1st Grade Awards Ceremony and Graduation

Since the kiddos are in separate classes the teachers timed the ceremonies just right so that Jason and I, Aunt Suza, and Aunt Linda could attend each.  And it was a bit easier since there classrooms were right next to each other.  Henry's class went first and Mr. H was just a bit excited and you can see it in the video:)-email me and I will share the video since it is of all of the kids, not just H and E.

Henry's awards include-his 1st grade diploma, A Honor Roll, Best/Fastest Runner in his class, Achievement Award, and his Six Flags Read to Succeed Award.

Then it was a couple of steps next store to Emma's award/graduation ceremony.

Emma's awards include-her 1st grade diploma, A Honor Roll, Achievement Award, Sight Right Award, Speedy Reader Award, Six Flags Read to Succeed Award, and Nicest Friend Award.

We are super proud of each of them.  They have worked so hard this year on their reading and writing and it shows in their grades and their many awards!

We started and ended our last day of school signing yearbooks, autograph books, and our field trip t-shirts.  There were lots of hugs, numbers and emails exchanged, and playdates and Summer birthday party invites.  It was a great day, super busy, super loud, and full of celebration.

And now we have two 2nd Graders in the house!  Gulp...time sure is flying by.

Update 2-May 2013-Go Go Gadget Nana, P&N's 50th Anniversary,School Talent Show, Finishing 1st Grade

And you thought I was done updating the blog.  Nope.  We have a lot to catch up on and so so many pictures and some video to share.

First off, Nana(Jenny's mom) had knee replacement surgery on May 6th.  The doc replaced her left knee with a new go go gadget Stryker knee.  Surgery went well, but her recovery is slow going due to what we think is a reaction to the anesthesia.  She has had a really hard time sleeping, is anxious, has had some depression, and has lost a little over 25 pounds.  Her PT therapists thinks that she will be able to use a cane instead of a walker within a couple of weeks.  We've been socializing her a lot lately and she is slowly feeling better.

Second, Papa and Nana celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on the 25th of May.  We have rescheduled our celebration as a family until the 22nd of this month due to Mom's health and recovery.  They asked that we keep it to a family affair, so we are all going to enjoy a 5-7 course dinner at a very nice steak house.  And we get to get all dressed up for the event.  So worth it to celebrate and honor two of the most important people in our lives.

Also, Henry and Emma both performed in their very first school talent show!  Emma and one of her BFFs were little comedians and told jokes.  Henry sang "Home" by Philip Philips.  They did a fantastic job and we are so very proud of them.  I was a teary mess, but cheered them on while taking photos of all of the performers.  They both already have plans for their auditions next year!

The last two weeks of school were jam packed with events.  Theme days and dress up days.  Fun filled, for sure.  On the 28th of May, Jason and I set up and ran Science and Art Day for the 1st through 3rd grade classes, around 125 kids. The kids enjoyed tables that featured homemade lava lamps, recreating a water tornado, a drawing robot, super powerful magnets, a claw robot, drinking straw airplanes, watching experiments fail and then watching those same experiments succeed after a longer wait time due to the chemical change, and huge giant glycerin bubbles that were over 4 feet tall.  We also took along some Moon Boots, but did not have an adult to supervise, so we could not let the kids try them out.  Maybe next year.  Art activities consisted of a table where they could make their own homemade play dough, tissue paper stain glass windows, bead necklaces or bracelets, recycled jewelry out of old t-shirts and water bottles, water colors, and face painting.  We were also set to do the melted crayon on canvas/heavy paper, but again did not have enough adults to supervise.  We had a small crowd of kiddos that did not get to do everything and were a little upset, but all in all, everyone had a great time!  Jason and I already have plans for next year's event and will change up a few things too.

Our theme/dress up days were-Super Hero Day, 60's-70's Day, 80's Day, 50's Sock Hop Day, and PBS Pajama Day/Kona Ice Day.  The kids and I dressed up for all of them.  I only skipped PJ Day because I was already whipped out and thought that wearing PJs on a day that I had to get things done was not a good combo and my Summer PJs need an update.  We also had our End of the Year party for the 1st grade classes that I guess I kind of ended up helping organize and run.

The last day of school was an early release day/awards day/graduation day.  And the last week of school this mommy only got about maybe 18 hours of sleep.  The last day of school was the 31st and I was up until 2 am that morning finishing the memory books.  And we arrived at school early to finish the other prep work for the awards ceremonies.

We are very proud and happy to say that we now have two 2nd Graders in our house.  They both worked so hard the entire year.

