First & Last of Kindergarten.

28 May 2015

You know we've been busy with four kids when it's already been almost a month since school got out and I am just now getting around to this post.  In any case, the last 9 months were very eventful for all of us...including for Brie who completed Kindergarten.  You never did an official preschool yet you jumped right in to full day Kindergarten and excelled  It was so fun to see how much you have grown up and learned.  You've learned how to do the monkey bars, talk a little eat a lot during lunch, make friends, raise your hand, listen, follow instructions, add and subtract, take brain breaks & dance, line up, be helper of the day, and do show 'n tell.   The most notable change being that you started Kindergarten knowing your alphabet and now can read all by yourself AND you've been writing up a storm. It was magical to watch that transformation!   Like Mrs. Kauten mentioned, you like to do things really well and it has shown in your school work and here at home.  Congrats, Bug, on all you've accomplished this year.  First grade, here Brie comes!

According to Motorola, 5.

Life leading up to Aimee's birth...

Trying to get one-on-one time with my little man.

McTeacher Night at McDonald's.  We went so you could say hi to Mrs. Kauten, and all shared a large fries.

Dad strumming up a song to teach fire safety to the cub scouts.

European pique nique for Dad & Me.

New King bed (thanks Mom & Dad) and comforter set in the guest room.  Come visit!

You boys listening to classical music.

Centers in Brie's class.

Alex helping his little brother get a drink.

Windblown look.

Alex helping me to frost our carrot cake.

You kids have sweetly been bringing me dandelions :0)

Reading a book with Roo.

Brie at our Spring Celebrations dinner.

Dad using the vacuum to suck up things that had fallen behind the oven.

Lij, Dad & I didn't end up being able to do a big brother date with you before Aimee was born, BUT I did have a morning with you all to myself.  We went to the library, to the post office (where you found tiny treasures) then I took you to Petco to see the animals :0)

Beautiful Brie.

Balloons from my baby shower and a laundry basket full of cute PINK baby girl paraphernalia :0)

almost 38 week baby bump.

We finally got our closet cleaned out and organized!

Alex trying on Dad's glasses.

You kids have been playing "puppy dogs" lately...here is Brie's doggy bed.

Alex initiating his new-to-him umbrella.

An impromptu indoor picnic for lunch.

Roo snuggling Dad after work.

Brie's first official time to the dentist.

Alex doing his thing at Occupational Therapy.

38 weeks, 2 days.  The last baby bump picture that I got, 4 days before Aimee's surprise birthday.  

A cute little story that reminded me of Tiff and her soon-to-be-born little guy.

Brie helped me prep stuff for Alex's birthday.

You boys are so cute, especially when you're being sweet to each other.

Centers and Earth Day.

Waffle bar after my Stake Primary Training.

Kindergarten Christmas Concert.

8 December 2014

 

 Brie's Christmas concert started at 6:30 and Dad, being the smart man that he is, suggested that 

he stay home with the boys and get them to bed instead of dealing with the inherent meltdowns.  So you & I set off for Normal Community High School.  I of course had to snap a bunch of pictures of you looking so adorable in your new red skirt.  Becky, joined me in the audience and we both got such a kick out of your concert.  The songs were entertaining and what's better than almost a hundred CUTE kindergartners singing?!

(a picture with you & Dad afterwards)

5th graders are too loud.

Brie, your first week of school went really well til Friday.  You were eating your lunch when I came to pick you up because apparently your stomach hurt at lunch time, you missed us and wanted to come home :0( On the short drive home you asked how many more years of school you had.  I didn't have the heart to tell you the truth (LOTS) so I told you "several."  You replied, "that's too many."  And went on to tell me how you missed being at home and felt like you didn't have time to do anything with us anymore.  I emphasized that the weekends were filled with fun family time, but this morning you needed a lot of convincing to go back to school.  When Dad & I asked you why you didn't want to go back you said that the 5th graders were too loud at lunch, you missed being with us and you couldn't do monkey bars like Eden.  Today seemed to go better and although I miss you too each day, I hope you can see all the fun things about Kindergarten.

BIG First Day!

What have I been doing during nap time this week now that Brie's in school?  BLOG!  It's been good to catch up...and even better to keep my mind off of Brie.  It is hard that we now have such limited time with her during the week :0(  Our current one-on-one time is after the boys go to bed.  I sit next to her on her bed, she dictates the events of her day and I jot them down in her little journal.  It's been a nice chance to get a few more details out of her about her day and it's nice to just be her & me for a few quiet minutes.

Needless to say that it is nap time and I thought I'd blog about Brie's BIG first day in Kindergarten!  

First off it was really fun getting you ready for school, Brie.  Although the school supply shopping at Walmart was exhausting for you, Alex and me, we both had SO much fun sprucing up your wardrobe with several items from Target.  And we loved piecing together different outfits and hanging them up for easy picking during the school week.  The night before school started you got your promised bubble bath in our big tub.  You were in heaven :0)  Afterwards, we laid out your outfit then I did a pretend "sleepover"...got in my jammies and snuggled with you for a little bit before giving you a final squeeze.  You had a hard time falling asleep that night, but Monday morning you were up by 6AM and in our room around 6:15 to show us how you were all dressed and ready for the day.  I figured that we might as well take advantage of the extra time so we came downstairs and did a mini-photo shoot.  You were so bright-eyed, bushy-tailed and excited...but yawning between poses ;0)  

This is one of my favorite shots.  How cute are you?!  Our little kindergartner, our sweet Brie!

After breakfast, getting your lunch and bags of school supplies, all five of us headed over to Grove Elementary.  Mrs. Kauten handed us an instruction sheet, we found your desk (Briana Graden) and I helped you deposit your various supplies around the room and you checked them off the list.  You got a  few first day of school pictures (just you then one with the whole fam, taken by Mrs. Kauten's mom).  At that point the whole group watched "Kissing Hand" on the smart board then it was time for final hugs and to say goodbye.  None of us cried, I think I did all of my crying Sunday night, and you seemed so capable and comfortable there.  Maybe in part because of all of the times you've visited Aunt Emmie's class.  I was glad not to worry about that.  

After school the boys and I navigated the very full parking lot and picked you up.  You were so nonchalante and seemed like this whole school business was a piece of cake and normal.  

I did a special back-to-school dinner (for you and Dad) then we drove over to Carl's for ice cream.  While there you started getting phone calls from people (Bompa & Mémé, Aunt Emmie, Aunt Rachie, Grammie Ruth) wondering how your first day had been.  I don't think you quite understood why, so I told you that your first day of Kindergarten is a BIG deal...it's almost like a holiday except it only happens once in your life!  It really is a BIG First Day!

After the first day you barely said what you did, maybe because it was too much to process.  Thankfully as the week has gone on you've been a little more verbal about what you've been doing at school.  I still wish I could just be a fly on the wall.  I miss you here at home, but I know it's time for you to spread your wings.  I love you SO much Brie and am glad that no matter where life takes you, you will always be my daughter.  I'm glad we can share the journey!