A Preschool Graduate

We're already a month post-graduation, but it still gets me all teary eyed when I think about Riley finishing up her time at Tiny Tots preschool.  

She was so excited for me to straighten her hair the morning of her graduation and wear her new dress and jellies (which was the only time she wore them before Phoebe ate one...)  I remembered at the last minute to print off the 'Last Day of PreK' sign and get pictures just before we walked out the door.  Of course, Big Brother had to do some photobombing. 

We headed in and snapped some pictures with two very special ladies before school started.  I'm sure I've mentioned the story before, but Miss Tricia stepped in and took over the classroom in January after a sudden resignation by her teacher and it truly was the best thing that could have happened to our preschool 4s experience.  We are so thankful for her! She helped Riley find that love of learning that she seemed to be losing during the first half of the year.

And Miss Misty...oh, how can we ever thank Miss Misty enough?  She was Riley's teacher last year and made such a huge impact on her.  Riley hated leaving her classroom for a new teacher in her preK 4s class and missed Miss Misty terribly.  We were very grateful to have her as the new preschool director this year, and I hope that she is able to stay in our lives in some way over the years because she is such a special person.

 I learned my lesson with Gavin's preschool graduation program.  They cram a ton of people in the small classroom ad I knew I had to get there early, so I showed up about 30 minutes early and helped set up chairs so I could claim a front row seat.  While the kids were still getting ready and in their places, I got a sweet little gesture from my little BFF.  A couple years ago, we were going through a rough patch with an angry little girl, and these precious little moments remind me of how far we've come.

The program was a quick little recap of the school year with song songs and dancing (and eventually I'll get the videos on YouTube!).

And then, of course, there has to be a 'diploma'! 

Jarrod and I are so proud of this little spitfire.  She has grown up so much and is destined to do great things.  Deciding to send her to kindergarten was really tough on me, but I'm so excited to see where her new journey takes her. 

We love you so much, Riley Savannah!

School Parties!

Of course, you can't have the holidays without school parties!  Once again, I'm co-homeroom mom for Gavin's class...I just LOVE getting to be involved in his classroom, even if it does mean lots of extra work.  Thankfully, this year the kids had parties on different days, which is always helpful.  First up...Gavin!

Unfortunately, I was busy busy busy at his party, pouring hot cocoa at the hot chocolate bar, helping kids glue eyeballs to their ornaments, hanging wet ornaments to dry, checking on other groups, etc....so that means three pictures total.  Oh well...so fun.

Riley was such a trooper and so well behaved.  Love that she's been so welcomed by Gavin's teachers at ETE the last few years.  It's been very helpful and I'm so grateful.  Can't believe she'll be in elementary school next year. :(

And this is evidence that he's getting older - I can't take a selfie with him in his classroom without being photobombed or given bunny ears. ;)

Next up...Riley's turn!  Riley's Christmas program included a little program before playing some games, singing Happy Birthday to Jesus, doing secret gift exchange, and then doing the piñata!

Last year, Riley was Mary in the Christmas program; this year, she was an angel and was very much in love with her costume.  And as you can see, she was quite dramatic when I tried taking her picture.

She looked so adorable.  You can watch the clips from the program on our YouTube page.

www.youtube.com/mrspate22

We've had some issues this year we're continuing to work through socially, but she sure did have fun at her party! :)

Hadley, Riley, and Kennedy....Riley and Jack

What an exhausting couple of days, but so worth it all!  I love seeing their smiles.  Can't believe how big they're both getting.

First Days of School

Another school year is {well} underway {slacker mom...} so it's time to finally share first day of school memories.  The night before 2nd grade started for this guy, I had to prove to him that mama could still carry him around, so a piggyback ride in to brush teeth was in order! 

He picked out his first day outfit and it was very fitting for him - Gavin practically lives in athletic shorts, t-shirts, and knee high socks.  Isn't he handsome?

I love that Jarrod goes into work late on the first day and can head to school with us.  We didn't get our traditional first day of school pics with mom and dad, but that's ok...I'm sure that tradition wouldn't have lasted much longer anyway considering how little he even acknowledged we were there.  I can see him telling us to just use the carline next year. :(

Just like old times....he settled right in with friends while waiting to be dismissed to the classrooms.  I love seeing him with his friends.  

We're excited to have Ms. Behnke this year.  We've heard so many wonderful things about her and I know it's going to be a great year.  {First quarter is quickly coming to an end and Gavin's in the process of being evaluated for the Gifted and Talented program, so that's a good sign of a great year!}

After dropping him off, Little Miss and I got started on his back to school chocolate chip cookies!  And thankfully, his books I ordered for his first day gift arrived just in time...they were on the porch when I got home from picking him up. 

The back-of-the-school car line is new to us this year since he's a big second grader now!  And I'm not enjoying it....it's so much more congested.  Boo.  

He had a great first day, and of course, picked lettuce wraps for dinner that night {which he technically eats in a tortilla...but still.}

Fast forward a month later, and finally it was time for Little Sister to go to school.  We had quite the meltdown a few days before school started.  Riley was READY to go back to school and she wasn't happy that it wasn't her first day yet.  Ironically, her first day happened to fall on the Friday before Labor Day {which was strange} and that meant that Gavin had the day off and Jarrod actually took the day off, too!  We had a fun family day.

Riley's been working on growing her bangs out since June, and we're finally making some progress.  She was really excited to wear this new outfit Mimi sent her. 

Mommy braided her hair to match Riley...hard to tell in the picture though.  She loved showing Daddy where she would have Jitterbugs before we headed to her classroom.

She was very quick to find something to do in her classroom.  I thought I finally convinced her to take a picture with her teacher, Miss Cindy, but now I can't seem to find it on my computer.  I'll keep looking...  She's enjoying her school year, but really misses her teacher from last year.

The three of us came back home and I got her cookies ready while Daddy and Gavin took Phoebe out for a walk.  We ran a couple errands, and then picked Riles up and headed out to a special family lunch of her choice - pizza!

When we got home, she was excited to find her cookies and new books.  We love Doc McStuffins these days. :)  She also showed me the self-portrait she made so that I could look at it while she's at school if I start to miss her.  Sweet girl.

I love that these kiddos love school so much....just like their mama!