Henry overcame some big obstacles with the help of his amazing teacher, Ms. Julie.  She was a great help and a great source of support for him when he struggled with learning due to his dyslexia.  Daddy helped him with a few techniques that he(Daddy) used as a kid and still uses now and I learned new ways of teaching him things.   He loves all things math and science, robotics, puzzles, and sports.  He is go, go, go, all of the time.  He is our early riser:)

Emma is our little reader.  She is enjoying short chapter books and is quickly going through books and / or reading several at one time.  And she loves art!  She too had an amazing teacher this year.  Ms. Jessica was a joy to work with and learn from.  Emma loved being in her class and received loads of encouragement from Ms. Jessica in her art work and writing stories and in her ever growing love of reading.  Emma loves Junie B. Jones and Judy Moody books, Barbie, My Little
Pony, and drawing and painting.  She's our sleeper and is loving the chance to sleep in:)

Update 1-Spring Catch Up, Another Announcement, and a Nomination

Post written 5/2/2013

The second half of the school year is always coco puffs crazy busy.  This year it is super busy.  The kids have grown leaps and bounds physically and mentally.  They have both maintained straight As through this year so far.  Both are so much more independent and most of the time that is wonderful, but not always.  We have also re-entered the, "I will argue with you about everything under the sun, just because I can" phase.  It's happening not only between the two of them, but with us as well.  It's a learning experience and most definitely has been testing our tolerance level.

Physically, well, let's just say that probably in a year or two, I will be the short member of the family.  I mean, the shortest member of the family. They are both growing like crazy.  I can't seem to keep these two full for more than a few hours.  Even after a well rounded home cooked meal, I hear, "Mom, I'm still hungry."  Some nights I feel like I've fed a small army with the amount of food they eat.  I know it will continue.  We will be clothes and shoe shopping again soon because there is no way Emma will make it through Summer with what she has in her closet and dresser.  And Henry will need some new things as well.

Daddy has been busy with a lot of work projects and deadlines.  Luckily, these have not required him to travel, but that will change in August for a brief time.  And Summer vacation is being planned around release dates at work.  They keep him busy and we are happy for the job security. He has also been busy heading up the Dallas Personal Robotics Group.  We've attended and competed in several events.  And he is also currently wrapping up plans for Science Day the last week of school.  He'll be showing the kids several experiments and then doing some hands on experiments with them.  And who knows, some of the robots may just make an appearance too!

I have been busy too.  With the help of 3 other moms, I've been working on memory books(scrap books) for 2 of the 3 first grade classes.  27 books total.  I've also been up monitoring classes during end of year testing, doing Kinder-1st grade library, art class with the 1st graders, photographing events at school, and planning Art Day the last week of school.  Lots of volunteer hours that I love.  Spending time with our kiddos and enjoying my time with my Kinder kids and other First grade kids has been a great source of happiness for me.

We are now in the final stretch of the school year.  I know we will all make it and man has the time flown by.  We have been blessed again with outstanding teachers and staff at school.  We've made new friends and more lasting memories.  Things and worries that have weighed heavy on our shoulders have been lifted and I am so thankful for that.

So now we are caught up with the exception of two things.  Both have happened within the last three weeks and both are good.

1)I have been asked and accepted an offer to substitute teach(paid position) one of the 1st Grade classes for the first 1-3 months.  Ms. J(Emma's teacher) will be out on maternity leave with her first child.  I was chosen and asked because I know her room, her procedures and teaching methods, I know most of the Kindergarten kids that are coming up, and school procedures and guidelines. And Ms. J says that I was her number 1 pick.  She feels comfortable with me there covering for her and knows that I will get the job done.  I'm happy to do it.  She has been a FANTASTIC teacher with Emma and her other kids and I have really enjoyed helping in her class and getting to know her.  We are so excited for her and her family.

2)I received a surprise email from Ms. J informing me that she is nominating me for the TEA Heroes for Children Award!  It was meant to be a surprise, but the nominee has to write a short essay that is included in the nomination paperwork.  What an honor!  I was floored!  I volunteer because I like to help out and I can since I am a stay at home mom.  It's easy work and in my opinion, I can't volunteer enough and pay back our amazing teachers and staff at school for all that they do in educating our children and caring for them.

http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.aspx?id=4140

Guess Whaaat?!!!

I am so very proud to be able to share this news with all of you.  Henry and Emma both tried out for the school talent show last Friday and this morning I received the official email telling me that they both made the cut for the show!!!  Auditions were last Friday and the parents were not allowed to attend because it makes the kids super nervous.  I was at school for Kinder and 1st grade library and kept myself as busy as possible because I was both nervous and excited for them.  1st through 3rd grade do their own show and I think the upper grades do theirs at a different time.  They had 38 kids sign up this year from 1st-3rd to audition.  Henry was chosen to tryout first and Emma and her partner auditioned later.  Since I have kind of an in with the teachers I asked later, when they were down for library, how they both did.  Ms. J said that they did well.  The kids said it was a little scary, but fun.

