Harvey goes to "presthchool"

Highlights:

• Wendy's prayer for him the night before: "Please bless that he'll have a good day at school, make new friends, won't miss mommy or be sad, learn good things, have fun with Miss Lisa and Miss Julie" really touching for a big sister that he pesters and fights with all the time.
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• For his bedtime story the night before, we read the book "The Night Before Preschool" and changed the main character's name to Harvey.
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• laying in his crib, Harvey asks me what he's going to do there tomorrow. I answer, " You're going to play, do art crafts, have snacks, and play some more." Very concerned, he asks, "But when am I going to learn things?!"
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• Wanted just daddy to take him to school like Wendy so they took they're own car.
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• Did his hair with daddy's pomade and kept checking it in the mirror.
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• Had the biggest smile on his face all morning and especially when we got there.
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• Was so excited to go in he was holding my hand and jumping up and down.
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• We signed him into the classroom, got his heart shaped name tag and put his back pack in his cubby (#20) held his hand and showed him around the classroom. looked at all the toys, cars, animals...
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• Mommy was relieved when a friend from church, Max, unexpectedly came in with his mom. Harvey didn't know him, but I knew his mommy and we introduced the boys to each other and showed each other their back packs and led them to the pile of cars to play together.
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• Teacher had them sit on the carpet, went over the rules and where the potty was. Harvey keeps looking back and smiling at me. Teacher has them wave good bye to the parents. Ryan and I wave and walk out the door. Someone opens the door for me and I feel rushed. I go back and give him a couple big hugs and kisses, He doesn't seem nervous at ALL but I can tell he's happy I came back.

*with cutest girl Whitney Sneddon

*with best friend Max Chase

Wendy's FIRST (and second) Day of Kindergarten!

So, I didn't think I would be so emotional when Wendy started kindergarten, but I was a WRECK! Like baaaaad. I even get a little embarrassed thinking back on that day. On top of it all, I forgot the camera was on the manual setting and all the pictures of my baby's first day of school came out extremely over exposed. The picture above has been edited to make it as dark as possible without distorting the image. SO... we took some pictures on her SECOND day of kindergarten.

These are some images from her actual first day of school. Wendy was SO SO SO excited! She laid out her clothes the night before and labeled her backpack (the my little pony one she picked out herself). We were ecstatic when we found out she was put with the best kindergarten teacher in Brea (probably in all of Orange County). It was also comforting to have some friends from church in Wendy's class. 

 

Just like the first day of preschool, Wendy was brave and independent, I was a blubbering mess. I kept it together as best as I could for Wendy's sake. She ran right in the classroom, found her name on her assigned desk, and started coloring the picture that was waiting for her there (Harvey got to join in the fun too). The parents stood around, reluctant to let go and waiting for further instructions from the teacher. When it was time to leave, the kids took their place on the carpet and the parents slowly filed out. It was hard, but she did great. I'm so incredibly proud of her for her eagerness to learn, grow, make new friends and try new things. I love the confidence she has developed in herself in these short five years of life. (Then I bawled the whole way back home).

AND the second day of school... 

(just as excited as the first day:)

Back to School Feast

This fall, my first child started elementary school. The occasion seemed deserving of something special, so we copied NieNieDialogues and the night before school started we had a special "back to school" feast for family night (however, on a MUCH smaller scale than Mrs. Nielson). As a mom I feel like it is part of my job to make special days special. It makes me feel good to be able to pull it off. 

 

The theme was simple: apples and chalkboards. I pulled from what I had and didn't have to spend a penny! Wendy & I made a crown for each person with their first initial on it. We used black paper "chalkboard" place-mats and wrote each person's name and educational status at their seat. Harvey wouldn't wear his crown, I don't think he had a clue what was going on (I kinda hope he didn't or he probably would have felt left out). I made Wendy's favorite dinner: hard shell tacos with beans and rice, then we APPLE pie for dessert.

 

 

After dinner, the festivities continued. We had a little lesson about the importance of an education and Ryan gave Wendy a father's blessing for the beginning of the school year (just like my dad used to do for me). It was a very sweet and tender moment for me. I feel very blessed to be married to a man that can do this for my children. I might have cried a little bit. After the lesson, we had Wendy pick out her new outfit for the first day of school (I pulled some options out of the 5T - 6T tub of hand-me-downs and cute clothes on sale I purchased in the next size up) and had her do a fashion show for us with some music on in the background. You can see her dancing pretty hard on that ottoman. I'm pretty sure the song "Gangnam Style" was on repeat. My kids love that song more than I'd like to admit. But it made for a very fun night!  All in all, I feel it's a tradition I can easily keep up and one that will make the special things in life special for my children.

*look at those moves! don't mind the partially finished renovation in the background