in the hall all the time with her kiddos and you just know when someone is made to be a kindergarten teacher and when they're not...like me! That's why I teach the furthest thing from kindergarten and teach 5th!

Ms. Japhet is such a sweet spirit and I've seen her exhibit nothing but grace and patience while interacting with her students.

Bonus: she's a mom of three herself and with two boys just one or two years older than Nolan. So I know she can fully understand how boys this age might be a little precocious.

Nolan is so ready for Kindergarten. He told me yesterday after a car ride to get an ice cream treat, that he was dreaming about it and he's so excited.

All this talk about Kindergarten has someone else talking about it a lot. He's still got a couple years. The first week at school for Campbell was a success minus three boo boo reports. He gets mad when we pick him up because he doesn't want to leave school. Poor thing has been the last one picked up nearly every day this week. I promise Campbell, mommy will get herself together pretty soon and you won't be the last one there everyday!

Here's to a great year and the beginning of Nolan's journey. I just hope I don't hear too many embarrassing stories from Ms. Japhet this year.

Campbell's Meet the Teacher

Wow, and just like that summer is over. And when I say summer is over, I mean school is about to start because there is nothing about our weather that is anything BUT summer. Today was Meet the Teacher day at Campbell's school. Our school district provides a development center for teachers in the district. Both Nolan and Campbell were there last year. Now just my little Campbelloni is there because big brother is starting kindergarten...but I won't talk about that just yet. I'm hanging on to every last day of him still be a little boy.

Campbell was of course shy when we first got there and much to our surprise we found out that Nolan's teachers last year are now Campbell's teacher. Nolan was so excited about that. He went up and immediately hugged Ms. Sherry.

 

 As soon as Campbell walked in his new classroom he was exploring. They had us doing a scavenger hunt finding all the important things in the room. What a cute idea. 

 

When I asked him to find the bathroom, he did and as I walked in after him, I saw his cute little bottom. I guess he thought I meant to go use the bathroom! 

He was busy checking off his checklist.

Shockingly, Campbell hugged Ms. Sherry and Ms. Ashley goodbye. He's my boy that takes some time to warm up but he warmed right up to them. I think it helped that he knew them from being Nolan's teachers last year.

On our way to the school, he was so excited to see all his friends but he thought he was going to have the same teachers. So we couldn't leave without Cam giving some love to his teachers from last year.

I must say that it's a much easier transition for him this year because he's been there before and he knows all of his friends and he has Nolan's teachers this year.

We are so happy with the Development Center and all that he has learned. Now in a little over a week, Nolan starts kinder. 

9 month pregnant woman with rollercoaster hormones + first child starting kindergarten = an emotional basketcase

At least he'll be at school with me!