Back to School 2013-2014

Another school year has begun!  I can't believe it.  Summer just flew by this year.

We now have a Kindergartner, Second Grader, Fifth Grader, Seventh Grader and Eighth Grader.

This school year Liam starts All day Kindergarten.  Thursday was his first day of school.  The day before I felt my emotions on the surface the entire day.  We went to play at open gym and he and I were running around laughing, playing with the balls, bouncing, kicking, just having a great time.  All of a sudden I realized this would be our last noon time open gym together and I got misty eyes.  I wanted to just hold on to that moment forever.  I always have a hard time when my babies go to school for the first time.  Liam is my little buddy, we have a special connection so it was especially hard letting him go for 8 hours a day.  To be honest I'm still questioning my decision to let him go all day....or to let him go at all!!

Official first day pictures:

Aidan had a particularly hard time with Liam leaving. Liam and Aidan are very close to each other.  Liam says they are "Best Brothers."  Aidan loves Liam so much and wants to do everything like him.  Aidan can say his "L's" perfectly but he calls his brother "Me-am" because Liam is merely an extension of Aidan.  Of course, they had to get a picture together and then Aidan spent the rest of the day asking if could go to school now.  He cried for at least an hour straight by mid-morning and when I had to explain to him for the 125th time that he couldn't go he was hard to console.

And with his teacher, Mrs. Maggard.  This was actually taken Tuesday night at Sneak Peek, where he got to meet the teacher and drop off his supplies.

Julianna is a 2nd grader this school year and Elise is a 5th grader.  Back in the Spring we made the decision that the girls would be homeschooled this year.  It is a huge leap of faith for me because I feel really inadequate.  I've researched and researched and poured my heart and soul into studying curriculum. I have really tried to find out what will be best with their learning styles. I am excited to spend the one on one time getting to truly know them.  I've really felt led to homeschooling and I'm trusting in The Lord.  It's hard to explain and wholly personal but I know that ultimately I'm doing the right thing for my little girls and they are so excited for the new experiences we are going to have at the Bowles Academy this year.  

Elise, 5th Grade

Julianna, 2nd Grade

They wanted a picture with their teacher....silly girls....

Lastly, my two big middle schoolers.  Ashlynne is in 8th grade this year.  Cheerleading, singing in the choir and also singing in the Kansas City youth choir Allegro.  I can't believe she is in her last year of middle school!  Next year we add seminary and high school to the mix!  Somebody press pause!!!

Brinton is in 7th grade and already I can tell he is much more mature this year than last. We went to the school to get his stuff in his locker and he kind of walked the halls like he owned the place, like he belonged.  There was a new confidence in him that I'd never really seen before.  He opened his locker on the first try, which was something that was really difficult at the beginning of last year.  He is playing cello in the orchestra again this year and also takes private cello lessons.  He is thinking he might try Cross Country this year. We are only a few days in but so far so good....fingers crossed.

Our family theme this school year is "O be wise..." {Jacob 6:5} with the reminder to be wise in all that we do.  Be wise in our choices, be wise in our daily dealings, be wise in our studies...so here is to te new school year.  Be Wise.

Pre-K

Hard to believe my little prince is starting Pre-K today and that he will go to actual kindergarten next year! He's still such a little guy it seems unreal. He has been talking about starting school all week, he is so excited. I just know he is going to love his teacher because I adore her and know that she is the perfect fit for his personality.

First Day Pic

He was so excited he was jumping up and down...

Then he got down right silly....cause he is a total Turkey!

With his teacher Miss Cristi (he looks scared but really that's just his fake camera smile)

Now that Liam started Pre-K that means that 3 days a week it's just me and this little guy (well and the baby when she finally joins our family...)

Oh boy do I look tired in this pic.....

School Days Part Deux

Today was Ashlynne's first day of school as a 7th grader.  It was kind of different for me this year because I had no say in her outfit (well I mean of course I kind of did but she picked it out entirely and I accepted as long as it was appropriate but other than that I had zero say).  I also had nothing to do with her hair, she got it all prepped and ready last night, woke up early this morning and just did it by herself.  She is also wearing mascara. (Is she really in 7th grade?!)

First day of 7th Grade

7 fingers for 7th grade!  This picture makes me laugh and laugh!

Best Friends.  My Middle School Kids.

Last week we went over to the school to decorate her locker.  That's a really big deal here for most of the girls.  Some went all out covering the entire inside of their lockers with decorative duct tape, wall paper, carpet samples...it's pretty insane.  We had a little activity with friends from church and made a couple cute things for her locker and then went and decorated.  It's sweet, simple, functional and very Ashlynne.

Standing in front of her newly decorated locker

The finished product.

I'm so happy to have a 7th grader.  She can finally, really do stuff....academically, sports, choir, theater.... It's so exciting!!

School Days, School Days....

It's that time of year again...yay!! This year I'll have a preschooler (Liam), 1st grader (Julianna), 4th grader (Elise), 6th grader (Brinton), and 7th grader (Ashlynne) and of course the babies at home. It seems so odd to me that I have 2 middle schoolers this year. I hardly feel like an adult most days so it really does just mess with my head sometimes.

This week has been jam packed with Back to School activities starting with a 6th Grade Welcome Night on Monday where the 6th graders got to go to the middle school and go to a pep rally, ice cream social and take some time to find classes and try opening lockers. Aidan tore Brinton's schedule and combo to shreds so we had to come back the next day and practice.  It was kind of nice to go when it was quiet though because it was less  chaotic. I'm so proud of Brinton because he was able to open it 9 times out of 10!

 It was also a special night for Ashlynne because it was the first pep rally she got to perform in as a 7th grade cheerleader. They got to lead the fight song and the crowd involvement cheers...I was so proud!(there is a little video of her doing the fight song on Facebook if you are facebook friends with me)

Elise and Julianna are my only two left at the elementary school this year. Elise has always had an older sibling with her in school and now it's her turn to be the biggest sister in the school. She was so protective over Nanna so I think she is settling into the role nicely. Tuesday night they had their Sneak Peek Ice Cream Social where they got to meet their teachers, check out their classrooms, drop off their supplies and of course eat ice cream. Elise was so excited that she woke up and got dressed at 6am but it didn't even begin until 5PM!!! Every so often she would let me know how much longer till we needed to be there and complaining about how slow the day was going. I was totally over the whole thing before I even got there but I'm glad she is so eager to learn.

Julianna and her first grade teacher at the Sneak Peek on Tuesday

Elise and her 4th grade teacher at the Sneak Peek

ICE CREAM!

 

Today, the 15th, was the actual 1st day of school for elementary and the 6th graders at the middle school. They like to give the 6th graders one day without all the 7th and 8th graders to get used to the school and relax. I don't think they even went to any classes today just got to know every one and had an assembly and lunch.

Here are their first day of school pics for the day....

More later because tomorrow it's Ashlynne's first day!!!