1 week in!

We survived the first week of First Grade.  Megan loves it.  Today I was at school volunteering and I was able to take a peek at the work her teacher has put up outside their classroom.   They had a writing activity hanging up where they wrote about the first day of school.  Megan wrote (her spelling here)....

My first day in first grade wus marvlis  bcus  I coud miy  frins on the plagrnwnd. 

Did you get that deciphered... "My first day in first grade was marvelous because I could make friends on the playground."   Love it!

Megan is getting used to the routine of having more homework every night, and she's doing great.  We are so proud of her and the maturity she's shown.  Don't get me wrong - she's still 6.... and I'm reminded of that every day.  She's been having a LOT of headaches lately... they tend to really rear up about the same time I remind her that she needs to clean her room (funny thing, huh).  But I love that she reads me books every night before bed. 

Little Nicole has just come into her own also.  She's a daily reminder that she's 3... we have lots of tears, tantrums, and whining going on.  Somehow though - she always pulls it together and still manages to be an amazing delight.  She's starting in the 3's class in preschool in another week.  It's so weird because we have several friends with birthdays that are just a few months earlier and those babies are starting Pre-K.....  I must say that although it's a pain sometimes that she's the oldest in classes with her fall birthday - I'm also glad that she's got 2 more years of preschool before she heads off to the BIG school!  She's still our little snugglebug and has an imagination that will knock your socks off.

So all is well over here.  I'm hoping to get my blogging act together.  I just got a new computer - but of course I haven't had a whole lot of time to get my files and pictures moved  so I'm floating between 2 computer currently.  But hopefully between the 2 I'll get some updating done soon.

A New School Year

My eldest is off to First Grade!  OH my goodness... how is she that old?  Where did the time go?  Well, instead of sitting around and pondering those unanswerable questions - I'm just embracing this time and watching her spread her wings.

We were super excited last week to go and meet Megan's new teacher.  First grade is such a special grade for me since I taught it for so long - so I was overjoyed when we learned she had the teacher that I had been hoping and praying for - Ms. Forte!  Megan was estatic as well.  And she's super happy to have several friends in her class.  It's going to be a GREAT year!!!!

During our meet and greet, she told Ms. Forte.  "Mrs. Waller was the best kindergarten teacher - but I know you are the best 1st grade teacher."  We have definitely been blessed with amazing teachers! From one teacher to another - they rock!

Here she is - off for the 1st day...

While Megan was at school - Nicole and I had a full day planned.  I have somehow ended up as the PTO president at her preschool so we headed over there to work on a few things - and little Ms. Nicole realized that with her sister gone, she was in charge - that sassy little thing!  

When Mommy finally finished we headed off to her new gymnastics class - which she loves ---- except for when they try to make her flip over.  She hates being upside down.

Finally it was time to go meet the bus.  She loves the bus.... I hate the bus!  So we compromise and we take her in the morning and let her ride home with her neighborhood friends in the afternoon.  She likes that time with friends (although some mean boy tore her school tag today - according to her), and I like knowing that she starts her morning off without any extra drama.  Getting up at 6:15 is drama enough.  Here is her little welcoming committee....

 

I finally got a bus picture on the 2nd day (the 1st day the bus blew past me not realizing I was standing there waiting for it).

And have I mentioned how much I love her teacher.....  Ms. Forte took these awesome pictures on the first day and sent them to all the parents.  So sweet!

 Now 2 days of school are down - and Megan still loves first grade.  Her biggest joy is she's only 3 pennies away from getting to invite a friend to lunch!  Evidently according to Megan, "I'm an exceptional listener."

If that's greek to you....  They have a behavior system where they can earn money throughout the day - and you save up for what you want.  Maybe a trip to the treasure box, maybe inviting a friend to lunch, maybe eating with the teacher, etc...  Megan's saving for an opportunity to invite her friend "J" (who was in her class last year) to lunch. I think this system will be great for Megan - money is definitely her currency of motivation.

AND... I have to brag on our school - because I LOVE IT soooo much!!!!  Today they announced it is one of the Georgia schools of Excellence. Woohoo!  28 schools received this honor - and it was well earned.

The newest family members

They've been with us since June... but they haven't been formally introduced - so without further ado, May I present...
Swimmy and Rosy

 The girls are super excited about their little betta fish friends.

They have begged for fish for a LONG time.... and finally they worked and earned them.  Megan's blue fish is "Swimmy blue"  and Nicole's red fish is "Ruby Red". 

We did have a sad 1st week with Ruby.... let's just say that we've talked a LOT about pets in heaven and now have Ruby Red II.  :^)  About once a week Nicole says something like, "I still miss died Ruby but alive Ruby is happier."

I've adjusted to life with fish - and they are very low maintenance fish - and that makes me as happy as my girls!