MH Club (Monster High Club)

Amaya and her girlfriends are into The Monster High girls right now. They are barbies, that look like a few different monsters, such as dracula, werewolf, etc.....These are the characters that they were for Halloween.

Amaya's friend Lauren, I mean "Draculauren", is starting to send emails on her own, so here are the pics that she sends.

I think it is funny, and cute.

They are even starting their own club. It will include, Amaya, Lauren, Emily, Shelby, and Macey. (and maybe Shayna)

Level 3 @ The B

Last night was Amaya's spelling B. She really hasn't studied, it's not like the movie Akeelah and The B. Really, how many words can one study. She reads all the time, and that seems to be enough for me!

There were a mixture of 5th and 6th graders, with more 6th than 5th, and the three finalists were all 6 graders.

Amaya made it to the 3rd round, and got stumped on the word "DROLL".

I can honestly say that I don't even know what the word means, but she spelled it "D R O L".

"I'm sorry", said the announcer, and off the stage she went. No tears or anything. Such a trooper!

Each kid got a $5 gift card to The Bookman, a local bookstore. What a great gift to receive, and what a great event to be a part of. You just wanted to cheer each kid on. Such fun!!

So, it was a great experience, and both sets of grandparents went, both the boys went, and even Emily Sherriff came to cheer on her friends!!

Amaya and friend, Lauren were both in it. Lauren made it to the 4th round.

The "B"

A couple of weeks ago, Amaya told me that she tried out for The Spelling B. What? My shy girl tried out for something without any prodding? Way to go AMAYA!!!! She said that she thought she would do well in something like this, because she usually gets A+'s on her spelling tests!
Today Amaya came home with a letter, and a HUGE smile! The letter says: Congratulations Amaya, you have made it to the Spelling B, which will be held in the Auditorium on December 13th. She is so excited, and I couldn't be more proud!!!

No School

This week the kids have had conferences, in lieu of 2 separate half days, the district opted for all of Friday off, which is today.

Ryan: (this morning while cuddling with me in bed) "I know why we don't have school this morning!"

Mom: Really? Why?

Ryan: Because the grass is frozen!

There has been frost on the rooftops and on the grass over the last week, and being the observant one, he came up with this for his reason. So cute!

Mom Stuff

So, I haven't gotten on here as much as I thought that I would, having the mornings "kid free" and all! OK, 2 weeks into school and I have already been on a field trip with Jake's class, and have volunteered in Ryan's class. I LOVE to spend time with their classes, to meet their teachers, see how they interact with the other students, and to meet the other kids.

I was surprised by Jake. I walked with his class to the SL library for their field trip. I was the "caboose" of the line, which meant that I walked in the back. He stayed with me the whole way, even held my hand most of the time. My heart wants to just explode while writing about this. I loved every minute of it! He is 8, and still willing to hold my hand in front of his "friends", or classmates! Whoo hoooo, I love that little guy! He has always been an affectionate little guy with such a dear heart. I hope that we can hold hands for many years to come. He was also more quiet than he normally is when I see him with his classmates. This is a new class, and none of his regular "friends" are in the class with him, so that may have something to do with it, but he was still quiet, non the less. He still interacted with the other kids, and they were definitely playing, making plans, and talking to him.

Ryan's class time was great too. I got to see the other kids, interact with them, and see how Ryan is in his young 5's class, which he LOVES!! He really has a good class, with only one little guy that is a little rambunctious, that is Darrell. Darrell was also in his preschool class, so they were immediate friends, of course. He has many nice kids in his class. Ry's class is a whole different dynamic than Jake's was. Jake's class had all kinds of naughty kids in it. (not even joking) Ryan's class was quiet, followed direction, and even knew how to just be kids, entertaining themselves without being disruptive. I watched Ryan do his papers, art, and puzzles. When he was done, he and and a little girl, sat quietly in the reading corner reading books. SO cute!!!

I really cherish the fact that I work part time, and am able to spend most of my days with my kids doing "mom" stuff. I am very fortunate! (and thankful for Scott!)

