school lunch

Parker has been a little homesick this second week of school.  When I told him that I could come to school and eat lunch with him, he was so excited!  It was a double bonus because Payton was chosen to be a lunch worker this week and could not have been happier.

Payton came running in the door from school Monday afternoon and said, "Guess what I got to do today?............I got to be a lunch worker!"  He then went on and on about how awesome it was.  Once he finished glowing about that, he had another huge announcement.  "You're never going to believe what else happened today?.......We got our recorders!"  {That story will have to be an entirely separate post because it's too good not to share.}

Obviously, Payton is L.O.V.I.N.G. 4th grade.  Parker loves school, but it's still just a little long for him.  I've gone to school lunch with him the last 2 days and I think it's more of a treat for me than for my boys.

back to school

Payton started back to school on Tuesday.  He is in the 4th grade.  How is it possible that I have a 4th grader?!  We are both so happy because he has an awesome teacher that we already know so well.  She was Parker's Kindergarten teacher last year.  Also, Payton has his two best friends in his class.  Below is Payton and Alex waiting in line.   Here's to hoping that this year is just as amazing as last year! 

Parker started school on Wednesday.  He met with his teacher on Tuesday and was so excited to start school he could hardly wait an extra day.  Parker is in 1st grade this year, which means he'll be gone ALL DAY LONG!  We are sure going to miss him, but we know that he is so ready.  He absolutely loves school.  He insisted on taking the bus on his first day and wouldn't let me take him.  Mr. Independent is ready for a great year!

It was so wild to walk back into our house at 8 am and realize it was just Cooper and I together all day long.  We looked at each other thinking, "What do we do now?"  Cooper retreated to the playroom and started playing by himself and I retreated to my office for the first time in months.  It's been nice to have some quiet time to finally get my blog updated.  We'll enjoy these long quiet days together for only a couple weeks until this baby comes and rocks our world once again!

last week of school

The last week of school there were so many activities going on.  Parker had his Kindergarten graduation...

BFF's - Ryker, Parker & Kyle

Kyle, Ryker, Parker, Evelyn & Alex

Mrs. Jackson & Parker

Does it get any cuter than this?

Parker had the most amazing Kindergarten experience.  He absolutely loved school and did so well.  He had the best class of kids, including so many of his best friends, and he had an incredible teacher.  We couldn't have asked for a better year.  And, we are so excited because Parker's teacher is going to be Payton's teacher next year.

Both Payton and Parker were part of the school Dance Festival.  I couldn't get a great picture, but I love that Payton has to dance at least once a year!  Parker loves dancing and would do it all the time so he thought this was great.

Cooper & Allie - These poor kids were dragged to the school every day for a week!

Grandma Patty & Daddy came to check it out!

BFF's - Chase, Payton & Alex with their High Flying Hawk Awards!

Mrs. Moss & Payton

Too cute!

Payton also had the most incredible year!  His class was fabulous and we absolutely adored his teacher (who also happens to live in our neighborhood so we already knew her...that may have helped).   I loved that she was able to push Payton in a way that made him reach his potential.  He excelled and really thrived in her classroom.

This year was such an amazing experience for both boys that I'm so sad to see it end, but I know that these two are ready for more and we just hope that next year is just as amazing!

planetarium fieldtrip

Loved the girls turned around flirting talking to the boys!

Crazy kids!!

These boys thought they were so cool with their 3D glasses on.

The whole class watching something fascinating.

On our way home after an exhausting fieldtrip!

I was lucky to be able to join Payton on his field trip to the Hansen Planetarium.  We got to watch an amazing 3D movie, the cheesy rocket movie and walk around the planetarium.  I loved watching Payton with all the kids in his class.  There was lots of giggling by the girls and lots of showing off by the boys.  It was so fun to spend the day with these kids

zoo fieldtrip

I love any opportunity I get to spend with my kids.  Especially, in their domain that I don't get to be a part of every day.  The bus ride with a million kindergartners was a real treat!  After we got to the zoo, it was a lot of fun.  Plus, I had my friends with me, which was an added bonus.  Parker LOVED going on his first field trip.  He was in heaven running around with all of his friends.  He especially loved the matching t-shirts they all got to wear. 

homework confession

After being off track for over a month, my two oldest headed back to school today and I'm just trying to gear myself up for it!

Payton, my oldest son, is in third grade, which means that he's been in school for 4 years.  Up until this year, we've never done homework.  Go ahead, gasp and judge me.  I told you it was a confession.  It's not something I'm proud of.  In my defense, he has always been a great student and he's an extremely independent child.

I thought I was living it up while I could.  I'm sure he'll have more homework when he gets older, let's take advantage of this down time while we can. I'd reassure myself.

He's always had spelling words, daily reading and math papers that would come home, but Payton would complete his math papers while on the bus ride home so that he wouldn't have to waste his precious play time once he got home.  He also spent so much time at school working on the spelling words that he never needed to practice them at home.  He does his daily reading with the lamp beside his bed after we've tucked him in for the night.

