Wordless Wednesday- End of Year Kindergarten Class Party Photo Booth

Last Day of Kindergarten!

Whew! We made it!! Our little Kindergartner has flourished and bloomed, this year! She's reading like a pro, now, and her handwriting has improved! She's made friends and she's learned to work with others. We could not have asked for a better teacher to introduce her to reading and a lifelong love of learning!

Now, it's time for summer fun!! Woohoo!

Wordless Wednesday- Field Trip!

100 Days of School- 100 Days Smarter!

"It's a bird, it's a plane, no, it's SUPER-100-DAYS-SMARTER Katy!!!"

Katy's Super cape- with her name on it 100 times!

It's hard to believe, but our  Lil' Miss has been in Kindergarten for 100 whole days! 

She is growing and learning and becoming more an more independent each day! She's learning to add and subtract. She is consistently reading at a C/D reading level. She's making new friends and she's more and more becoming the her own person! We have been so, so, SO blessed with her teacher, Mrs. Mitchell. Mrs. Mitchell has been kind and caring and loving (pretty much whatever you would envision a perfect Kindergarten teacher to be ;-). 

We are so proud of Katy's achievements both academically and socially!!

When I am 100 years old.... "I will have a bunny. I will marry Connor. We will have a boy."

Zippy the Zebra

On Friday, Katy came home with the class pet, Zippy the Zebra. Each week, a different student is selected to bring Zippy home for the weekend and then document her adventures through pictures/drawings/writing. Katy was SO.EXCITED (!!!) to bring Zippy home, this past weekend!!

On Friday afternoon, Zippy helped the family decorate the Christmas tree. While we had trekked up to the mountains, last weekend for our perfect Christmas Tree, we hadn't gotten around to decorating it, yet.... that is, until this weekend!! Zippy was very helpful in decorating the bottom portion of the tree! ;-P

Friday evening, we went to PSRES Mistletoe Madness craft show to support my sew sister, Natailie and The Sassy Pumpkin. We ran into classmate, Shelby, while there.

Zippy joined us at church, Saturday evening. She even got to go to EKids with Katy!

After church, we went to Chick-Fil-A for dinner. Zippy ordered a kids meal and gobbled it right up!

...and, because I couldn't help myself, I sewed up (with the help of Lil' Miss, of course ;-) a hat and scarf for Zippy. While Zippy certainly didn't need the scarf and hat this weekend with our unseasonably warm weather (72 degrees in mid-December!), we hope she'll get some use out of it later this winter.

Last, but not least, Zippy and Samantha went to Breakfast with Santa at the American Girl Store! (We had already had this planned long before Zippy came home with Katy.) I'm not sure what Zippy asked Santa for- she's not telling! ;-P

 

Katy had lots of fun with her class pet, Zippy, this past weekend!

Kindergarten Christmas Program and Party

Last Friday, Lil' Miss had her Kindergarten  Christmas program, followed by her class Christmas party.

First, everybody assembled in the gym for the program. It took a bit of coordination (and patience!) to get 120+ Kindergarten students up on the stage but they finally made it! Then, the students proceeded to serenade us (the proud parents) with at least a dozen holiday songs. Katy sure sang her heart out!!

Lil' Miss was also one of the six students selected to act out a snowman poem She was snow woman #5. She did a great job getting in front of the big audience of parents and doing her part with viver!

After the program, it was party time!!

Now, I should note that I am room parent for Katy's kindergarten class, this year. So, I was in charge of setting up, coordinating and organizing Mrs. Mitchell's Christmas party. It was no small feat- but it was a lot of fun and turned out pretty cute (if I do say so, myself ;-).

Welcome to the North Pole!

The theme of the party was The Polar Express. I came in the afternoon before to decorate the classroom in all things Polar Express (hubby's job sure came in handy in all aspect of planning this party!! ;-). We had a Lionel Polar Express train running throughout the party. We had the movie soundtrack playing in the background throughout the party. We had various Polar Express branded flags, mats and printables decorating the room.

The Polar Express

While the students were coming back from the program, Ted donned a conductor's hat, pocket watch and handed out "tickets" (ie "Believe" stickers that I purchased from Oriental Trading) to each passenger (ie student). As soon as the children got into the room, Ted read the Polar Express to the children from an oversized Polar Express book.

After storytime, the children lined up for their special snack of doughnut holes, muffins, fruit and cheese. The best part of snack time was the hot chocolate bar (but of course!)!!

Table Decorations

While the kids ate, I explained the crafts (that the children could complete at their leisure). We made reindeer antler hats, picture frames (thanks to Mrs. Mitchell taking each student's picture ahead of time!), and a Christmas card. Before the party, I went ahead and divided up all the supplies and put each students supplies in a large baggie and placed it at their desk (Type A, much?!).

Craft Time!

Everything went smoothly and I believe that all the students had fun!! All of the pre-planning and preparation paid off. We ended the party with a class picture in their reindeer antler hats.

