Sorry it's been so long. What a fun day and way to start blogging again...the first day of school =)
McKenna started Kindergarten today, and I just can't believe this day has arrived. She has been so excited to start school and it couldn't have been much better! I thought I would be so sad, but she was so happy and excited to be going, I couldn't help but be happy and excited for her.
Caleb had been dreading going back to school all summer. We don't know what happened, because he's always loved school. Somehow his attitude toward it changed in the months off. But, at "meet the teacher" day last Thursday, he noticed that he would get to have science this year, and that made all the difference in the world. Ever since that day, he's been so excited (and I've never been so thankful for a science book! =)).
Both kids had great first days. They started it out walking in together, which was so cute. Caleb dropped McKenna off at her classroom (wish I could have been there for that) =).McKenna says that they did the Pledge of Allegiance outside at the flagpole, went to an assembly, got to sit wherever they wanted in class, and had library. That's pretty much all I could get out of her on the first day. But she said it was "GREAT!".
Caleb loved it as well. Not too much to report. He's sitting by 2 of his friends, he could understand his teacher just fine (which I was a little concerned about b/c she's speaking Spanish and I've heard she's a "fast talker" =)), and he also got to have library (his favorite special). Here are some of the pictures of their first day:
I just saw the sweetest thing this morning when we dropped Caleb off at school!! As Caleb, McKenna and I approached his school, I saw some gitty little kids coming toward us down the sidewalk. It was 3 of Caleb's friends from his class...they must have seen us when their bus drove by, and they waited for him so they could all walk in together. They were just so sweet and excited to see him (and McKenna). Maybe it was a "you had to be there" moment, but it really warmed my heart, so I thought I'd share!! =)
Last week, McKenna and I got to go participate with Caleb in his gym class. It was Jump Rope for Heart day and they invited all of the family to come and join in the fun. We had a blast!! All of the kids in Caleb's class love to see McKenna. The girls all become "little mommies" to her...it is soooo cute! She just has so much fun being with Caleb and the other kids, she feels like a one of the big kids.Caleb has really improved in his jumping and jump roping skills and it was fun to get to watch him. After they jump roped, they did stretching and other exercises, then played "Jump the River." We all had so much fun, it actually made me miss teaching PE =) Here are a few pictures of our fun day:
Well, Caleb is home now. The time actually seemed to go pretty quickly. I have already learned one thing as a new Kindergarten mom: if your child is a walker, you're supposed to send the teacher a note, so she knows he's not getting on the bus! Thankfully, McKenna and I were there early enough to learn of this before Caleb was delivered home to an empty, locked house! =) I wondered how they knew what he was supposed to do, now I know =) So, I have already put the note to his teacher in his backpack for tomorrow =)Here are some of Caleb's thoughts on his day:
- He helped the teacher with the weather and calendar ( I think all of the students got to help with this for today...eventually it becomes a special privilege)
- He got to say the Pledge of Allegiance (glad they still do this)
- He had his first assembly in the gym with all of the kids in his school
- He wasn't scared or nervous at all (even when there were big kids in the cafeteria while he waited for school to start in the morning)
- His teacher is really nice (Mrs. Rice is her name)
- When the teacher asked the class if they were ready to go home or if they wanted to stay at school, he said that he wanted to go home, but that he really liked school a lot
I think he had a really great first day! We spent about 20 minutes when he first got home just going over every detail of his day (that was a whole 2.5 hours of his day that I wasn't a part of)!! Some of the other things he told me were that they didn't have recess at all (don't know if they never have it, or just not today). They did go outside to write their names with chalk on some curvy line (??). He thinks he gets to have music tomorrow. He made one little friend today, a little girl named Avery. He said that the teacher called out 2 names at a time, and they were supposed to introduce themselves to each other. His overall synopsis was that it was hard, but fun!! =) I'll keep everyone posted with new Kindergarten adventures as they arise!! =)
Well, my "baby" started his first day of Kindergarten today!! I can't believe how quickly time has gone. It doesn't seem possible that Caleb is 5.5 already and has begun that seemingly endless journey we call school!! =) I thought I was going to be a basket-case, but amazingly enough, I didn't cry. I think I was just really excited for him. He has been soooo looking forward to starting school. I have been trying not to dwell on missing him...just looking forward to hearing about his adventures =)
There is another little someone who was sad this morning though... As soon as we dropped Caleb off, McKenna and I started to walk back home. She looked up at me with her lower lip turned down, with her oh-so-cute sad face, and said "I miss my b
rother." That was the first of about 10 times I would hear that on our 8 minute walk home. Poor Kenna. She absolutely ADORES her older brother, and he is so sweet to her. I think she's just not going to know what to do with herself =) I know we will get to enjoy some special mommy/daughter time that we don't have very often...I think we'll make it! =) I will post more this afternoon, once Caleb gets home with all of the exciting details of his first day! (and pictures too, of course) =)