My point is.  I've never been involved in the homework process...until this year.  Two things happened:

First, Payton started getting homework.  Not just do-on-the-bus-homework, but needs- to-be-done-at-home-redo-that-assignment-because-it's-too-sloppy-need-your-parents-help-buy a tri-fold-for kind of homework.

Second, Parker started kindergarten.  He gets a packet that he needs to complete each month, a book he reads daily and sight words to practice, which is easy.  The issue is that he LOVES homework. (I'll explain why this is an "issue".)  He always has.  Even when he was in preschool he was begging to do "homework."  (Honestly, I have no idea where he learned the word...not at our house!)

So, after 4-years of no homework, we are now required to do homework.  Like everything else in life, I had to make it a priority.  And I did.  The past few weeks I've had to set weekly goals.  Help boys with homework - daily.  Since I'm being honest, it hasn't happened daily (just like my exercise goal), but I'm trying.  I want to get in the habit of learning in our home daily.  I want to develop these skills that my boys will need for the next bazillion years of their lives until the graduate with their PHD's.  (A mom can dream.)

When I first began trying to implement homework daily it was painful for ALL of us.  Payton has never been in the habit so he thought I was torturing him.  Parker never wants to stop doing homework once we start because he loves it so much and gets angry when I tell him we're done for the day.  For me, I've struggled to find a good time to help two boys, without pulling my hair out!

We don't have a set routine yet, but I think we're getting there.  My only goal has been to do something, anything daily.  I've realized there are so many fun ways to do homework.  These scrabble tiles (pictured above) have been perfect for Parker to spell out his sight words.  AND, he can do this for hours without needing my help, just a quick glance of approval every so often.

Payton is really competitive and loves games.  We use this website aaamath.com.  Payton loves doing the timed tests.  We play another game together with flashcards.  We lay the multiplication flashcards down on the table and the first person that can say the answer gets to keep the card, until the stack of flashcards are gone.  Whoever has the most cards wins.  Honestly, he's beat me a lot of times without me letting him win.  We are both having fun and we're learning.  Better than that, we're doing...HOMEWORK!

All this time, I thought I was being so smart, but now I'm realizing how much I've missed out on.  Luckily, there is always time to change a habit and start something new.  I'm grateful that I am finally making homework a priority.

Do you have any great homework suggestions for me?  As you can tell, I still need a lot of help!

the things we do for our kids

"Run-Fro-Runners"

...comprised of the Principal and a bunch of crazy PTA Moms.  Seriously, the things we do for our kids!  This is proof that I'm a totally awesome Mom.  I'm just hoping you can't pick out which fro is mine.  Luckily, we had a great time {and a great workout} putting on a Fundraiser Assembly for the PTA.  Totally worth seeing the smile on my son's face as all his friends laughed with him at his Mom.  He loved it...and so did I!

 

kindergarten

 Parker Jones

First Day of Kindergarten

Parker was more than ready to start Kindergarten in every single way.  He had watched his older brother get on the bus and go to school for the past 3 years and had patiently been waiting for his turn.   He thrived in preschool and was always begging to go to school more often or to do more homework.  It also didn't help that Payton started school 1 week and 1 day before Parker could start.  Every day was torture for Parker just waiting for his turn!  Finally, the day had arrived...

Waiting with one of his best buddies, Kyle, to finally start school!

Uh-oh.  Somebody having a change of heart!  Parker starting to have second thoughts about this school thing.  This is what he had always wanted to do, but when it came down to it, he was scared.  Scared to go to this big school without his Mom by his side.  Scared to get on the big huge bus.  Scared to start a new adventure.

These pictures break my heart.  I can just feel his fears and heartache.  Poor guy.  Luckily, I knew what was ahead.  I knew what Parker didn't know.  I knew that he would love it.  I knew that school wasn't scary so I wasn't scared for him at all.  I knew he'd do great!

He did do great and he absolutely LOVED school!  However, after school he refused to get on the bus and go home.  Luckily, we had already anticipated this scenario and my friend Jaimy brought him home with her.  Parker LOVED school, but was still afraid of the bus.  He said he was worried, but didn't know why he was scared.  I wasn't sure what to do because I had one child (Payton) who insisted on taking the bus and the other (Parker) not wanting to get near it.  All I could do was pray that Parker would have a change of heart.

Prayers are answered!  Parker woke up the second day of school shouting, "Mom, I've got to get ready for school.  I'm taking the bus.  I LOVE the bus!"  We all responded...'What?!"  Apparently Parker had a dream about the bus.  He was riding on the bus and it was not scary.  He told us exactly where he sat, who he sat by and where they drove.  He had so much fun that he literally could not wait to jump on the bus. 

After an answer to all of our prayers, Parker hopped on the bus the second day of school!

The rest is history!