End of Year

Another school year is come and gone. Sigh. Just another sign that the kiddos are getting older. They have both had a great year though! In my opinion 3rd grade was Stella's best year yet academically. When she'd get home from school she'd ask if she could do her homework. Huh? Who asks to do homework? I never did! I hardly ever had to ask her to do it. It was nice that so much of it was online. She LOVED math (which is crazy I think!), got 100% on all but one spelling tests, and didn't seem to struggle with learning things. The only problems she had were getting to where she needed to be on time (which is such a Stella thing. She has always gone at her own pace) and turning in assignments on time. Which drove me crazy! She had a group of good friends and a wonderful teacher, Mrs. R. Olson. She is looking forward to a long summer and 4th grade with Mr. Gallagher! We are so proud of her.

Stella and Me on the bus going to the Water Conservation Plant for her field trip.

Tristan had his first year in the big elementary school. Every. Single. Morning. Was a struggle. He just was not happy to be up and have to go to school. Makes me dread next year when he has to go all day long! He's not a morning person. At least not while he's in school I've come to find out. He's funny because although he complained about having to go to school he ALWAYS came home happy! He liked his friends, teachers and most subjects. He did really well academically also. He fights me on reading always, but is on a 1st grade level. I think Mrs. Morris was the perfect teacher for him this year! I will miss my little guy when he goes to school all day in the fall! I don't know what I'll do with myself! I miss him already. (tear) My youngest - my baby. It's a hard thing to see how quickly time goes and how fast they are growing up. However, I have tried really hard to enjoy each stage. With the exception of potty training! And so far I really have enjoyed them all. I just wish it would all last a little longer.

School Daze

School is rapidly coming to an end! I am so excited for summer, but not excited for my kids to be finishing yet another school year! It goes by way too fast. I have enjoyed helping in their classes and love their teachers! Stella had her first science fair project this year. We chose to do the Mento's in Diet Coke. When we went to her class it was obvious how some parents have done this before. There were some pretty cool posters and everyone had a different experiment. It was fun to see.





Tristan has done really well this year. He has learned so much and created some fun art projects. It's hard to believe he will be starting Kindergarten soon.

Back to School

This cute girl started 2nd Grade! She is in Mrs. Ramirez's class. She was so excited the first week that she would come home so ornery. When I asked her why she was so grumpy she said it's because she didn't want to leave school. This is something she did NOT get from me!

First day at her desk. Look at her getting all set up. I wish I could be a fly on the wall and see her throughout her day!

Pre-School orientation with Ms. Amy. Stella had Ms. Amy for both years of pre-school and we loved her! I'm glad T got to be in her class this year.

First day of Pre-K. I can't believe he's only got one year left before he starts Kindergarten! Tristan loves pre-school and is always so happy when I pick him up. We even hear him singing silly songs he learns. I love it! It makes me feel good to know my kids love their teacher, class, and look forward to school. Don't you just want to squish his cheeks here! I do.

Mom, Don't Cry Until I Get On The Bus

Where does the time go??? Today was Stella's first day of Kindergarten! Can you believe it?! I know I can't. Everyone knows I've been dreading this day and Stella must have picked up on that vibe. This morning as I was doing Stella's hair she says to me, "Mom, don't cry until after I get on the bus." I laughed at such insight from a 5 year old and I promised her I wouldn't cry, at least until she got on the bus. She was really excited to have a new teacher, new friends, and going to the big school.

I waited with her until the bus came and you better believe I followed that bus to her school to make sure she got off and found her teacher! She got off, showed the teachers aid her princess back-pack, hugged her cousin, hugged me again, then was off to her adventurous first day.

Everything went well aside from the fact that when I didn't see her get off at her stop I had to go searching for her on the bus. She was not paying attention to where she needed to get off at like we had talked about. Apparently the girls in the seat next to her were more interesting. I had another talk with her about why she needs to be watchful while she is on the bus. She wouldn't give me hardly information about her day other than they drew "lots of little, tiny A's!" and they learned about Humpty Dumpty.

Overall things went well, and I didn't cry. I will be following her on and off the bus for the next few days too. Bill tells me I need to let her go, but that's so much easier said than done when you've watched, loved, and cared for someone everyday for the past 5 years! Maybe someday it will be easier. We'll see....

The Fire Station

Last week I tagged along with Stella and her Pre-School class on their field trip to the West Jordan Fire Station. We had a rather large group because both of the Pre-K classes attended. I wish I had gone last year because everyone I talked to said it was so much better. This time around they were having a meeting with some of the firemen and so the kids had to be very quiet. Last year they got to get in the ambulance and fire truck. Some kids even got to try on the fire gear! Stella however, gets scared whenever she sees men in their get-up, particularly the masks. They even came home with cute fire hats and rulers.

This year it was at a different station and they didn't do any of that. The kids did get to sit in the driver's seat though. Stella posed like a good girl when she got up there. And Tristan was so funny because he was standing in front of all of the kids and every time the Fireman would put another kid on the seat he would look disappointed, but he still waited patiently. I finally had to ask him to let Tristan have a turn. Tristan finally got his chance to sit in the big seat and he loved it. He is such a truck and car boy! I knew he would love seeing the fire truck.

Since our field trip ended a bit early we faced the cold weather and played at the park for about 20 minutes. Then Stella, Tristan, and I went to lunch with Melissa and the boys. It was a fun morning, especially since we had been under quarantine for the past week! (Not really, but it felt that way sometimes)