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Man do I have some catching up to do! The biggest news of the last week is that school started! All kids are in school ALL day! Don't you worry, I have yet to be caught twiddling my thumbs in their absence.


We all walked down to school on a beautiful day:
My goal is to have the kids write their name on this slate every year to watch their handwriting grow as well.


Lots of fake smiles... they couldn't get why I would take their picture in front of a school bus when we're walkers?!

I can't believe they're all in school. Brady being a 3rd grader, wow. I mean, I remember being a 3rd grader! I had Mrs. Davies (and she was rotten to me). Brady has Mrs. Fritzler, which reminds me of the teacher from the Magic School Bus books, Ms. Frizzle. Mrs. Fritzler was one of Brady's summer school teachers and she uses "clickers" in her classroom which Brady loves. By his description they're like a gameshow controller that they enter their answers into and they post to her computer. I don't care if it shoots sparks and whistles, if it keeps his attention then I'm all for it! The 3rd grade is also doing a specialist rotation that seems to be yet another positive move for Brady. The students rotate out of their homeroom to each of the other teachers for science, math, and reading/writing. Another way to break up the monotony of the day and keep Brady excited for school. The science teacher is also his teacher from last year so he looks forward to seeing him every day.

Natalie Sue is a big First grader, she has Mrs. Wartenbee. I loved first grade. It's when all the separate skills you learned in Kindergarten get applied and learning really explodes. But you still get to have a lot of the fun that you had in Kindergarten. She's doing amazing already, her schoolwork is 100% everyday and her homework comes easily for her. BUT... she said a girl from her class last year is pulling the nasty-girl crap already. She'll say "Hi, Natalie!" when it's just them, but out on the playground with other girls around, the girl sneers at Natalie when she says hello. Girls are mean. I hate that it's happening to Natalie (already!) but proud that Natalie is not one of those girls. She has a loving heart and is surrounded by friends and being a good friend herself.

Makenzie is SO excited to be a Kindergartner! On the first day of school, she walked home in the front of the pack like a proud peacock, you could see the pride emanating from her. Mike got a call Friday before school and Makenzie got the last full-day spot due to a sudden opening. And she is loving every minute of school so it's a great stroke of luck that she got in! She is bringing home all sorts of wonderful art, and sings a new song every day on the walk home from school. And I'm rediscovering some books that are classic Kindergarten reads (Chicka Chicka Boom Boom; The Gingerbread Man; The Little Red Hen...)

I can't wait until the teachers get into their routine so I can start volunteering in each of their classrooms!