School Days

Today my big kids started Kindergarten and 4th grade.  Every year it seems hard to believe that school is already starting and this year is no exception!  However, we had an enjoyable, fun-filled summer so we were ready for school!

Kindergarten is a big deal!  Eating lunch at school, riding the bus, and spending nearly 8 hours away from home makes for big changes.  We prepared as best we could and off we went!

This little cutie had a great first day.  He was happy as I dropped him off and no tears were shed.

His teacher is Miss Gentry.  She seems very sweet and eager, but oh my - she is YOUNG!  I'm hoping that this group of Kindergarteners doesn't completely wear her out.  

When I asked Micah his favorite part of the day, he said it was riding the bus.  Not a surprising answer if you know Micah!  

 

Welcome to Kindergarten, Micah!  I hope that you have a wonderful school year filled with new friends, life skills, and lots of growth!

Maddie is in her element at school.  She seemed to be excited to go back and she was very excited about getting dressed up in her new back to school outfit!  And I have to agree that she was cute as could be!

Fourth grade means a move - out of the North Elementary building and into the North Intermediate building.  I have been anxious about this move because I have heard lots of negative feedback from parents about the new school, principal, teachers, etc.  Time will tell, but so far things are okay.  On the first day, Mark walked Maddie in and I walked in Micah so I wasn't able to get any additional pictures of her in her classroom.  She wanted to be walked in, but was a bit embarrassed to discover that not many parents walked their kids in on the first day.  Just a part of growing up, I suppose!  

She also had a great day and when I asked her about her favorite part of the day, she said it was getting a locker!

Fourth grade is lucky to have you, my dear girl!  Hope you have an amazing year where you can learn new things, make new friends, and be a shining light in the darkness.

The first day of school requires an awesome after-school snack, so I decided to surprise my school kids with these fun cupcakes baked into ice cream cones.  They were simple to make and a huge hit with the big kids (and a hit with Mason and Daddy too!).  They also got a small surprise to mark the first day of school and to encourage them!  They both seemed surprised and pleased.

 For Maddie: Sunglasses (she had previously admired these) with a note telling her she was the "brightest 4th grader ever"

 

For Micah: a small Lego fire truck telling him to "light Kindergarten on fire".  (I am hoping and assuming he knows I did not mean in the literal sense!!!)

As for me and Mason, we had a great day. Leisurely trip to grocery store, haircut, and lots of books and cuddles!

Praying for a great school year!!!

One of These Days ....

Trying to remind myself today that having little children around is a temporary thing.  They will grow up.  And be gone, out of our home.  Never to return.  So even though I tire of picking up little shoes, watching endless kids tv shows, folding little laundry, packing lunches (school starts tomorrow!), and all the other mundane tasks of motherhood, it is simply part of having kids at home.  And the sweet kisses, hugs, smiles, and the joys of watching my children grow up outweigh the work.  Because one of these days the kids will be gone, and these little shoes will not fit anymore.  Praying that I remember to enjoy the good stuff and not focus on the bad today.

Monsters University

Well, in an attempt do do something fun before school starts, we decided to go see a movie today.  Now, Mason is two years old, which is not necessarily the best age for the movies.  But, we decided to see Monsters University which is the prequel to a movie that Mason really likes, Monsters Inc.  He was extremely excited until we got in the theater and had to sit thru the endless previews- he became a little agitated that each one was not the start of the movie.  And when the movie started, all three kiddos were pretty well engaged other than one of them needing an occasional refill on their popcorn (we were sharing a big one).  Mason also moved between my lap and his seat a few times, and had to give some mid-movie kisses to Sissy, but he was mostly really good.  The big kids loved the movie too so I say the day was a success!

Children's Museum

We visited a new Children's Museum in Tulsa.  I have long wondered why Tulsa didn't have a Children's Museum comparable to other cities- and now they do!  It was small with limited exhibits, but the ones they had were good and could easily entertain for a couple of hours.  They had it priced well - only $5 admission so it was affordable.  And I think their desire is to grow, so this could be a place we will visit for years to come. Their big exhibit is a "tape tunnel",which is exactly what it sounds like.  A large tunnel made out of tape.  It ends in a big slide.  The kids LOVED the tape tunnel.  Micah and Mason did this slide about 10 times in a row, over and over. 

On their way up the tape tunnel 

Heading down the tape tunnel - on his belly! 

Wheeeee 

Working his way through the tunnel

 

 

Another favorite part of the museum was a shadow wall.  Maddie really loved this one the most but they all 3 liked it.

 

 

The museum also had a really cool art room that was well stocked.  The project of the day was musical instruments.  They had tons of materials and the kids could use whatever they wanted to make a musical instrument.  They rotate the projects so you can go another time and make something else.

 

Maddie and her guitar 

Micah and his "flute"

 

Another favorite area was where they had tons of boxes that were taped up and the kids could build with them.  We went to the museum with some friends and I got this shot of them all smushed up inside some boxes.  Then Jennifer, the mom of our friends, accidentally tripped over them while trying to help get them together for the picture so I got a really funny picture out of it!  Fun times!

 

 

There were lots more things at the museum that we all enjoyed and we will definitely be back!  A great way to spend a summers day :)