Oh, and each student got to take home a great goody bag full of fun Polar Express themed items and most importantly, a silver bell!

Kindergarten Field Trip to Lazy 5 Ranch

Ready to feed the animals!

Petting the giraffes.

Katy's first elementary school field trip was to the Lazy 5 Ranch! I also tagged along as a class chaperone. Lil' Miss has been to the Lazy 5 Ranch several times, before. However, she had just as much fun this time, as she has in the past. She had no hesitations or reservations going up to the animals and feeding/petting them. Such a difference from the first time (years ago) we visited and she wanted nothing to do with the animals!

The kids had a blast riding the horse-drawn wagons through the ranch and visiting the petting area. After we were done with the animals and after a very thorough hand scrubbing (!!), the kids ate their packed lunches and played (aka, ran off all that energy!) on the playground. 

It's pretty great to be a kindergartner....! :-)

Mommy and Katy selfie!

Mystery Reader

Mrs. Mitchell's Class Quilt 2015-2016

Back in October, I had the opportunity to read to Katy's class as a "mystery reader." I chose to read one of my childhood favorites, The Berenstain Bears, Mama's New Job. In the book, Mama Bear turns her hobby- quilting- into a new quilt shop! 

After I read aloud, I led the class in a simple craft- a class quilt. Each student created a quilt square with their name and their own personal illustration. Then, a few weeks later (some of the students were absent the day that I was a mystery reader), I turned the squares into a class quilt. I'm not much of  a quilter, but I think it turned out pretty cute! (If I do say so myself! ;-)

I love how each student chose to illustrate their own square. There were zebras (class mascot), stick figures, hearts, rainbows and more! So fun! Katy's is the square with the pink heart (third row down, third column over).

Mrs. Mitchell's Class Quilt 2015-2016

Sentence of the Day- 210

Counting by 10s

I posted the above picture a couple of weeks ago for a Wordless Wednesday. Katy's teacher had emailed the picture to me to show how us well Katy was doing counting by tens. Well, ever since that, Katy will use that number (210) as the end-all-be-all number.

For example, Katy will exclaim that she, "...loves My Little Ponies 210!" Aka, she loves them ALOT!.

Or, she'll grumble that Saturday chores will, "....take FOREVER!! Like, 210 minutes!!" Aka, chores will take FOREVER!

My personal favorite, though, is when she tells me that she, "...loves me 210!" Which, in my book, is better than infinity, better than, "to the moon and back!"

Wordless Wednesday- Counting by Tens

Wordless Wednesday- Lunch with Daddy!

Sentence of the Day-School Lunch

Katy bought her lunch for the first time at school, today. It was pizza day and she had been looking forward to going through the cafeteria line like a big kid ALL WEEK!! When I asked her how it was she replied very matter-of-factly, "Well, I won't be doing that again! The pizza was pretty yucky." Hahaha...!

She quickly followed up with, "Maybe I'll try the hamburgers, next time. Even though I know they don't serve onions."

That kid. She makes me smile. Even when she isn't trying.

Sentence of the Day- "Hello, My Name Is...."

We were sitting around the dinner table this evening, asking Katy how her day went. Katy was talking about her table-mates (Her class sits at tables of five or six students, opposed to individual desks). Specifically, she was talking about one little girl that sits beside her. In an effort to learn more about Katy's new world at Kindergarten, Ted interjected and asked Katy what her new friend's name was.

Seriously and straight-faced, she answered, "I don't know. That's not her name- 'I don't know.' I guess I'll have to ask her tomorrow." She didn't even crack a smile at her own joke/play on words.

Ted and I, on the other hand, just about died of laughter! Hahaha...!

First Day of Kindergarten- The Sappy Version

First Day of Kindergarten, August 27, 2015

Today was Katy's first day of kindergarten. It was her first "real" day of school adventures, memories and the start of a lifetime filled with learning.

It was her first day- the precipice of something new and (hopefully!) exciting! She was so confident and excited boarding the big, yellow school bus- just like a big kid! The world is her stage and she is ready to charge full-speed ahead!

She is ready; So ready! She is so smart and so perceptive! Her mind is hungry and fertile for learning. Her vocabulary, alone, rivals that of some adults- truly! I cannot wait to see and bear witness to all of the growth and development that will most-assuredly occur over the course of the next ten months.

Today was  my first day, too, though. You see, it was my first day of the beginning of learning to let go.... Of giving up complete control and handing her off to multiple capable hands.... Of depending on others for the fate of my daughter- our one precious possession that was never really our's to keep in the first place... Faces and names that I have not yet met, let alone carefully screened, observed and/or observed..! All in the name of creating a whole village of learning. Life lessons, book learning and everything in between.

Five and a half short years- gone in the blink of an eye! Yet, so much pure, raw love, effort, sacrifice and HARD WORK to get us to this point in time. Oh, those long, sleepless nights...! Lost sleep is just the beginning, though... I fear- nay, I'm am SURE!- that there will be more sleepless nights in the future as Katy grows up and hits each tangible and intangible milestone. Her first sleepover, learning to drive, first date, first heartbreak, college and God willing, marriage, babies and more!!