Too Big?

Last night, we tried Ryan on a two wheeled bike. It was soooooooooooo stinking easy for him to actually get it, that we should have done it a long time ago. I think that Grandpa Jim had a little bit to do with that. He took right off, and only fell once this morning when he went out before going to school.

Another huge feat for my little kid. I say that because, he is not so little, I guess. I mean, "little kids" don't ride 2 wheeled bikes, or take the bus to school. I guess he is becoming a big kid, which makes me so happy for him, but so sad knowing that he is getting too big to stay home with me and do the little kids things anymore.

OK, so, who am I fooling, he is still little!!!

A little help from his brother, Jakey, as Ryan calls him.

Silly Ryan

Today I went to volunteer in Ryan's class for ther first time. This is one of my all time favorite things to do! I love to meet their teacher, their classmates, and see how they interact in the classroom setting. It makes me so sad, that the older they get, the less the teacher allows you in the classroom to volunteer. (sniff sniff)

So, I am sitting at one of the little kindergarten tables stapeling some book order forms together for the teacher, Mrs. Ward, and I hear Ryan talk. He is in the circle, on the world rug, talking with his friends.

Ryan, "My mom is here in the class today......she has a weird shirt on."

Laughing in my head! Really? First the dissed kiss, now a weird shirt! Poor Ryan......(still laughing)!

So, here is my weird shirt!

Diss my Kiss?

Yesterday morning, I brought the kids to school instead of having them ride the bus. Ryan forgot his backpack, so I went home to pick it up and bring it back to him.

I got back in his class just as everyone was still getting into their seats, so I give Ryan his back pack and bend down to give him a kiss. I meet him just in front of his lips, so he can come the rest of the way (like he always does), and he says to me.......

"Mom, you can just put that on my head"

Seriously? Did my little 4 year old boy just diss my kiss? What?

So, I said, "ya know, all the other kids in here kiss their moms too, it's ok", and I planted like 4 kisses on his lips!

These pics are from his first day in his young 5's class. He is now LOVING it there! His favorite thing is to ride the bus, and to have recess.

School Time Again

Tomorrow school starts. This is a big year, as ALL my kids will be going to school EVERY day! Ryan will only be doing half days, but it is still every day, AND he rides the bus!! He is so excited! I, however, am not quite sure how I feel. I am extremely excited for him, but at the same time, can't believe that my little baby is old enough to get on the bus without a parent. I am relieved that he will be on the bus with Jake and Amaya, so that is a comfort, knowing that they will be on there with him and protect him from all the big, bad kids on the bus. Ha Ha. Ryan will be in young 5's, and will be starting school when he is still 4 yrs old. He will be 5 at the end of the month. He will do well, and I am sure the teacher will LOVE him!!

Amaya is in 5th grade this year, and goes to the intermediate school. It is the school that has all the 5th thru 8th graders. Once again, I am a litttle torn on how I feel about this. It just means that she is getting older, and is growing up. I worry about the exposure to more mature, big kid, things. I worry that the teachers aren't with them the whole day, and that they are not being led to the lunch room, etc, and have to get there on their own. (I know she will be fine, but it is just another giant step in growing up). She is a very responsible girl, with a good head on her shoulders, she will be fine. She is excited for this, but also a little nervous to be going to another school.

Jake will be 2nd grade this year. When I asked him if he was excited, he said, "no, I already know what school is like". He cracks me up. He doesn't have any of his friends in his class, so I think that may have a little to do with his melancholy attitude. He will do great, he has a charisma to him, likes to be social, and is a clown in class. He doesn't get into too much trouble, so he will be great!

So, big stuff tomorrow for the kiddos. (and for mom) I have a feeling that as the bus pulls away from my drive way, that a tear, or two, may fall from the corner of my eye. It happened that way with Amaya too. It was very unexpected, but it just happened. They are my babies, I love them with all my heart, and they are growing up. I wonder how it will be when they are in high school. Craziness, I am sure!