End of the Year Party!

I just realized I never shared Gavin's special end-of-the-year party pics!  We had a beautiful day to spend at a local park and splash park and of course, I was so excited that Riley and I were able to attend.  She even lasted almost the whole time!

 

There was a toss game set up for them to play.  I just loved seeing the competitive side of Gavin come out just a little bit with his friends.  Mrs. R even commented on it.  The look on his face when they won was priceless. 

 

Still so little...

Being silly with the hula hoops!

We had a picnic lunch before walking over to the splash park.  The kids all had pizza, which they just loved!

Gavin around his school friends certainly is another Gavin!  I wasn't sure how the splash park would go because he's never been a huge fan in the past, but he LOVED it and had so much fun.  Turning 6 sure has brought about a new personality for this kid, and I love how brave he's being now!

We even got a surprise visit from Daddy!

Honestly, we couldn't have asked for a better day.  All of the teachers and parents did a great job making it a memorable event for these special kindergarteners.  We've enjoyed our year so much and I can't wait for more memories next year!

Kindergarten Celebration

Kindergarten Celebration!!  Wow!  This year flew by.  I feel like I just found myself on the couch late at night, crying because my baby was growing up and I'd see him less through the week than his teacher did....and now I find myself up at night, crying because this year flew by and he's already SIX and, according to him, practically a first grader.  Seriously, time....SLOW DOWN!  I'm not enjoying your speed at the moment.

His program was so sweet.  I was shocked that he never talked about being nervous beforehand.  This is the kid that cried when his class had to lead the Rise and Shine program back in August and he didn't want to be on stage.  Boy, has he come a long way!  Was he overly photogenic?  No.  Will he be our drama club member?  Ha!  But he did great and we were so proud to see him up on stage.

Of  course, thanks to his awesome size, we had a great view of him.  Front row, baby!  And, he got to sit right next to his best bud, Gunner.

The program started with a slideshow, that {of course!} brought me to tears.  So many sweet memories during his kindergarten year! They sang a few songs, and in between songs, each class was introduced one by one and the kids got to do a little wave.

It was nothing elaborate - no cap and gowns, no handshaking...it was a simple celebration of all the hard work they put into their full year in elementary school!  Such a huge accomplishment and they have so much of which to be proud.

 

We had a great year with Mrs. R!  I love how she said she 'had Gavin pegged' from Day One and knew his personality style.  She worked with him to get him to stand up for himself; he learned some tough lessons this year.  He went from a beginning reader to reading chapter books and testing at a third grade level.  He can do multiplication!  He seriously amazes us...and we couldn't be more proud.

He says his favorite thing about kindergarten was getting away from his crazy sister.  I can only imagine what they're going to do to each other during their six weeks away from school!  Little Sister, though she got bored through the program and took out her braids, is really proud of you, too.  We all love you so much, Gavin Jack. 

Leprechaun Fun!

Last week, Jarrod, Riley, and I headed to school with Gavin to watch his Rise and Shine program because Gavin was getting recognized for reaching his Accelerated Reader goal.

Go Gavin!

Unfortunately, while he was waiting for the assembly to end, his St. Patrick's Day necklace somehow broke, so he was in tears when it was time to take his picture....this was the best I could get!

Afterwards, Jarrod headed to work and Riley and I stayed at school to have some St. Patrick's Day fun!  A leprechaun visited and left some gold behind so the kids got to search for it!

We headed inside and did some fun dancing to some Irish music in the cafeteria.  I love how Riley just wants to be with her brother when we're at the school and he doesn't mind one bit that she tags along.  Such a good big brother!


It was a fantastic morning spent in kindergarten with my favorite little boy.  Being at school with him makes me so happy - I'm such a lucky mommy that I get to stay home with these amazing kids.  Thank you, Jarrod, for making that possible!

Such a good student!

We are so proud of our little man!  It's doubly rewarding to see report cards and have conferences with Mrs. R - I can't help but smile with pride as both his mommy and a teacher.

