Back To...

It's back to school time which means we're getting back into a routine.  It also means back to the gym, back to Aggieland for the football season and back to blogging.  I still have our whole Disney experience I want to get on here, so hopefully I can get to that sporadically in the next few weeks.  The kids are going to bed early again so that gives me a little time in the evenings to work on the blog among other "to-do's" around the house.

So we'll start off again with back to school for today.  Jackson started 2nd grade and Jordan started Kindergarten at St. Laurence August 19.  This is our last year on the Early Childhood Campus and it makes me sad because we love, love, love the staff there.  BUT, that gives us a reason to make the best of it too.

So here's the first day of school.  Both kids were so excited to get back and see their friends.

By the end of the week, they were exhausted.  The routine wore them out.  I have to admit, I was quite worn out too.  I got spoiled leaving the house for work in the morning with them still sleeping and with the babysitter.  But we're back to the hustle and bustle that the new school year brings.

Pre-K Christmas Program

Before school was out for Christmas vacation the Pre-K classes put on a Christmas program.  Jordan had been practicing the songs for a while, but not all of them.  I think some of the songs were a surprise for the parents.  They sang beautifully.  The songs were very special and the program was fantastic.  She did such a great job!

I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas...  her favorite song!

It's Been A While and Star Student!

So I haven't posted since Christmas.  I don't have a real reason other than the usual, work, kids, family, etc...  So I'm back.  Hopefully for good.

January started good as the Aggies won their bowl game.  We had a great time watching the game at Carla and Martin's that we didn't wanna leave.  We ended up staying there to ring in the new year.  It was tons of fun, and the kids had a  blast popping fireworks with their cousins.  Sorry, no pictures of that.  I guess I forgot my camera at home.

During January, Jackson was Star Student for a week at school.  On Monday, he took a decorated box to school, and his classmates left him notes and drew pictures for him.  One little girl said she loved him.  Hmmmm, gotta keep an eye on her. 

On Tuesday, he started the day by leading the pledge and prayers over the intercom.  Then he took a poster to school that had pictures all about him.  He then presented it to the class.  Then he got to answer 5 questions.  One question was why he liked the Aggies so much.  Haha!  He said that was his favorite team!  You all know he doesn't have a choice! ;-)  The morning ended with me reading a few of Jack's favorite books to his class.  He was so sweet and just loved having his dad, sister and me visit his class.

First Day(s) of School

Monday was Jordan's first day of Pre-K at Creative Minds. She was so very excited to finally be in the "BIG" classroom and be a "BIG" kid. When I picked her up that afternoon, she was so proud of her new cubbie and had to show me where she put her backpack and nap blanket. Such a big girl!!! But I have to tell you, she can't wait to go to St. Laurence and really be a BIG kid!


Tuesday was Jackson's first day of Kindergarten. We went to meet his teacher on Monday and he was very excited that some of his best friends from last year were in his class. Tuesday morning, he was ready to go. He even complained that Jordan needed to hurry and get dressed so he wouldn't be late to school. Heaven forbid he be late on the first day! So on the way to school, I asked him if he wanted me to walk him in to the Parish Hall... ummm, no. He wanted to go thru the normal carpool line... he knew exactly where to go. My big boy!

They're both growing WAY TOO FAST!!!

Oh, and just wanted to get the word out... Jackson will be selling Circle E candles this year for the school fundraiser in September. Get your Christmas shopping done early. :)

And That's a Wrap!

Jackson successfully wrapped up his first year in Pre-K. My how he has grown over the last 9 months. We had some rough days the first half of the year. But thanks to the patience and consistency of Mrs. Dodson and Mrs. Tankersley, we all got through it. The second half of the year still had some bumps in the road, but they were few and far between. Jackson has learned so much and really enjoyed all the cool things they got to do. He's grown so much spiritually too. Every time we sit on the left hand side of Church, Jackson asks me if I know who the statue is... of course it's St. Laurence, and he has to make sure he tells us. He also knows prayers that I don't even know. Of course I figure that they must be new, and created after I got out of Catholic school. I went to the last Mass on Thursday and saw Jackson in action. For some reason, he bahaves so much better in Church for his teachers than he does for us. I've even threatened him that I'm going to ask her to start going with us on Sunday mornings.

So no pics of the big last day, but let's just say Jackson is happy to hang up the school uniform for a couple of months and take a break. :-)

St. George

Every year, students at Jackson's school each do a presentation on a Saint. Well, this was our first year doing this, so we weren't really sure how this would play out. Luckily, Jackson was really into it and he picked Saint George. I was hoping he'd pick St. Henry since Henry is his middle name. Nana wanted him to pick St. Francis since that is Papa's name. But St. Francis was already chosen. And he really, really liked St. George. Wanna know why? He was a soldier.

So not only did Jackson learn alot about St. George, Kenny and I did too. We did a shield like St. George used to carry and then Jackson placed some pictures and facts about St. George on the shield. One of my favorite factoids about St. George is that many soldiers today wear a St. George medal to protect them in battle. So we made St. George medals for all of Jackson's classmates.

First Day of School

Today was Jackson's first day at St. Laurence. It seems like just yesterday I was dropping him off at daycare for the first time. And now he's a big boy. Believe it or not, we were all tear free today... even Mommy.

He was very excited and a little shy when we got there. But his friend found him and sat by him in line and they were good to go. I think he'll really enjoy his new school.