First Day of Kindergarten

The day had finally come, August 26, 2013, the first day of Kindergarten!! As expected, I photographed every moment of the day. I just couldn't be more proud of my sweet BIG boy!

Jonathan's Kinder Favorites!

And just for comparison - here he on the first day of Pre-K! Doesn't he look like such a baby?

This sandwich stamp is what my mom used on my sandwiches when I was in school.

The note I included in his lunch! :)

Easting breakfast! He didn't want to get his shirt dirty.

The boys right before we left!

We are there! I was a big ball of nerves! But he was excited!

 

Dropping him off at his class. We were allowed to bring him in, but asked to stay at the door and not enter the room.

And then, he turned and walked in and never turned back. I was SO PROUD. You would think I would be sad, but he showed me that he was going to be alright.

He went right to his seat and started his school work!

 

Okay, so I hoovered in the hallway for a little while and then when they stood to do the pledge, I snapped one last photo. He never even saw me! I felt really good about leaving him!

At pick up with his teacher, the sweet Mrs. Kirkpatrick.

And then, we went to Braums for a much deserved ice cream treat.

Kinder? Already??

I know that I have dropped off the face of this earth lately, not just on blogging, but just over all communications. This Kinder stuff, how we got here, how it started, getting used to a new schedule...it has been an adjustment, but it has been good. I am HAPPY> Jonathan is HAPPY! And that makes me SO HAPPY! We have started school!

This has been a monumental year for me and my big boy Jonathan. He turned 5 back in April and in August, he began Kindergarten. The road to getting myself prepared for school was a bit bumpy, stressful, worrisome...I spent morning, noon, and night thinking about it, for months!

Almost 5 years ago, I became an official "stay at home mom". I LOVED it immediately (and still continue to)! I NEVER wanted to return cooperate life! I loved that I was the one taking care of my son full time and not some stranger. I had had the hardest time handing him over every morning for the 2 months that I went back to work. And now I knew what was happening with him every single second. It was great, but I will be honest, while it was a perfect fit, there were days that weren't so easy. I had an inside joke with myself..."ummm, when does kindergarten begin???" I thought it was funny, so I laughed at myself. But I felt guilty for even thinking it, so I didn't share it with anyone, until now.

January of this year it hit me - oh my gosh! He is going to Kindergarten THIS YEAR. And instead of being happy or excited, I was sad, really sad. I became really weepy about the subject. I had knots in my tummy. I just had an overall dread about it. Every activity Jonathan had with Pre-K, I was there and emotional. You might have picked up on that with my earlier posts back in the Spring. One of my friends thought I was crazy, but I told her maybe I am just getting it all out now and I won't be so sad when he actually starts. (which is actually almost what happened!)

Part of my dread had to do with the school we were zoned to attend. While it is an exemplary school on scores and what not, I hadn't heard a positive thing about it, NOT ONE THING! It worried me. The more I talked with other moms the more I learned and none of it was good. Now, I know that NO school is perfect. Some years are just bad for whatever reason. It is a long story, that I will try to not bore you with, but Michael and I finally decided it was worth a shot to try to transfer Jonathan to a different school. Our school district allows you to transfer without penalty. The school we decided to apply to is just the next one over, not too much further. And everyone seems to LOVE it!

Another long story short. We put in the transfer in February and we were told we would not find out until TWO WEEKS BEFORE school started if our transfer request was granted. I finally got to a place where I had peace about it. I felt like God had lead us to this decision and we would get in no problem...Feb to Aug 12th seemed like the LONGEST I have had to wait for something that I really, really, really wanted!

And guess what? We were REJECTED!!!! WHAT??? That was a bad, bad day. Really bad day. I cried A LOT. Michael likes to tell a 'funny' story about the conversation we had that day. He was trying to console me, and I was inconsolable. He says, "it's going to be okay" and I respond through my screaming tears, "NO IT'S NOT!!!!!!" You get the picture? I was upset. I hadn't realized how much I really wanted this for J. And then the tears continued to flow as I told Jonathan and HE CRIED. My heart was broken.

The next day I was resolved to get over it and accept the school that we would be attending and be positive. And I was...Then FOUR DAYS before school started, I got a phone call! It was the school we wanted to attend. They said they had some space open up and they would like Jonathan to come after all!!!!!! WHAT????? I sat there, in shock. She said, "are you there? Would you like to come here still?" ...I finally responded, "YES, of course we do, sorry, I'm just catching up with whats happening here."

Told you it was a long story!!! But we are all so happy! Very, very happy! The school is amazing. We love all the teachers, the principle, and especially his teacher Mrs. Kirkpatrick. It is a perfect fit in every way. I am so thankful that everything has worked out as we had hoped. I am learning that I need to let go and let God's plan play out.

My big Boy and I having lunch at his school!

The Blessing of the Kindergartners

The Blessing of the Kindergartners, All Students and Teachers is a type of ceremony that our church does the Sunday before school starts. I remember last year and I was a mess watching the whole thing! I knew that it would be a special day for our family this year. We invited our local family members to attend with us and we were so happy that Aunt Amy and my Uncle Jim could attend!
I was a big ball of nerves that day, but I was so thankful to be a part of a church that makes it such a special time for the whole family. It really did help me and Jonathan (I Think) prepare our minds and hearts for the next day.

The Kindergartner Sunday School Class.



