First day of Fifth Grade

Whoa.

I think this day was harder on me than first of kindergarten.

I mean, fifth grade, people!

That's the last grade in elementary school.  And then there are only three years of middle school and only four more of high school.  She's practically out of the house already!  I could barely contain myself.

We took these pictures at home because she said I would embarrass her if I tried to take them at school or ask any of her friends to get in a picture with her.

So, Abs is into all things London right now.  Not because the Olympics just happened there (although that was a fun thing too) but because her favorite authors are from London.  You know, JK Rowling and Jenny Nimmo.  I'm sure there are more but those are top of the list.

I couldn't leave her at school without embarrassing her at least a little...

She's refusing to look at me.

Just waves me away.

Leave, mom, please!

 

We had a little girl talk recently and I told her she can't leave me at home with all these boys by myself.  Dylan will graduate high school in about 15 years so she'll only have to live at home until she's 25.  Ab thought that was totally reasonable.

yeah, right. 

sigh.

 

First day of (home)school

We are homeschooling Joe this year.

I'm not homeschooling everybody.  In fact Big D starts preschool this year!  We just take it year by year and try to do what's best for each child.  So I am excited to be spending a little extra time with my Joe Joe.

Thursday was the first day for him (the others haven't started yet).  I told him we were going to start the day off official-like by getting dressed.  No pj's the first day of this mama's school!

He goes back to change and comes out dressed like this...

 

Now that's official.

And this is what he thinks homeschool is going to look like...

And this is what he will look like when I get through with him...

p.s.  Joe thinks this face makes him look hard core.

Jono thinks it makes him look like he put something hard core in his ninja turtle thermos.

 

High-tailin' it into summer

The last day of school was the day that never ends.

Celebration after celebration.

We started in the Mouse House (aka pre-school).

Took pictures with everyone's teachers.

We love these people!

Class awards were handed out.

I'm so proud of my rock star kiddos!

And LOTS of fun and games!

Somehow, boys crashing the manicure station is a last day of school thing.

Oranges on the head will be the next big thing.

Now

Bring on SUMMER!

Dear Old Golden Rule Days

We started school this week. 

And even though only 2 of us are actually going to school, it is still a big transition for the rest of us.  I have half as many kids at home now for the majority of the day (with one starting preschool in a couple weeks)!

Here are a few of the shots my reluctant children let me take.  It's not that embarrassing to have your mother snapping pictures of you on the first day of school, is it?!?

JOE ::  Second Grade

ABBY ::  Fourth Grade

Abs told me she would be an "upper-grader" this year.  I was not aware that elementary school had "upper-graders".  But when we walked her into that room, everything looked so big and academic-like.  There aren't any toys tucked away to the side like there had been before.  And look at those books on her desk!  They are real life textbooks!  Fourth grade must mean business.

I just had to share this next picture. 

I can't even believe this stuff is coming back.  My sister still teases me about the tie I used to wear in middle school.  But these girls are rockin' it!  They look so cute!

Last, but not least, here are the little boys on the first day of school.  D wore his "batpat" the entire time we were there and every morning since to take the kids to the bus.  Trek is working on his tetherball skills.

How are you handling these back-to-school days?

Mixed Up Fairytales

With the last week of school (which is a whole bunch of assemblies and parties and way to much sugar) and the first couple weeks of summer camp and a visit with Shish (my mom), we have been busy little bees.  So much fun!  I can't wait to show off all the things we have been doing.  If only I can find the time.  It will come but with all the rugrats (I mean, angels) at home it is even harder to find the time.

So, today you get a little peek at the plays the big 'uns performed in at the end of the school year.  In California, all the extras have been cut from our public schools.  Thanks to our principal who scrounged up funds from somewhere to hire Ms. Rachel who orchestrated the production of about 10 different plays with that many classes.  She and the kids wrote all the plays and she (and other volunteer artists) made all of the scenery and props.  It came off beautifully!

Here are Joe and Abs to tell you all about it.



 

Auction Projects for the Kids' Classes

It's been a challenge for me to get down to volunteer in the kids' classes this year.  But I was able to help both of their classes do a project for the school's annual auction.  I love to watch kids doing art.  Unlike us big people, they have no reservations about throwing down some paint.  We worry about what it will look like, using the wrong colors, what people will say.  Kids don't.  They know they are talented and they just go for it!  It's a beautiful thing to see.

The third graders did a batik.  My sis-in-law told me about this project which you can find here.  We just took it a step farther so that when we put all of their batiks together it made a picture (in this case, their teacher's favorite president).  It was a trick to figure that puzzle out but it gave us something to do while snowed in.

The first graders were each given a letter and asked to draw something that started with that letter.  I transferred their pictures onto tiles which they painted.  Ms. Smith's dad graciously took the tiles and made it into an adorable ABC kids table.

These are very original!  I especially love K, P, Q, V and of course...

Z is for Zombie (Joe's contribution). 

Notice the head is off, there is blood and a weapon.  I wouldn't have expected any less.

Pop Quiz:  Do you know how many stars were on the flag when Lincoln was president?