It was back in August that Gavin picked up his very first book and read it to me cold....a brand new book we received in the mail that he'd never seen before and he mastered it.  Fast forward to the end of January when we were informed that he tested at a 3rd grade/3rd month reading level!  Seriously?!?!  And, on one of the standardized tests that he was given, he scored in the mid 800s; the scale goes up to 900 for the end of third grade.  So proud!

He's also coming out of his shell a lot at school and making great friends.  Pokemon is a new fascination for him.  He insists we get to school early every morning so he has time to swap cards with the boys.  It makes me laugh because I took away (and threw away!) so many Pokemon cards in the five years I taught.  Boys were always getting in trouble for playing with them instead of doing their work and I never did understand the appeal. Still don't.  But I do appreciate Jarrod trying to learn how to play so he can spend that time with Gavin in the evenings.  Right now, they just play their own version, but they'll start going to the library once a month for a 'Pokemon tutorial' soon.

He's also started Running Club. Every extra-curricular that has come home he has shown no interest in, but when Running Club was announced, he was eager to give it a try.  We got off to a rough start, though.  The very first day, which he was so looking forward to and counting down the days til, they wouldn't let him participate because I didn't complete the online registration for the race they'll be running in May.  I felt like the worst mom in the world when I pulled up to pick him up and he got in crying.  Day two we were all registered and I knew he'd be able to run.  I get there to pick him up to find him with his hand all wrapped up because he fell on his first lap and skinned the palm of his hand on the gravel.  But, since then, he's been doing great and even ran 1.5 miles last week!  On Friday, I picked him up and the lady doing the car line called his name as, 'Gavin Pate.  Our running star, Gavin Pate!' and then she turned her mic off and told me how much she loved running with him and said that from her time as a track coach, she really feels that Gavin has a natural gait and will be a really successful runner.  Our uncoordinated, clumsy kid that fell on his first time around the track???  :)  How exciting to hear!  I can't wait to go out on a run with him.

Of course, he's not the perfect child.  We need to work on his handwriting and get him to be more creative in his writing.  He has a lot more potential than the '...and...and....and' sentences he's been doing.  I'm trying to find ways to encourage him to do more creative thinking at home.

Overall, we're so excited with how his kindergarten year has gone and cannot believe we're only a few months away from it ending.  It's all downhill from here....I know each year is just going to feel like it goes faster and faster.

Moving to 'Green'

Gavin ran up to me after school yesterday in the car line, just as he always does, giving me a big hug before hopping up into his seat.  As soon as we started to drive away, he started telling me about his day, how his teacher was gone and they had a new substitute, not his usual one, and she wasn't his 'favorite.'  My mind flashed back to the subs we had in our building - some were amazing, and some you wondered why they even applied to be a sub.  I braced myself, wondering if I was going to hear a story about the latter, but instead he told me that she moved him to green, but he got to go back to the parking lot later.  Of course, he 'couldn't remember' why he had to move to begin with, but I was just proud of him for telling me about it.  The other time he had to move out of the 'parking lot' he never told me; his teacher ended up telling me about it a week later.  So much like me...afraid to tell me because he didn't want to get in trouble or for me to be upset with him!

A few hours later, I got an email from his teacher.  Another teacher had told her he was upset during the day, and she just wanted to check on him.  I told Gavin she was asking about what happened and that I really needed him to remember why he had to move to green so I could tell his teacher what happened.  That's when he shared that he hadn't turned in his morning work on time.  So, I replied to Mrs. R's email and explained what happened, reassuring her that he was fine and no longer upset.  Her response made me smile and I wanted to document it.
"Gavin is such a sweet kid!  He is a clone of a kid I had that is now in 3rd grade.  Super sweet, kind to everyone, super smart, but sometimes takes forever to get work done!"


It's been the only thing we've heard all year that he needs to work on - using his time wisely and finishing tasks.  Our little perfectionist takes forever to do his work!

Three weeks late...It's KINDERGARTEN Time!!

