Back to School

The boys were so excited for school to start this year...and so was I! Matt Mo was probably the most excited of all because he got to start kindergarten. The week before it started, I took the boys up to the school to meet their new teachers and see their classrooms...

Matt got the same teacher Ben had for kindergarten, but we didn't even know it at first because she got married and changed her name. Miss Swarts is now Mrs. Venier and we love her!

Ben started 2nd grade with Ms. Reeves and she has been awesome. He was super excited to see a friend from church was in his class too. Both boys were too shy to take a picture with their teachers, but they were brave enough to give them a little back to school gift...

We also started a new tradition this year that I saw on another blog - back to school crowns and a special dinner...

I couldn't leave Princess Sadie out even though she wasn't starting school...

The kids absolutely loved it...definitely something we'll do every year! The next morning they were all smiles as they headed off for their first day...

Matt Mo felt pretty cool walking into school with his big brother, and Ben was very sweet to walk him to his class...

Ben even let me walk him to his class...not sure he'll go for that next year!

It was strangely quiet at home with just the girls, but we have been enjoying our special time together and the boys have been loving school!

The End of Crazy May

May was such a crazy busy month - all the end of school activities were a big part of that. Matt graduated from his PreK class and is moving on up to kindergarten! He's grown and learned so much this past year...

We are really going to miss seeing Miss Janette and Miss Andrea...they've been so wonderful and VERY PATIENT with all those crazy 4-5 year olds!

At the end of year party, we got to hear them say the Pledge of Allegiance, count by 2's, 5's, and 10's, read their sight words, and sing some songs. I especially enjoyed this one...

It's just so Matt Mo to have to wipe up his slobber in the middle of the song - he's notorious for his drool!

Afterward, we got to have lunch with our preschool friends one last time...

The following week was Ben's end of year party and awards. He was awarded for having the best handwriting in his class...

 All the kids with their awards and sweet Mrs. Teague...

 After awards, they got to play a bunch of games and run around outside. Ready for duck, duck, goose...

They even got to have their faces painted! Ben makes one cute little pirate...

He has really learned a lot and grown up so much this past year. He's becoming quite the little smarty pants!

On to new adventures in 2nd grade!

March Highlights

Apparently I've gotten on the "blog every 3 months" schedule. So... lots of catching up to do once again! Here's a quick recap of what happened in March...

We got some gorgeous weather and spent lots of time at the park...Sadie was in heaven!

All of the 1st grade classes at Ben's school put on a musical performance all about the ocean...

It was also Open House at Ben's school that month. It was so fun to see all the great things he's been working on. He's learned so much this year and is a great student!

Ben with his teacher, Mrs. Teague...

Sadie starting talking a lot more and copying what we would say... so much fun!

She's one busy girl! Always sneaking into my purse for candy or lipstick...

Always has to be accessorized (even if her glasses are upside down and her shoes on the wrong feet)...

She became obsessed with being in the backyard - she loves to jump on the trampoline!

Matt Mo's Pre-K class went on a field trip to see Disney on Ice. Granny was nice enough to watch Sadie so Mo and I could have a special day together - he loved the show (and the undivided attention)!

He even got to sit by his best buds Luke and Sammy...

At the end of the month, Ben was recognized at a school assembly for his excellence in math...he must take after his mom...wink, wink.

And that was March in a nutshell!

Hooray for Fall!

After one of the hottest summers in Texas ever, we are so glad Fall is here! Not only do we get relief from the nasty heat, but the boys get to go back to school and start a new soccer season too.  Ben went into 1st grade this year...

 

The first couple days were great, but then he decided that "1st grade is longer than kindergarten" (even though it's not) and he didn't want to go back. It was breaking my heart because he was crying and said that he would miss me too much (never thought I'd hear him say that!). We said a little prayer that he could be happy at school and he was happy to report back after school that it worked. Luckily, we haven't had any more problems with that and he's back to loving school again...phew!

Matt Mo started Pre-K a week later...

