F.D.O.S. x Three

How is it possible that "my three girls" have all started school?

Everyone was excited to start.  Sydney came downstairs last night at 11:00 and asked how many more hours she had to sleep until school started.

Jane and Sydney are in separate classes again this year.  Since they were separated last year, it seems like a non-issue.  They eat lunch at the same time, and they have recess together.

Jane had a great day.  She likes her teacher, and said she met a few new friends.  She also kept raising her hand tonight at home.  Guess the classroom rules really made an impression!

According to Sydney, she also had a great first day....minus some 'new shoe blisters.'  She has lots of neighborhood friends in her class, and she walked right in with no problem. 

My big second grader reported a good day as well!  The details from her day were slower to trickle out, and I think I will continue to hear about second grade throughout the week.

I am so thrilled everyone had a good day, and that everyone seems excited to go back tomorrow.  I am also so thrilled that I still have this little guy at home to keep me company!

'Twas The Night Before Kindergarten

Originally posted August 21, 2011.  Edited for my new kindergarteners!
 

 'Twas the night before kindergarten, and all through the house

the anticipation was building, in large amounts!

The backpacks were hung by the back door with care,

with lunchbox and snack and clothes to spare.

The students were nestled all snug in their beds, 

while visions of crayons danced in their heads.

With Mama a bit nervous, but excited as well

Hopeful the first day will really go swell.

Haircuts, new shoes, all checked off the list.

First day outfits are picked out and pressed!

P.E. and music, computers and art

And the girls so excited for the big day to start!

All day I will wonder about my little sidekicks,

How are they doing?  Which friends will they pick?

My girls are quite ready, for a while I've known,

It's just hard to think how fast they have grown!

Meet The Teacher

We met the teachers!  

The girls gave them all a big thumbs up! One more weekend until school starts!

The Summer of 2013

 Teacher cards came in the mail today, an event that tells me that the summer of 2013 is drawing to a close.  In the future, when I think back on this particular summer, I will remember a few things.

1.  High School Musical.  Even though we are about eight years behind the trend, I let my girls watch this movie last spring.  To say they liked it would be the biggest understatement of the year.  They, especially Clare, were obsessed with all things HSM this summer.  Obsessed, I tell you.

 

2.  The summer of 2013 also brought with it fun days at the pool again.  My girls are all good swimmers, and Graham wore his puddle jumper with no problem, so I was able to take them to the pool and actually enjoy being there.

3.  Messiness.  I found it virtually impossible to keep the house clean this summer.  The kids were always home!  They made messes faster than I could clean them up.  Maybe it's their ages, maybe is my lack of a good strategy, maybe it's both?

4. Painting!  Casey decided to paint the inside of our house, and while it is a slow project, he is doing a great job.  Trust me that he always has plenty of helpers.

 

5. We had two great family vacations this summer.  Sea World and Colorado were both fun escapes from the normal grind.

The summer of 2013 was a great one, but now it's time to sharpen our pencils and get ready for a new school year!

Colorado Chaos

Here comes a picture overload!  We joined LoLo, Pop, Nathan, Megan and Brody in our very familiar Colorado spot!

These five had themselves a big time!

The week is full of so many fun outdoor activities!

Raspberry picking,

forest exploring,

4 wheeling,

(which produced some interesting hair!)

rock collecting,

fishing,

 and enjoying a campfire picnic!

There was plenty of silliness throughout the week!  Oh my, the giggling!

Graham loved our trip!  He loves being outside, so this was a great week for him!

It was, as always, a fun trip.  Already looking forward to next year!

(I should note that any good picture on this post was taken by my talented sister-in-law, Megan!)

Jane

Jane is a sweet, compassionate girl. She is just so kind, and she is great with Graham.  She is so often such a helper around here.

Jane's curls are losing their "curliness" and settling more into a wavy style.  She has lost three teeth and has a loose one right now.  She has FINALLY stopped sucking her fingers.  Hallelujah!

Jane is excited about kindergarten in the fall.  She is going to play soccer (along with Sydney), and I think it will be fun to watch them!  She loves art, playing school/work/library/store/etc, and she loves her American Girl doll, Sarah.

She is a beautiful girl, inside and out.

Sydney

Here's the latest with Syd!  Her big news is that she FINALLY has a loose tooth.  She has been waiting for this for a while....ever since Jane lost her first.  Jane has now lost three, so you can imagine Sydney's delight when she finally made hers wiggle!  She is constantly messing with it and telling me it is ready to come out.

 She is equally thrilled about her new school shoes.  What says Sydney more than light-up zebra shoes?  And just like the rest of her, she has a tiny foot.  She is wearing a full two sizes smaller than Jane.

Sydney loves to swim, and we go to the pool quite often.  When Syd has been in the sun a lot, her freckles really come out.  I love her sweet freckels!

Sydney still loves her dolls, to play outside, friends, make-up, and adventure.  She loves it all!

This girl is one smart cookie, and I know that she will knock 'em dead in kindergarten.  She is going to love having friends around all day.  I just hope she doesn't love it so much that she forgets to listen!!!

Sydney makes life fun!  She has a magnetic personality, is a great conversationalist, and has a witty sense of humor.  I think we'll keep her!