OK...anyone else having a hard time keeping up with things with the Olympics on? Every night I'm trying to cram in my favorite events, which are swimming, gymnastics and diving. Phelps is just amazing. He is my favorite athlete so far. It might have to do with the fact that he reminds me of my brother Joe (appearance and mannerisms). China's men's gymnasts are unreal. I guess when all you do from the time your 3, is gymnastics, your bound to be good. The only problem with watching the Olympics is realizing how jiggly and out of shape I am. I wish I could look like those swimmers!! Guess I should get off the computer! LOL Anyway, I realized that I needed to stop neglecting more important things, like journaling my kids first day of school.
Monday was the beginning of something new. A new school, that is. Everything went so well. We woke up, showered and got ready, the kids did their chores and practiced the piano, I made eggs and toast, and we still had time left over. I knew I was liking the new school schedule already. An 8:45 start, rather than an 8:00, makes such a difference. Ben and I took the kids, along with the neighbors (Bailey and Andrew), to school. We parked by the community center and walked them to the black top. Waiting on the black top was miserably hot, but the kids hardly noticed because they were so excited.
He came home with this note today. When I asked him why he wasn't being a good listener for me (at that moment), he said because they can send him to the principal and that's scary. Guess I'm not scary enough!
Monday was the beginning of something new. A new school, that is. Everything went so well. We woke up, showered and got ready, the kids did their chores and practiced the piano, I made eggs and toast, and we still had time left over. I knew I was liking the new school schedule already. An 8:45 start, rather than an 8:00, makes such a difference. Ben and I took the kids, along with the neighbors (Bailey and Andrew), to school. We parked by the community center and walked them to the black top. Waiting on the black top was miserably hot, but the kids hardly noticed because they were so excited. I walked Aubrie up to her classroom (she is on the 2nd story of the 3 story building) so she could drop off her stuff. Her classroom was done up so cute, and the class seemed so much smaller. It just had such a different feel than Happy Valley, for some reason. After we dropped off her stuff, we headed back to the playground. On the way back her teacher was coming up the stairs with her class. She quickly gave me a kiss and ran to catch up. 
Boston's teacher took a few minutes to show up, and I was trying to get me and Sophia in some shade while we waited. Sophia is very finicky about everything, and the heat was making her cranky. Finally his teacher opened the door and we all flooded into the nice air conditioning! We found Bostons desk, and then found Davis Farley, the only boy he knew in his class. He soon seemed comfortable and situated, so we kissed Boston goodbye. Jody Pawlak, a neighbor and friend, is a teacher's aid in Boston's class, so that made me feel even better. 
Neither of the kids were nervous to start a new school, in fact they were so excited. The just went with the flow and seemed like they knew what they were doing. I left there knowing they were going to have a great day.
Neither of the kids were nervous to start a new school, in fact they were so excited. The just went with the flow and seemed like they knew what they were doing. I left there knowing they were going to have a great day. Ethan was a different story. He acted all excited for school. He got his favorite lunch all ready (PB&J and a Jello pudding pack), picked out his favorite shirt (his orange shark shirt) and had is favorite buddy (a monkey that was originally a key chain) ready for show and tell. The minute I tried to drop him off, he started his crying act. Sarah just took him from me and I quickly left. When I picked him up he was in good spirits, ready to show me his work (below). Sarah told me he stopped crying at soon as I left. He was totally trying to work me! Today he did fine! 
As usual, I was excited for the kids to come home. They came home happy, and LOVING their teacher and the school. Boston's favorite thing of the day was that he got to go to the library. He said class was a little boring because they didn't' do any spelling words or math. Today they did spelling, and he was happy about that. He said he was the only one who knew them all, and his teacher sent home this cute note. He is also happy that they have more tether ball courts. He made a new girlfriend, and when I asked if he played with her, he said during snack time. He said he was making jokes to get her to laugh.... sounds like Boston. 
Boston came home, the first day,with this cute note from his teacher. The Hershey's hug didn't make it home. He told me I could keep the peanut! LOLHe came home with this note today. When I asked him why he wasn't being a good listener for me (at that moment), he said because they can send him to the principal and that's scary. Guess I'm not scary enough!Aubrie really like school, and her teacher, too! She came home excited, showing me her notebooks, assignments, etc. She also came home with this cute little note. 