He's going to the same school as last year so it was easy breezy the first day - he knew the drill and got right to work on some puzzles while waiting for the other kids to arrive. Gotta love his cheesy picture-taking grin!

Shortly after school started, soccer season began. Ben is with his same team from the last couple seasons and Matt Mo finally got to join his first team. After sitting on the sidelines watching Ben for 2 years, he is so excited to play! I had to snap some pics before his first practice...

     

    

Having both of them playing is a little crazy with 2 different practices each week and 2 games every Saturday. I guess it's only going to get worse as they get older and have even more things going on (plus Sadie too) so we'd better just get used to it. Seeing them progress and have so much fun is definitely worth it though!

Preschool Party

Eek! June is more than half-way over and I have yet to post about Mo's end of preschool party, so here goes.

While we were waiting for all the moms to arrive, Miss Andrea's son, Tyler, offered to read the kids a story. It was pretty much the cutest thing ever...

 Then we gathered around to watch a slideshow of all the fun they had this year...

When an up-beat song came on toward the end, the kids just couldn't help themselves and a dance party broke out...

Miss Janette also made the cutest memory books for each student with photos, art work, and other projects. The last page was an interview with some pretty hilarious Q&A's. Some of my favorites were:

What is your mom's job?  She always gets to go shopping all the time. (Ha! If only, little man!)

What is your dad's job?  He plays games with me. 

Who is the President of the United States? My daddy. 

What is your favorite thing to do? Play games with Ben. (Sweet, even though this almost always ends in fighting and tears.)

After the party, he requested to go to Taco Bell for a celebratory lunch. It's hard to turn down those big brown eyes...

End of Kindergarten

The last couple weeks have been crazy with all the end-of-school happenings, but we survived and now we're ready for summer! The end of kindergarten kept us especially busy - lots of activities, performances, and awards. First up was Field Day...

Kind of like a "3-legged Race", but with a ball instead of being tied together

Tug-of-War (Ben is in the back row)

Ben's cute teacher, Miss Swarts

Ben said his favorite activity was the Slip & Slide. Even Miss Swarts wanted to join in the fun...the kids thought it was hilarious!

Next was the "Kinder Kitchen" musical performance. All the kids wore chef aprons...

As you might have guessed, the songs were about food... "On Top of Spaghetti", "Peanut, Peanut Butter, & Jelly", "Apples & Bananas", etc. It was pretty darn cute, I must say.

The next day, Ben's class performed at the school's morning assembly. They sang "Hello, to All the Children of the World"...

(Ben is the 6th one from the left)

Ben representing Japan. Too bad we don't have any lederhosen...he could have dressed up to represent Switzerland!

Then there was the Kindergarten "Moving Up" Ceremony...

Each kiddo got to walk the stage and receive their certificate. They also played a slide-show of all the fun they had in kindergarten this past year...I'll admit it, I got a little teary-eyed over it. It's hard to let your baby grow up! And maybe a little bit of it was knowing that I was about to have all 3 kids at home ALL day for the next few months...haha!  Ben is actually much easier these days. It's the combination of all the kids (especially the boys together) that scares me.

Finally, we made it to the last day (I should really say, morning, because we were headed home at 9:30). After the morning assembly, we went to his class room for Miss Swarts to hand out her "Candy Awards" to each of the kids. Ben received the "Peppermint Award"...

It says, "Awarded to the classmate who takes our breath away with how hard he has been working in his writing journal."  Miss Swarts said she would have to tear him away from it when it was time to move on to something else. He has learned so much this past year and we are so proud of him!

After another slide-show with his friends (and more tears from all the moms) it was time to say good-bye...

Ben with one of his good friends, Grafton...sad he'll be moving this summer!

A shy good-bye hug for Miss Swarts...I could barely get a picture he was so quick!

You tired yet? I told you there was a lot going on... and we haven't even gotten to Matt Mo's end of preschool party yet. Guess I'll save that for another day!