Pre-K

SO much to catch up on!  School has started back (both the kids' school, my work school & my graduate school classes) so I don't have a lot of time to post, but I will do my best.

Jackson started Pre-K.  Is he really this old?  Is it possible?  My big boy even has to have an online account for his breakfast money.  I have NO time to feed the kids in the morning, so they eat at school.  Emerson's preschool provides breakfast and lunch, but you have to pay at Jackson's school.  Jackson prefers a packed lunch and I am happy to oblige - I never liked cafeteria food either when I was young.  So far Jackson is really liking his new teacher, Mrs. Ownby!  I didn't get to go to orientation because the silly school scheduled it on the first day of school and I couldn't miss the first day of school.  Aaron did go though, so I was thankful for that!  I did meet with Mrs. Ownby the next afternoon and I think she is going to be great!  Jackson seems to be enjoying it.  His main concern before starting is that there wouldn't be dinosaurs to play with.  I know there are some at his before & after school care, so even if there aren't any in Pre-K, he still has plenty of exposure.     

Pinterest idea that I hope to continue through high school!

My sweet boy still loves his dinos!

 These are a little out of order: this is when we went to register him

 Room 10

 Mrs. Ownby - Jackson loves her!

Mrs. Mills - the helping teacher

Jackson looks a little lukewarm here, lol!

Here's to a fantastic Pre-K year, Boogies!

Back To School

We started back to school today.  It's hard to believe our summer is already over!  At least we still have Brennan & Megan's wedding & our vacation to Colorado to look forward to in just a few short weeks! 

Yesterday, we went to Meet the Teacher.  Jackson has a wonderful teacher, Ms. Kit.  She has been at his school for like ever and everyone I know loves her, so I know he will have a great year!  The teacher that was supposed to be Emerson's teacher this year got a different job on Tuesday, so Emme will have Ms. Yessinia as an interim teacher until they hire a replacement.  Yessinia is actually the mom of a little girl in Jackson's class and we have known her for a while, so I'm sure she will be great!  She has even offered to potty train the kids for us - not just Emme, but all of them that aren't potty trained!  Yep, she has points in my book already! 

This morning, drop off went pretty well.  Emme did cry which is always hard for Mommy, but I think she recovered fairly quickly.  Jackson was shy, but didn't cry and went right to playing.  When I picked them up, they both had had a good day, but Jackson said he didn't get to color.  I told him I was sure he'd get to color other days.  I asked what he did get to do and he exasperatingly said "We just went to center after center after center."  He cracks me up!  I don't know if he was bored or was just being dramatic.  He has a tendency to do that sometimes.

All in all, I'd say it was a pretty successful first day back!      

School Pictures

The kids' Spring school pictures.  The usual results...

Stoic.  Why will she not smile?  Ever? 

Now that's more like it!

Expressionless again.  Really?  At least the Boogies smiled!

First Day of School

First Day of School - August 13, 2009

It's been a while since he had been up that early.

Inservice started on Thursday so Jackson started school too. I never put my kids at school until they have 2 rounds of shots, so Emme is staying with my Nana right now and will not start school until October. We are so blessed to have her here to help out! She does a WONDERFUL job! We went to Meet the Teacher on Wednesday afternoon and met both kid's teachers. Emerson has 6 teachers since there are 10 or 12 babies in the room. Jackson has had two of her teachers before, so I will be pretty comfortable sending her come mid-October. They gave me homework -- I have to make a poster of family pictures to post in her crib. I did this for Jackson the last two years, but since his new big boy room does not have cribs, I don't have to do one for him this year. Jackson has 3 teachers, one of which he has already had before and the other two already knew him, well because at his school, he is legendary! ALL the teachers know him because of his fabulous animal impersonations. They told me last year that all the teachers would come by throughout the day and ask him what certain animals would say, so teachers I don't even know will say "Hi Jackson" and hug him as we are walking in or out. He's kind of a big deal. Most of Jackson's friends are back in his class this year, so he was super excited to see them and I was so happy that my friend, Julie's little boy was still with Jackson too.

I had a few concerns about him starting school. 1. Being newly weaned from the papi, he sometimes takes longer to go down for naps. 2. He flops all around while he sleeps and as previously stated, they no longer sleep in cribs and are now on cots. The cots are only 2 inches off the ground, but I figured different body parts would be hanging off the cot at some point. Neither of these things seemed to be an issue. They said they patted his back a few times at nap time and he was out for 2 hours. Yea, Wacko! Apparently he stayed on the cot too. (He has an ADORABLE nap mat to go on top of the cot...I'll have to post a picture of it sometime!) He also started eating in the cafeteria this year, because you know, he is a big boy! They no longer ride in the buggies when they leave the classroom. Now they have this cute little rope that has stuffed animals or rings in it and the kids hold on to the rope or stuffed animal and teachers hold on to the ends, so basically they learn to walk in a line. They said he did great with that too. When I got there to pick him up, they just gushed and gushed about how great he did and how cute he is...like I said, he's kind of a big deal! He also learned the color green - in one day. Wow! I am so happy with his class this year - perfect! Sadly, he did not go today because he threw up in. the. CAR! twice yesterday evening. Ick! Slight virus? Bad food? Car sick? Who knows. He's fine today and spending the night with Gabby & Papa. I can't wait to see what he learns Monday!