Can you believe that picture?  1st Day of Kindergarten??  So insane.  Just this past week I was cleaning out a closet and found his first birthday pictures from Portrait Innovations, and I started bawling.  I still remember getting those photos taken...I remember everyone commenting on what a smiley baby he was.  How did we already get to having a school aged child?!?!?  Ugh, there go the tears again.

So, on August 1, we hit that milestone...first day of kindergarten.  Gavin goes to a year round school, which is why he started so early.  I'm so excited about this schedule.  I love all the added breaks through the school year.

I, of course, couldn't sleep the night before, so I was up at 11 packing his lunch and getting things ready.  Daddy stayed home from work that morning, and after a special breakfast of biscuits and sausage (Gav's pick) we got ready and headed off to school.  I was feeling optimistic that we wouldn't have tears!

As soon as we pulled in and saw another child getting their picture taken by the school sign, I knew we had to do the same.  I remember getting my picture taken by the Kilgour sign each year.  A fun little tradition to continue on... 

 

We were there before they were allowing us to walk down to the classroom, as were a TON of people, so we waited in the crowded lunchroom for a little while.  Gavin got to see Uma, his friend from preschool, and we snapped a few pictures.

Then, it was time to head down.  You can tell by the look on his face that he was a little unsure of things.  He carefully put his things away and started on the work that was on his table.

And then, the tears started from some of his classmates.  Jarrod tried distracting a little girl at Gavin's table when she started crying as her mom left by talking about what was in their lunchboxes, and I headed over to ask Mrs. R a question.  The next thing I knew, I turned around and Jarrod was comforting Gavin as he cried.  We almost made it...

I knew we had to break away soon. I knelt down and hug Gavin, kissed his cheek and his hand (from The Kissing Hand) and told him he'd have a great day and to be brave.  I had to quickly turn around to exit as the tears came to my eyes.  I couldn't let him see me cry.  

Jarrod and I quickly made our way out of the room and ran into Miss Ashley in the hall.  She put her arm around me and comforted me, too, as we headed to the car.  It was a blessing in disguise that the pediatrician screwed up Riley's appointment earlier that week.  There was no time to be sad...I had to get my big girl to her well check.

After her appointment, we ran into Barnes and Noble for some new books to surprise Brother with, and headed home to make cookies.  New back to school tradition!

The car line was a shocking experience.  Until the traditional schools start, the year round school doesn't have full bus service, so there are a lot of added cars in line to pick up kids.  It was taking me about an hour to get through the line and pick up Gavin.   But seeing his smile as he ran up to me is worth the wait.  I love seeing him every afternoon.  I know someday, he won't run to me so happily...so I'm cherishing those moments.  I'm SO thankful that I get to stay home with the kids now.  Never ever thought it would be an option for us, but I'm so grateful that we make it work.

Three week update:  According to him, it's not quite what he was expecting, i.e. not as fun. :)  He was expecting a lot more play time, but sadly, kindergarten isn't about play time anymore.  He has a couple challenging students in his class, so we often hear stories about how he's had to deal with them through the day, but we're working on getting him to stand up for himself some more.  We're dealing with him coming home both exhausted and wanting to burn off energy.  It's a confusing time for him...he wants to play play play, but he's so tired that we have lots of meltdowns right now.  We make sure he naps on the weekends to help make up for the long week.  His teacher is really sweet - she had him pegged from day one.  She told me early on that she could tell he was a schedule-kid, and had to follow the rules.  I park and walk him into school two days a week.  The school wants us to utilize the drop off line, which I completely understand, but he really wants me to walk him in and there are usually tears on the days that I just pull into the drop off line.  So, two days a week was our compromise, and I have to admit, those two days are my favorite, too.  I love watching him walk down the hall.  His favorite part so far is music class, which surprised me.  He has two recesses a day, and he loves finding Uma on the playground to play with her.  {She's not in his class.}  I signed up to be one of the homeroom moms, and when I went in to meet with his teacher about a week and a half ago, she showed me one of his writings he did during Writer's Workshop and it just made my heart smile.  I was so proud of him.  I can't wait to see how far he comes this year.

Here's to a great year!

{Can you spot him?  Hint: He's the small one!}