Five and a half short years to pump everything possible into our little girl to make sure that she is ready to meet and greet the big, wide world. A world that isn't always kind. A world that isn't always nice. A world that may teach my child about subjects that I may not necessarily want her delving into (right now- or ever!). A world that doesn't always make sense- even to my adult self, let alone a child!

Five and a half years short years to be her first and primary teacher. Manners, social graces, playing nicely with others... Respect and kindness... Letters, colors, numbers and words.... Books, books, books and more books....! Teach them young. Be consistent. Teach your child your family's values, or the world will do it for you.

Five and a half years to go from helpless infant to strong, confidant Kindergartener; ready to meet the challenges ahead! What if she struggles to fully understand an academic concept? What about bullies? How will she handle the long school days? Homework- how will I deal with homework in our seemingly, already full schedule?

Five and a half years and she still seems like a baby to me. In fact, she is my baby. She seems so small, surrounded by those older, rowdier children. She seems so young, and so immature when compared to those around her, pushing, scrambling and racing around the playground...

Five and a half years and a million and one emotions tumbling around inside me. Blogger Mama by the Bay says it best in here post,  "Dear New Kindergarten Mom."

Look out, World, here comes our beautiful, kind, intelligent, strong Katy Grace!!

May she be mighty and kind, empathetic and perceptive.

May she be hungry for knowledge, and thirsty for more. More trips to the library and less trips down the road of doubt and worry. Never be afraid to learn more (New subject, New concept, New hairstyles or trends).

May she be strong enough to stand up for what she believes, yet intuitive enough to know when to back down. There is a time and a place to be right. There is also a time and a place to be kind and graceful.

May she feel loved and be love. May she be the hands and feet of Jesus to those who need it most. May she never forget or lose sight of what is important. Faith is important. Love is important. Always.

May she always know that her father and I will always have her back. Also, know that we will never stop worrying and loving her. Late nights, difficult days... We.are.family.

May she know how and when to laugh, but also appreciate a good cry (and a pint of Ben and Jerry' s.)

May she have a reason to get dressed up and feel beautiful both inside and out. Beautiful for who she is, not what the world dictates. Yet, still not be afraid to get her hands dirty- To work with her hands, to create beauty and see the beauty in the world around her.

May she ask more of herself and more of those around her. She is worth it.

May she not be afraid to say, "No." May she not hesitate to say, "Yes!" Yes to opportunity, yes to friendship, fellowship and love.

May she savor life to it's fullest and not shy away from what is hard (hard to do, hard to say, hard to be and become.)

May she remember where she came from- that she will always be our little girl. May she be hopeful and expectant of her future. Work for it, Girlie- it's your's for the taking!

Happy, excited, sad, hopeful and afraid.... Today marks the beginning of our family's next chapter in life.

 First day of Kindergarten, August 27, 2015

Katy's First Day of Kindergarten!!

First day of Kindergarten!

Look out Kindergarten, here comes Katy!! 

Lil' Miss is beyond thrilled to start elementary school and she is so excited to become a "big kid" and ride the school bus. She was assigned to Mrs. Mitchell's class. Katy will also have a student teacher, Ms. Hardister. Their classroom 'theme animal' is the zebra.

"The wheels on the bus go round and round..."

Several weekends ago, we went to Target to purchase a pink, sparkly Barbie backpack. Originally, I had wanted to buy her one online, but Lil' Miss insisted on going to the store, "...for the experience..." of selecting her own special backpack. Hee, hee, hee.... only Katy!

Sporting her new sparkly pink Barbie backpack!

She may not fully understand all that is to come, but she's ready for the adventure of something new! She knows her letters, she knows her colors; she's ready to learn more!

Soooo....! Here's to a great start to Katy's road to learning! Cheers to untapped potential and discovering all that there is to learn! Here's to reading, writing and arithmetic! I can't wait to see what the future holds for our daughter!

Discovery Place Kids- Countdown to Kindergarten!

Kindergarten Ready!

Last Friday, Lil' Miss took part in the Discovery Place Kids, Countdown to Kindergarten!

Alongside her best bud, Connor, Lil' Miss played the night away! She enjoyed running from center to center discovering all that the museum has to offer. She played in the fire truck, the veterinarian center, the grocery store, water play and she even "changed a tire" in the car care center.

Besides the regular DPK areas, Lil' Miss also learned to navigate the cafeteria line and listen to a story. There were even "princesses" on hand to meet and greet the upcoming kindergarteners!

Katy can't wait to start Kindergarten!

Kindergarten Registration

Sooooo...... this happened......!!

We registered Lil' Miss for Kindergarten, last week. Where, oh, where did the time go?!! I feel like just yesterday we were bringing her home from the hospital and now we are here- on the brink of something big! Kindergarten!! Yay!