Finishing up...

Daisy the Dog

Delaney got Daisy for the whole weekend...she is the class pet.  She had to take pictures with her and write about their journey together and then share it with her class.  We had a fun-filled weekend with her!  She went to Family Promise and even saw Mrs. Doyle at church!

Ebinport Thanksgiving lunch

Delaney's class

I got a sneak peak inside Delaney's Spanish class today!!!!

Big brother support

First Day of School

The first day of school was much easier this year on me...I loved seeing them walk in together...I will miss having Delaney with me though.  She was good the first day, then the first few weeks she got upset about going some.  She cried the first 3-4 days, and then when I stopped taking her and Blake walked her down it was easier on her.  She got worn out by 12 though and would cry at lunch some, I think her brain was just tired and it emotionally exhausted her.  She loves school, but in a bitter sweet way in the beginning.

Blake walked right in to first grade and was good to go!

Kindergarten

I got a sneak peak into Blake's classes today...

Artist

Our artist!  We purchased his first piece of art tonight at the art show!  it's beautiful!

Kindergarten

Love these kids in Blake's class this year!  A great group of kids

Snow Day!

The snow started during school...

So I loaded up the sick girl and went to get Blake...

And outside they went...

Lilli Jane wanted to join so bad, so we found a way for her to play with heat inside...

We took her out for a few minutes just for a picture...

And she discovered how tasty snow was...

Back inside, medicine was wearing off...

100th Day of School

Lots of kids

Today was a half day for the school district so I helped out a couple friends and had extra kids during the day.  

 I picked up the big kids, Blake, Callie, and Sadie at 11, then off to get Delaney and Lilli Jane at 11:45 from preschool.

We all piled in the car and went to Chick-Fil-A with Coalson, Peyton, and his friend for lunch.

Later, just before art class, Brandy and the twins came over to play, Lilli Jane thought she'd potty train Mallory.  They both tried.

Daisy

Mrs. Doyle has a class pet, Daisy the dog.  Blake had her today on a super busy day so Daisy got to do everything with him, homework, playing with friends, Art Class, basketball game, basketball practice, and being put to bed by a baby-sitter.  I think they both will sleep well after that busy of a day!

Blake's friends

I go volunteer with Blake's class on Fridays, so I have started to take some pictures to put on Facebook for the other parents to see.  This shows you a glimpse of what his class looks like, more hispanics than not.  He enjoys being friends with so many different people.  I love this immersion class, it's been the best choice we could have made for him!

Espanol

Blake is anxious each day about going to Sra. Kiker's class, so I watched through the one way glass office window today for a little while.  He seemed fine, but I sure didn't know what she was saying.  She is so energetic and happy about teaching, she is fun and active with them, I wish I could have gotten a clearer picture of them today, but I enjoyed my time watching them sing and repeat words.

School

Blake is settling in to Kindergarten with walking in to school alone and homework! This was exciting at our house, much anticipated homework by all!

 

Blake's first day

The first day of Kindergarten for Blake went pretty much as expected.  We have been preparing this week with a verse fromt he Bible, Joshua 1:9, "Remember that I commanded you to be strong and brave, so don't be afraid.  The Lord your God will be with you everywhere you go (including Kindergarten)."  We had "meet the teacher" last night.  We dropped the girls off at the grandparents for a spend the night party and went to Red Bowl, just the three of us.  Then off to Ebinport!  He didn't seem nervous or scared at all with mom and dad by his side.  He enjoyed being there, showing only shyness when spoken to, but he did speak some.  We saw some familiar faces and he met a few kids in the "blue group", which is his class.  Mrs. Doyle was first and we found his red folder with his info in it and a bag of popcorn they gave him, he held it all night!  Then we visited Sra. Kiker and she was FULL of energy, but no English of course.  He held my hand and hid behind my leg some when being spoke to.  But as we approached the book center he let go and found comfort picking them up and seeing what was there in each class.  We left by visiting the specials classes, he is VERY excited about PE, and a last stop by the cafeteria, where Kevin signed me up for PTO (like they wouldn't have found me).  We read several books before bed and tucked him in with a reminder of his verse we learned this week, he said it by himself!!  

This morning at 6:30 I woke his as promised, his first thought was, "I don't want to go to school.  I want to stay here."  The nerves kicked in.  A few tears and hugs and we headed downstairs with him riding on my back.  He had eggs and rasin toast.  While I prepared the eggs he curled up in daddy's lap where they talked about how daddy was nervous too, even though it's his 35th 1st day of school.  It's ok to be nervous and it's everyone will be.  

They hugged some and then we ate breakfast, just the three of us.  As we took a picture with daddy before he left, he handed him a golfball marker to put in his pocket.  He showed him that he had one too, so when he got nervous during the day they could both reach in their pockets and rub it knowing they were thinking about each other.  

Blake and I finished breakfast with reading "Baxter's Bunch".  He brushed his teeth and jumped in the car with his lunchbox and book bag.  

On the way to school he started talking and I said, "I can't hear you".  He said "I'm just saying my verse to myself" and I hear him say, "Remember, I commanded you to be brave and strong, so do not be afraid.  The Lord your God is with you everywhere you go."

The traffic at Ebinport was crazy because all were parking and walking the kids in to school.  We got lucky and found a place, and as we were getting out of the car I gave him a big hug and kiss in case I couldn't when we got in.  Then we got to say good morning to Coach Beard as we walked across the crosswalk.  We went staright to his class and Mrs. Doyle's smiling face was the first one we saw.  She thanked him for his bag of treats he left last night and told him to get a book out of the wagon and find a seat.  He went right there without telling me bye, so I went to him and kissed him/hugged him from behind.  He turned around almost scared, but I pushed him back to the wagon of books and he found a familiar one, The Foot Book.  Then he was walking down the hall looking for a spot as I turned and walked away.

When I finally got to the car the tears started to flow, I think because he didn't need me or an extra hug or a hold of my leg, not because he's growing up, I'm over excited about that!

In the afternoon it was fun to go through my first ever car line.  Delaney loves it too.  There he was, this big school in the background, and little Blake waiting in front.  

He came home and hung his bookbag up, hoping for homework, but had a while to wait on that.