Emmalee's 1st Day of Kindergarten

Yesterday (Monday, Aug. 30th) was Emmalee's 1st day of school.  Emmalee was so excited to go to school.  All I had to say to her was, "Emmalee, are you ready for kindergarten?" and she jumped out of bed.  She tried to get dressed while she was still rubbing her eyes & waking up.

She decided to eat breakfast at home in case she didn't like the breakfast that was served at school (free for all students).

When we started walking to school, it wasn't raining, but by the time we got there (2 small-town blocks), we were soaked.

It rained/sprinkled most of the morning.  Here she is outside of the school.  Emmalee is excited that she is finally in the same school as Dad & Callum (pre-school was held at the High School).

Can't you just see her excitement & anticipation oozing out!?!  Her teacher (Mrs. Nelson) is in the background.  Mrs. Nelson is also a new teacher (just out of college & first year teaching). 

She found her seat (because we visited her classroom a couple of times including Back-to-School night last Wednesday) and couldn't wait to use the things in her pencil box.

We decided to let her stay all day on a trial basis.  P.E, additional art projects, computer time & other "fun" activities are in the afternoon after Kindergarten is "officially" done at 1:30 pm. 

I missed having her at home, helping me & Benjamin (teasing & bugging him), but I'm glad she is so enthusiastic about school.

She was ready for a snack (Raisin Bran cereal) as soon as she came home.

So how was my first day with just me & Ben?  I still don't know--Callum was sick & stayed home on Monday, & Zane was sick today (Tuesday) & was home all day.  I went to town today to get some shopping done.  Benjamin came with me, and it wasn't nearly as "bad" as I thought it would be.   I guess shopping with just 1 child isn't nearly that bad (it's just been a long, long, long, time since that has happened).

1st Day of School--for 3 Children

Okay--I'm just a tad-bit slow.  School started on Wednesday (Aug. 25th) and I'm just now (Thursday night) getting around to posting the kids' "1st Day of School " pictures

9th grade (yikes--a Freshman)

Brienna was up bright and early (looking mighty cute) ready for early morning seminary.  I drove her to the church at 6:30 am (yes--that was a bit earlier than I have been getting up all summer!!)

Zane is in 7th grade.  Our middle school has 6th-8th grade, so he wasn't nervous about school.

He finally gave me a "real" smile (after a bit of teasing).  His reply when asked how his first day went:   "Awesome!!!!!!!!"

My little baby Callum (ooh--he is going to be mad at me for saying that) is now in 4th grade.

He has a brand-new teacher (new to the school, fresh out of college & 1st year teaching).  She told the class that she is 22 years old (almost a baby herself!!!)

He was excited for a new school year.  I love his wonderful smile.  It was wonderful (and a bit sad at the same time) that he no longer needs me to "stay for a little" during the first few days (or weeks) of school. 

I remember how hard Kindergarten was for him--I stayed one to 2 hours a day, until almost Christmas that year.  Each year I stayed for shorter amounts of time, and not as many days, until last year.  I only stayed until school actually started.

But this year--if I didn't want a picture of him by his classroom door, I would NOT have needed to even go to school!

Now Emmalee's first day of Kindergarten is Monday (Aug. 30th).  So I will be posting pictures of her.  She is too excited, and would have loved to have gone to school already.

I am a little torn about what I am going to do with her this year--let me explain.  Our school is on a 4-day school week, so the kids go Monday thru Thursday, from 8 am to about 4 pm.  Which is a long day for anyone, but even longer if I let Emmalee stay the whole day for Kindergarten.  Our Kindergarten is officially "half-day" (8 am to 1:30 pm and they eat lunch at noon).  But we have a grant that allows the kids to stay to the end of the day.  They have P.E. from 1:35 to 2:05, and then other activities (enrichment & "fun") the rest of the day. 

I'm just not sure if she will be too tired (and cranky) if she stays all day.  (I can go and pick her up anytime after 1:30, so she could just stay for P.E.).  But then Rusty asked me if she is helpful at home.  I told him, "She helps tease Benjamin!"  Really she can be helpful at times, and does play with Benjamin for 5 minutes at a time, but a lot of the time she is bugging & pestering him.

So our plan:  try the full day for a week or 2, and then if it isn't working, cut back a couple of days (Monday, Wednesday) or pick her up after P.E.

I'll let you know how it works.

By the way:  we (our family, kids, teachers, community) LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the 4-day school week!!!  I enjoy having the 3 day weekend all the time.  It makes up for the long school days.

It's been a BUSY Summer!!!!

I must say I've been a slacker--not blogging all summer!!  I plan on re-capping our summer once school starts & I get back to a more "normal" routine.

It's our County Fair this weekend.  Zane has been helping a classmate with an extra lamb.  He showed it last night at the fair & earned a Blue Ribbon.

Almost every morning & evening he has helped catch, feed & walk the lamb.

This was his first time showing an aminal at the fair.

I am so proud of him!!

Here he is holding the lamb as the judge checks & judges the lamb.

The Clark Co. 4-H lambs.