Kindergarten everywhere!

Kindergarten has obviously been on my mind lately.  But for different reasons than you would think!  I have had many kindergarten connections lately.

 

Here I am celebrating Lindsay's wedding to Manish.  Lindsay is a friend I met in kindergarten.  Also pictured are high school friends Starlyn and Angelyn.  Lindsay had a beautiful ceremony and reception.  I feel lucky Lindsay and I still talk often and have remained friends for 25 years.  25 years, how crazy does that sound?!?

 

And here are Grady and little Brody.  Brody is Brianne's son.  Brianne is my friend and former co-worker.  We taught kindergarten together.  I loved meeting Brody and seeing Brianne a couple of weeks ago.  It was so nice to catch up.  People often ask me if I miss teaching.  I really enjoyed it, but I know I will go back to the classroom one day.  Honestly, the aspect I miss the most about teaching are the teachers I worked with, most definitely Brianne being one of them.

 

 

And then there is Layla.  My favorite kindergartner!  She was pumped to ride the bus for the first time last week.  The bus ride was for a field trip to an apple orchard.  I was lucky enough to go on the field trip with the class. (Thank you Cathy for watching Grady!)  I had actually been on the exact same field trip six times.  I used to take my own class.  It was the exact same field trip as it was when I went for the first time eight years ago.  Not a thing had changed.  I guess if it's not broken....  :)  And I have to say it was much more relaxing to go as a parent!

 

Layla loved the bus and the field trip and I loved meeting all of her new kindergarten friends!

The End of Summer

With the end of summer officially coming on Sunday, I thought I would share a mish mash of pictures from my camera and phone.  We have really enjoyed the last bit of summer.  It has been sporadically hot (86 degrees right now, but feels like 96 degrees) and we have enjoyed shorts and tank tops much longer than normal.   I am ready for fall but in no way ready for the cold, winter weather.  I hope we can ease our way into the colder months!

 

 

We splashed in the pool until closing week.  We loved going at night after dinner to cool down.

Our little pop star.  Layla likes the tape stage (painter's tape) for her performances :)

 

Apple orchard time!  Sweaty, apple orchard time.

 

Making allergy friendly cupcakes for the September birthdays!  Layla has on my apron and Grady is in Layla's apron.  I need to make Grady an apron.  He really is into helping with food preparation right now.

 

Celebrating Cassie, Jamie and my dad.  Do you see Cassie's belly in the background?!? 

 

And lawn mower rides with the birthday papa!!  Can you tell all the birthday folks were a bit camera shy? ;)

 

Happy fall!  Looking forward to jeans, sweaters and the holidays to come!

 

 

Puzzles

  Today I was playing puzzles with Grady and I snapped a picture of him fishing for puzzle pieces.  I was struck with a memory of Layla doing the exact same thing at a similar age.  I checked through some picture files and found the picture of Layla that I was hoping to find. 

 

Grady at 27 months and 2 weeks

Layla at 27 months and 2 days 

 

What a peanut Layla was at 27  months.  Or maybe it just seems that way now since I am used to Grady who has rested in the high percentiles for weight for most of his little life :) 

Either way, I loved looking back at this side by side.  I really miss those baby curls!

 

Grandparents' Day

Last week my parents headed to kindergarten with Layla.  Ryan's parents would have loved to go also but it was during the day and they were working.  The night before the big day Layla could barely sleep.  She was SO excited that papa and grandma were going to be in her classroom!  My parents got to check out the classroom, listen to the kids sing a few songs and eat lunch with Layla in the lunchroom.  My parents said Layla fit right in with the class and kindergarten looked like it was a perfect fit for her right now.  I was happy with the report!

 

I am so relieved that everything seems to be going well.  Ryan and I (well, really mostly me!) went back and forth if sending her this year was the right decision.  If we chatted at all this summer, you know I was especially fretful as the school year approached.  But the first few weeks have gone well and Layla seems very happy.  She does not like getting up early for school (she still likes her twelve hours at night and it is tough to get those in) but she is very pleased with all other aspects of school.  I think the worrying may have been caused from me not being ready for kindergarten quite yet :) 

 

In the classroom

 

 Papa and Layla by the coat hooks!

 

 

And in the lunchroom!  Layla wanted to show my parents how she gets hot lunch from time to time.  She loves the sun butter (allergy friendly alternative to peanut butter that the lunchroom serves to all kiddos) and jelly sandwiches :)

And finally here is a little video of the kindergartners!  I know the video is a bit fuzzy, but Layla is in the center with the white bow in her hair.