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Tuesday, August 26, 2008

California State Fair

HOT, HOT, HOT... but FUN, FUN, FUN

Friday, August 22, 2008

My heart...

It has been a very busy week in our household. As most of you already know... I am returning back to the classroom on September 2nd. I have been running back and forth this week trying to get my room conducive to learning and ready for my students. While I was out on parental leave, I chose to store ALL of my teacher stuff here at home. I finally made my way back with it all. (Byron was so happy to see it go. What is it with men and their garages?) Nevertheless, my room is in order, looks great, as well as, walls/bulletin boards student friendly! Ahhh, it feels so good! And next week begins teacher training's, workshops, professional development hours, presentations, etc... Life is good!

In the same sense, we have officially sent our firstborn off to Kindergarten this week. I am so grateful that I was able to send her off and get her school year off to a great start. She loves school. She likes her teacher. The day before the first day of Kindergarten, her teacher opened her classroom doors for what they call MEET THE TEACHER. Tiegan came home eager to go back to Kinder. Little did she know that the next day, I was not going to go through the classroom doors with her. She figured it out really quickly though. It was a hard thing to do but if Tiegan was going to bond with her teacher she needed to do it sooner rather than later. (I know that... My head tells me one thing, but my heart feels another. It is so different when the student is your own child! Honestly, it was VERY HARD for me.) She didn't cry. She just put her head down and walked into class. She never really expressed to me any nervousness or anxiety. (I was a little bit sad.) Then after the second official day of Kinder, she quietly scooted up close to me and said...

Tiegan: "Mom, I didn't know you were going to be waiting right outside for me when school was over."
Mommy: "Of course, I wanted to hear how your day went with your new friends and teacher."
Tiegan: (wiping her eyes) "You're so nice, Mom. I love you!"
Mommy: (Relieved... THERE... she got it out.) "I love you to the moon and back."

She seemed okay, until she started talking about it and then her eyes welled up with tears. That's my girl. (She is so like her Mommy... I think I am okay too until I talk about it out loud. Then I am so consumed.) But we both feel better now. This growing up business is tough sometimes.

(Continue on to the next two blogs for more on her first week in Kindergarten.)

Thursday, August 21, 2008

She's hit the ground running

So PROUD of this girl! She's only been in Kindergarten FOUR days. Wasting no time learning to read her sight words in simple sentences. Beautiful.

Monday, August 18, 2008

First day of Kindergarten

Miss Tieg is off to Kindergarten. Our litte girl is approaching another milestone in her precious life. I'm excited, she's excited! BUT... I have very mixed feeling about this growing up stuff. August 18, 2008: MEET THE TEACHER DAY.

This was a "trial run" for the new AM/PM Kinder's. Most of the children looked happy and excited to be at Kindergarten. There were some who were nervous; understandable and to be expected. Tiegan was so ready to go. She was more of the "observer" the first day.
Her teacher happily welcomed all of her new friends with open arms. Today's purpose: MEET THE TEACHER DAY! We were asked to play a little scavenger hunt game to locate certain areas important to the kids' school day. Tiegan loved storytime. The selected book of the day was, DON'T EAT THE TEACHER. All the children were engaged and you could hear them giggling throughout the story. After storytime, there was time to work on fine motor skills; practice writing names, alphabet, etc. and drawing works of art. (I think this day is really for the parents.)
August 19, 2008: FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN.

I thought for sure she was going to fall over backwards with her big ol’ backpack on! Cute... cute!
Love this girl so much it hurts!
Ready for Kindergarten.
Come on, Mom... I have new friends to make and LOTS to learn.
Proud to sport her new PRINCESS lunch box.
Principal on crosswalk duty!
Her backpack is bigger than she is. Cute as ever...Love this memory!
Can you find her signature? (It's not easy to read... she used a pink marker... imagine that?)
Bell rings and kids are to stand on the yellow line.
(Now she wants to be first in line.)
Gave me a kiss and off she goes... "Bye, Mom. Have a good day. See you later."
Star Board: Her teacher and family.
Called up to get materials for the classroom scavenger hunt.
Good listener.
Kindergarten is hard work!

(But someone has to do it.)Artist in the works.The next MONET... PICASSO?
Her teacher asked her to take a picture outside on the playground equipment.

What a doll!
Learn something new everyday!
Having fun on the Kinder playground.
What these pictures do not depict is that the first day of Kindergarten is hard on mommas; especially this mama. Five years. Somehow they flew by. I sit here with tears in my eyes BUT I smile through the tears, because she is happy. Just how I hoped she would be. Isn’t that how parenting is supposed to go? Help them grow, nurture them, love them, teach them... all to let them flourish in other environments? This is heartbreaking. And its only Kindergarten. (Three cheers for Mom for not letting her see me cry! I think I got it all out!) She loves Kindergarten. This is going to be an awesome school year! GO, Tiegan! Mommy and Daddy are so PROUD of you little girl!

(And to think I have to do this again next year for Miss Kennedy. Whew! Does this get any easier?)

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Princess Cindertiegan

Happy 5th Birthday, Tieg!
Guess where Cindertiegan wanted to go?
Today, we had a small family Cindertiegan birthday party to celebrate her.

SHE...

* is one of our Cinderellas who always "thinks" PINK!

* can usually be found playing "dress-up" with her favorite Cinderkennedy.
* is the most beautiful girl inside and out.
* loves to sing and dance, just like her Daddy.
* is ready to go to Kindergarten!
* giggles hyterically when we read her newest favorite book, It's Time to Dance.
* likes to explore and be outdoors.
* hams it up for pictures.
* loves to drink W-A-T-E-R!
* is our performing arts child.
* gets excited when her favorite Brae learns something new.
* loves to wear her hair in pig tails.
* makes us PROUD.
* is SO BLESSED to have FAMILY that LOVES her SO MUCH!

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

When I see my daughters...

Our B-I-G girl, Tiegan was born five years ago today. Daddy was inspired to write this song after her birth. And has since dedicated this song to both of his girls. It makes my heart sing!

Guitar song: ... I Believe


Creative Brilliance?

Entertaining. Click on link address below, sit back, and watch the "animator" vs. "animation."

Do you think Alan Becker has a lot of time on his hands?

Click here: http://fc01.deviantart.com/fs13/f/2007/077/2/e/Animator_vs__Animation_by_alanbecker.swf
(Thanks, Aprill for passing this on to me! Good stuff...)

Sunday, August 10, 2008

She's coming...

Karin, my younger sister (turned 21 in May), took a trip last summer to Tanzania, Africa. She's quite the international traveler. Here are a few pictures to showcase her time in Africa.
Tanzania sunset... Gorgeous!
Safari
These doll babies are her adopted niece and nephew.
This is one of my favorite pictures of her painting this mural at one of the many African orphanages.
She's coming... Cannot wait! Dicke, ich liebe dich.