Lily's First Day!

It's time for Lily's 1st day of preschool!

Lily's school is 3 days a week for 6 hours and taking a lunch in a lunchbox is a definite high point for her! In preparation for school this year, we headed to Toys R Us for a Frozen lunchbox. The advantage of starting school later, all the backpacks and lunch boxes were on clearance! Score!  We found the very last Elsa and Anna lunch box!  And after careful consideration of all the choices, she picked a princess backpack.

Finally the morning was here! When she woke up, Lily started singing the Daniel Tiger  morning ritual song to get ready for school. "Clothes on, eat breakfast, brush teeth, put on shoes and off to school..." Though she wasn't happy with me that I made her eat breakfast before getting her clothes on.
She chose Fruit Loops to eat.

She picked out a pink dress {surprise surprise} to wear for her special day!

When we got to school, she was happy to find her new cubby and then begin her day. She proudly showed off her lunch box and new backpack before telling me it was time for me to leave! I'm so glad she loves it!

One of the things I love about her teacher is that she takes pictures in the moments at school that moms don't typically get to see and she shares them!  At home, we've been working with Lily to hold her pencils, crayons, markers correctly instead of in a fist, so I was happy to see that she was doing that yesterday! Now to get her to slide her hand down a little bit. ;)  Work in progress...

She had a great first day!

And because I love comparison pictures...
September 10, 2013 (pre-k 3) and September 8, 2014 (pre-k 4)

Here's to a great year, sweet girl!!

5 Years as Brother and Sister

Since Andrew's bus is gone before Reag is even awake, I had to get pictures of the two of them together after school.  Luckily, they indulge without complaint!

They started out doing what they were supposed to be doing...

 

But quickly, after being a little slap-happy from getting up early and being worn out after school, they just got goofy.  Happy back to school!

 



 



Beginning 3rd Grade

If you've been a long time reader or know me in person, odds are you know the past five year history of Reagan's custody schedule and our struggles in dealing with such.

Last August, we went to court to lobby for Reagan to attend school in our district which was successful and thus led to a schedule where Reag was with us during the school week and with her mom on the weekends.  While it was good for school, it was tough for us with regard to family time and of course, Reagan's participation in Brownies or extra activities.

Summer came along and the schedule changed to one full week here and one full week at her mom's. Fridays were our "exchange" days.  To be honest, at first we did not love it.  It was rough on all of us. As summer went along and we got into the swing of it, we liked it more and more. Thankfully.  It was just an adjustment from having no down time throughout the school year to all down time.

Here we are now, a brand new school year...third grade! 

George and Reagan's mom decided to make some adjustments to the school custody schedule and we're continuing with the week on/week off way of life this year.  We're thrilled because we get some weekend time wooooo hooooo! It works out so great for Reagan! Her mom gets more school involvement time which allows for Reag to be involved with Brownies as well. It's truly a win-win for all of us. It's more changes with her mom's side of the family for this year, so we're supportive of working together to make things work for Reagan.  I know!!! Can you believe I'm even saying this????  {I still have to write how our story changed...I'm working on it.}

This sweet girl has had a long time dream to have her parents be able to be in the same room together without friction.  We attended Curriculum Night at school last night where working together on her behalf has started seemlessly. It's going to be a great year!

It's worked out that no matter what custody schedule has been in place, that Reagan has been with us on the first day of school since she started.  This year was no different.

Happy 1st day of 3rd Grade!

 

 

life is good

1st Day of Junior High

 

I cannot believe that today I sent my Andrew off to junior high school!

 

I can still very vividly remember my first day in 7th grade. It was quite honestly one of my worst days in school EV-ER.  I was, however, greeted at the back door when I got home from the bus stop by my mom who handed me a Sprite and I'm glad THAT is the lasting part of my 1st day of junior high memory. ♥

Yesterday we headed out to get Andrew's haircut...you know, last minute. Just like right before graduation. ;) His only requirement is "short".  Truthfully, he just likes not having to brush his hair.

 

We stopped to pick up a couple last minute school supplies while we were out and the rest of the evening was filled with prepping backpacks, organizing school supplies, choosing first day of school outfits and hanging out watching Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone before showers and bed. 

 

He was both nervous and excited to start 7th grade which is pretty much what I expected.

 

Alarm set for 6:20am is nearly an hour earlier than last year, so he was definitely still tired this morning.  I promised him his favorite breakfast this morning ~ biscuits and gravy. That meant I was up at 6:00am and of course, was up too late last night. Of course early rising, was completely worth it when he said, "I like that we have Mom & Andrew time."

 

Me too, kid.

 

He ate breakfast, brushed his teeth, grabbed his backpack and out the door we went for picture taking! At this point in his life, he knows the drill and there's no getting out of it. ;) I did cried when we were heading back inside after taking pictures... I just got hit with this overwhelming surge of emotion that my first baby isn't that far from graduating high school. Fortunately, he made me laugh and my almost ugly cry turned to my favorite emotion~ laughing through tears.

 



     

  We drove down to the bus stop for today {his choice}. I think he was tired. haha!  I was glad to see a few other kids this year. I think they're all 8th graders, but glad he's not the only one.  Afew minutes later, the bus came and he was off for a new adventure! Here's hoping he has the best first day!!

 

love you to the moon...

Big Sister's 1st Day of School

Today was R, my stepdaughter's, first day of school. She's started 1st grade this year and we're really excited!

She went to bed last night a little nervous, as she wasn't sure what to expect.  She was REALLY looking forward to buying lunch at school for the 1st time! :)  She was super cute!

This morning, she woke up, got ready for school--still with a little nervousness, but more excitement! We told her how proud we are and how much fun 1st grade is going to be for her. She was all smiles as she headed off to her classroom!

Interestingly enough, her school's "meet the teacher" was tonight AFTER the first day. Weird, but whatever.

This is the picture she drew for the front of the packet of information:

(From left to right: 
R, Fred (our dog), George, Andrew, me and the walnut or baby Jesus in the carseat at the bottom of the drawing is Lily. ♥  Daddy and the kids are fishing and she put a lilypad in the lake haha!
I love that she draws hearts on she and I everytime she draws us.)