I asked her if she saw a lot of people she knew. She said that she sees Zachary in the halls all of the time. In case you are unaware, Zachary is a boy from church she likes. I told her that she could try to like some one else so she wouldn't be so shy at church, and she told me she already thought about that, but Zachary is the CUTEST boy in the whole school. LOL Aubrie gets to sit by her Best Friend from Kindergarten (who also went to Happy Valley) at lunch. She is so happy about that. She has also made several other friends. A girl in her class pinched Aubrie really hard on her shoulder because Aubrie told her "SHHH". The teacher reprehended the girl and gave her a punishment. Aubrie said she was so shocked that the girl did that, and tried to ignore her during the rest of class. The girl kept yelling out, "See she wont' look at me now. She hates me". I told Aubrie to try to be nice because maybe she just needs a friend. We sent a note to the teacher thanking her for being on top of things, and letting us know if the situation gets worse. She called me today and told me how proud she was with Aubrie, because today she kept offering to help the girl in class when she didn't' know how to do something. I guess Aubrie does listen to me. LOL Her teacher said she is a great example to the other kids, and said many other kind words concerning Aubrie. It's nice that she has a teacher who recognizes her strengths and gives her praise. That is something her 2nd grade teacher didn't do. Her teacher last year had many great qualities, one of them teaching the kids respect and order in a class room, but being loving and giving lots of praise was not her strength. Aubrie feeds off of positive feedback, so her new teacher will be great for her!
I asked her if she saw a lot of people she knew. She said that she sees Zachary in the halls all of the time. In case you are unaware, Zachary is a boy from church she likes. I told her that she could try to like some one else so she wouldn't be so shy at church, and she told me she already thought about that, but Zachary is the CUTEST boy in the whole school. LOL Aubrie gets to sit by her Best Friend from Kindergarten (who also went to Happy Valley) at lunch. She is so happy about that. She has also made several other friends. A girl in her class pinched Aubrie really hard on her shoulder because Aubrie told her "SHHH". The teacher reprehended the girl and gave her a punishment. Aubrie said she was so shocked that the girl did that, and tried to ignore her during the rest of class. The girl kept yelling out, "See she wont' look at me now. She hates me". I told Aubrie to try to be nice because maybe she just needs a friend. We sent a note to the teacher thanking her for being on top of things, and letting us know if the situation gets worse. She called me today and told me how proud she was with Aubrie, because today she kept offering to help the girl in class when she didn't' know how to do something. I guess Aubrie does listen to me. LOL Her teacher said she is a great example to the other kids, and said many other kind words concerning Aubrie. It's nice that she has a teacher who recognizes her strengths and gives her praise. That is something her 2nd grade teacher didn't do. Her teacher last year had many great qualities, one of them teaching the kids respect and order in a class room, but being loving and giving lots of praise was not her strength. Aubrie feeds off of positive feedback, so her new teacher will be great for her!OK, back to the rest of Monday. Aubrie had dance for two hours right after school, and after that was dinner and a FHE given by Boston. His primary teacher is so wonderfully prepared, and last Sunday she made these Family Home Evening kits for them to give. It was on letting your light shine. He was excited to do it. He did a great job!
Tuesday was laid back. No activities, and the kids still had no homework. At Happy Valley they would already be studying spelling words and math facts! (No JOKE) Ok, I take the no homework thing back. Aubrie had to go around the house and find 5 things to put in a paper sack that represented her. She put in dance stuff, a picture of her riding a horse, a bouncy ball, a webkinz cat....and I can't remember the other one! She had fun doing that. Boston did the same thing today. He put his T-ball trophy, a picture of him at Chick-filet ("because he likes to eat there), a Nephi action figure (because he likes church), one of his buddies (aka stuffed animals) and the guitar pick from the one we bought him in Mexico. ( BTW He did that all on his own!)
So far I'm so glad I made the switch. I checked the rating of the schools right before school started and saw that WW was rated one of the highest in the area, but I still had a hard time leaving Happy Valley. We had been going there for 3 years, and when we called to tell them they weren't coming back, the office lady was so sad. It's nice to go "where everybody knows your name, and their so glad you came"....ha!ha! But that's not what it's all about. It's about the kids being happy and not feeling over pressured. Aubrie is much happier now! Boston is a little bored, but hopefully they'll start doing more for him. I know we made a good choice.