The Kindergartners up on stage being "Blessed" by the Children's director Holly. An encouraging story and a bag tag with scripture telling them God is always with them.

The they called ALL students of ALL ages to the stage. After more encouraging words, they asked the audience to pick a child that they see on stage and commit to praying for them this year. It is a heart warming ceremony that I still tear up thinking about.

After the service, we went and got Ben out of the nursery! He was so excited to see Jim!!! 

A group shot!

Super Skaters

One of my favorite things to do as a kid was ROLLER SKATE!!! It was on my "Bucket List" of summer to-do's to take the kids skating! They had never been skating before, for shame momma!!! My friend Mandy told me that the Grapevine skating rink as these assist rollers for first time skaters. So we gathered the kids and ran up there, basically the last week of summer! It was a blast!
 
Ben was a natural right out of the gate. He started skating and didn't even look back to see where I was! Which is pretty much how everything goes with Mr. Ben...but oh well!

Jonathan was more cautious, but that is his personality too. Once he got over his initial fears he took off and had fun. He LOVED it when they turned the lights off and the black lights on! He talked about that the most!

ME...I felt OLD! I hadn't done this in 30 years, so I was working muscles that have been asleep all that time! I started getting the hang of it again -- until suddenly -- my feet were no longer under me! I have no idea how it happened, I just know how it ended! ME - flattened out on the floor! I hit my caboose the hardest and it STILL hurts. I must have bruised the bone. It knocked the wind out of me too...so once I got my wits back together I was faced with --HOW DO I STAND BACK UP??? Thankfully Reagan was skating by and gave me a hand! Whew. I took it nice and slow the rest of the time, and despite my fall, I had a BLAST and can't wait to go again!

Ben loved it from the second he started!

Jonathan, Riley and Ben are all practicing.

Loving it!

He is not sure.

Ben and Reagan took off without me!

Gage wasn't having a good time, poor guy.

Ben just going to town and the 2 big boys in the distance with Mandy.

My sweeties!

Our group, minus me and J!



My Birthday

My Birthday, which was almost over a month ago, was lots of fun and great memories! A couple nights out -- without kids -- which isn't something that happens often at all! And then fun times as a family at the circus. And then also celebrating my mother-in-law Pat on her Birthday!

Me on my Birthday-Eve at dinner with Shannon. We went to this super posh place in Southlake. We ordered the same thing, 'cause we always tend to that! It was amazing! Some pasta with shrimp and all sorts of good stuff!

Shannon!

Michael took me out to eat at Chamberlains in Addison! (Thank you to Pat for baby-sitting!) It was so yummy! And you know what is funny, Michael and I ordered the same thing too! We both got the "special" Steak and Scallops. 

My aunt and uncle Holly and Jim sent beautiful flowers!

And as a family, we all went to the Circus! It was so much fun! The boys loved it!!

 

We also celebrated Pat's birthday! We went to have dinner with her after the circus! It was a fun day!

The Summer of 2013 Recap

I am just now realizing how incredibly behind I am on updating the blog with our "happenings". After looking back at all we did this summer...no wonder I didn't have time to blog! I thought I would try to hit the highlights.

Heading into the summer, I was determined to have fun and make it memorable for all of us! Mainly since this was our last "quality time" with Jonathan before he started Kindergarten!!!!

I am so happy with what were able to do! Zoos, Aquariums, Parks, Ponds, Lakes, Oceans, Pools, Splash Pads, Museums, Art Camp, Music & Art Camp, VBS, Movie Theater, The Circus, Family, Friends, Birthday Parties, Road Trips...and so much more!

Swimming became Jonathan's favorite thing to so this summer! {Big check mark off this Mommas to-do list!}

We ate good this summer! Corn and the cob and smores was just the beginning!

Dallas Zoo with Cousins and Best Buds!

Nature Walks with Best Friends!

The Fort Worth Zoo. Monkey's looking at Monkey's!

The boys helped with our garden...we let this one grow a little to long.

Diggin' up dino bones! At the FW Science and History Museum.

Running the Groceries at the FW Science and History Museum.

Calling Dr. Ewert...it could totally happen! At the FW Science and History Museum.

Ben says, "Look mommy! Foot steps!" I don't know why, but I just really, really love it!

We did lots of projects at our art center. J is coloring his Batman cape.  

Jonathan and Taryn, not Ben, went to Art Camp for 2 days and did AMAZING!

Jonathan's free-hand whale! This one is a framer! 

Visiting Great-Grandma and Gran.

There is always time for silliness...

He discovered that this thing has food in it!

This guy had a noticeable growth spurt!

Again with the silliness!

 

Music and Art's Camp at Church. Jonathan was picked to "jam" with these drummers that came one of the days. It was really cool!

Bird watching.

Fort Building.

Trouble Making.

Pirate-Batman cuteness!

Lego building!

The shirt says it all!



Jonathan memorized the book, "The Giving Tree." And took every opportunity to read it!

So Jonathan decided that the Magnolia tree in our front yard was "his" tree. This made my heart so happy. I child's imagination jumping off the pages into real life! Maybe I am being sappy about the tree thing (pun intended).

 

Reading time, every single night, and always will be!

 

Feeding the ducks at our local pond.

Playing with old friends from Pre-School.

 

Meeting new friends at the playground and playing a quick game of soccer!

 

This was the official last day of summer. Once again, I was being sappy and had to take a picture. The boys were playing trains in J's room and getting along so well. I wanted to remember this moment forever!