They will have rehearsals at school and we will continue to rehearse here at home.  The one thing I won't tell you is what they are doing in the talent show.  I'll save that for later;)

Literature Festival

The kids have been studying/learning about nursery rhymes the last two weeks. Today not only was early release, the last day of school before Spring Break, but it was also the Literature Festival at school. The kindergarten and first grade classes dressed as their favorite nursery rhyme character and both K classes recited their rhymes for their class and the parents. Emma chose the Three Little Kittens and Henry chose the Queen of Hearts. I finished Henry's on Wednesday and mustered up the energy last night to do Emma's. I've been down with the flu this week, so Daddy has been pulling double duty. And we thought that he would be continuing his extra duties today at the festival. Wednesday and most of yesterday, I felt horrible and was in bed most of the day. So Jason moved around his schedule at work and worked from home yesterday and today. I joined the three of them this morning for the festival, but I kept my distance. I'm so glad that both of us were able to go and the kids were pleasantly surprised that I was able to come.

Three Little Kittens



King of Hearts(from The Queen of Hearts)


Nursery Rhyme parade.



Emma and Ms. Laura:)
Henry and Mrs. Alana:)
The King of Hearts waving to his court.
My little kitten was being goofy.
Emma girl reciting her nursery rhyme-Three Little Kittens. She did a GREAT job!
My King of Hearts reciting-The Queen of Hearts. He also did a GREAT job!
The lower grades had a Literature Festival today and had a lot of time period appropriate games for the kids to play. All of the games were named after a nursery rhyme. It was a lot of fun and we had wonderful weather and lots of room to run around.

Open House-Kindergarten

This is the administration building/head office of Treetops.
A picture of the sign posted over the bridge from the office to the lower grade buildings. It would seem that the troll that lives under the bridge is a nice fellow. He lets us cross over all the time:)
This is on one of many playgrounds on the school campus. It's the first-third grade playground, but now and then the Kindergarten classes go over and play.
Henry has mastered the spiderweb rope climb and was proud to show off his skills. Emma skipped her monkey bar demo because the bars were really cold.
The school doesn't have a cafeteria. All the kids and teachers carry their lunches daily and this is where the Kindergarten classes and 1st grade normally eat every day. If weather doesn't permit, they head over to the gym which is a short walk and eat inside and then have recess.
This is to the left of the picnic tables. The K playground wraps around the building.
Inside Henry's classroom. This is part of the daily morning routine of counting to one hundred-1-100, by 5s,10s 20s, etc. This is also the calender area. They talk about the days of the week, the seasons, etc. Behind Henry is their coin chart. They are also learning about the different values of the coins.
Both classes have station tables for different activities. This is the sight word table in Henry's class. This is looking in from the doorway entering his classroom.
This is in Emma's class. This is the daily schedule.
This is the art station. This is one of Emma's favorite stations.
The reading/story book station. Emma is showing Papa which one is her current favorite. The last week and the upcoming week, they are learning nursery rhythms.
Baa Baa Black Sheep. Emma is hiding behind there somewhere;)
Math time IS her favorite subject/station currently.
They have also been reading a lot of Dr. Seuss books. This is Emma's Cat in the Hat, hat. The handsome gentleman in this shot is Papa(my dad).
This is Ms.L's calender, number, seasons, days wall. They also do a morning routine in this section.
One of Emma's sight word sheets that just happens to be about the Cat in the Hat.
Emma's artwork in the front window. I apologize, but I don't remember at the moment what this was.
Showing her Papa the Baa Baa Black Sheep that she made. The kids were both super excited that Papa got to come see all their hard work.
This is another shot of Henry's classroom. The sight word station.
This is kind of an overall view of Henry's classroom. That's Mrs. A. We think she's pretty cool!
This is a picture done with Henry's footprint. His class is also learning about nursery rhythms and this is Little Boy Blue.
Our proud little man showing off his work:)
He was explaining the pictures to his Papa.
This is a better shot.

We went to school this morning and it wasn't for detention or Saturday school or nothing! Treetops hosted Open House this morning. Papa met us at school and got the full tour by the grandkids. They were so excited that he got to come. Due to work schedules, sickie bugs(poor Nana), previous engagements, and rising gas prices it was just the five of us representing the family. I would have more pictures, but being Mommy, I have to pay close attention to everything and didn't get all the shots I had planed to. This should cover it though. And I'm sure I'll get more shots before the end of the school year.