Boohoo Woohoo

Jackson's has started the 3rd grade, if you can believe it!  Clothes were set out, lunch was packed, forms were signed and we were shockingly early for Stevens'. 

I was able to help the PTO by setting up for our Boohoo Woohoo breakfast for Kindergarten students.  It's a new event that our new principal brought.  Behold, the flyer of this fun event:

First Grade Already?

Today, August 19th, I officially have a 1st grader on my hands. I'm hoping that this isn't the year that I won't be able to help him with his homework because it's over my head! Doesn't it seem like kiddos are covering some subject matter that I discovered in middle school?? Either way, he's one excited little boy....err...young man.

I was beaming with pride this morning as we got to his room. Let me back up, we were running late. (What a shock!) Molasses moves quicker than Little Man this morning. We finally get to his school and enter his classroom. Behold, there was no one in there which caused him to look at me smartly and said "I guess we were early after all." After a mental picture of a headlock and noogie, we went looking for some sign of children. We ran into both his teacher and another little girl. We found out where they gather in the morning and as we headed that direction I got to hear the little gentleman say. "Hi! I'm Jackson, what's your name?" When she responded he said, "It's very nice to meet you. Let's go together to the hall." The poor girl was taken aback and the teacher didn't believe her ears. After mouthing the words to me "He's so polite" I beamed with pride and followed at a distance behind them. I also said a little prayer that this wouldn't be the year that his wonderful quality of chivalry doesn't disappear.

Here are the pictures of my little learner:

His favorite pose


Apparently Sebastian has a pose he'd like to strike, too.

Same stance, different background.

Love this new backpack we got from Initially Yours in Jeff City.

Jackson with his super-sweet teacher, Mrs. Keith.
Here's to a great year ahead of you!

It was a Spooktacular Halloween!

Well, Halloween has come and gone. It's been a crazy, busy weekend and it's been memorable. I think it's a little nuts that Halloween seems more fun with the kids than I can remember. Here are some pictures to sum up our weekend.


We visited Bryan's grandparents after Trick or Treating. I thought this was such a sweet picture of Great Grandma Adkins with two of the great-grandkids.

Yep. This is a huge pumkin. It's called the Great Pumpkin, in fact. Bryan's bosses, the Hubers, had this giant pumpkin custom made by a hot air balloon company. They loan it to the governor's mansion every year for the downtown halloween event. Then, on Halloween night, the Great Pumpkin inflates and glows in their front yard. They have a speaker inside and everything so they can greet the children by name. It's a hoot every year to visit.

The next few pictures are from the Huber & Associates party they had for their employees and their families. They went all out this year with a bounce house, pumpkin painting, hay mazes, treasure hunts and, of course, the Great Pumpkin.

I love this "Are you serious?" face he's giving me here!

The next couple of pics are from the Kindergarten class party. It's a sickness, really, but I LOVED throwing this party! We had a photo spot area, a funny book read by another mother, bead your own candy necklace station and a pumpkin toss. I made ghosts from helium balloons and tulle that floated around the room during the party. What a blast!

Lastly, Jackson and Sebastian were dancing up a storm on Friday morning. They wanted me to witness their "Awesome Dancing Moves."

Halloween Playlist

So, I'm trying to come up with a Kindergarten Friendly playlist for the party on Thursday. Here's what I have so far:

Purple People Eater
Werewolves of London-Warren Zevon
Monster Mash
I Want Candy-Bow Wow Wow
This Is Halloween-from Nightmare Before Christmas
I Put A Spell On You- Screamin' Jay Hawkins
Weird Science-Oingo Boingo
Munsters Theme
Addams Family Theme
Ghostbusters
Love Potion No. 9
Little Red Riding Hood---Sam the Sham & the Pharoahs
Witch Doctor

Also, the activity list at this point is as follows:

Stations:
Party Picture Taking

Frame Decorating
Snacks
Pumpkin Toss
Halloween Ring Toss or Pumpkin Bowling - 35 minutes total

Group Game: Mummy Race – Dulce
For this game you divide the class up in to teams. Then you choose one child from every team to be the mummy. Each team has to wrap up their mummy in a set amount of time, making sure to leave the nose and eye area open. After each team has finished wrapping their mummy then the mummy has to hop (with out braking any of the wrapping) down to the finish line. Then winning team gets a prize. Make sure to have plenty of paper and to play some devilish music like monster mash while the game is being played.
10 minutes

Book: Halloween by Jerry Seinfeld
10 minutes

Hand out Goodie Bags

5 minutes

Okay, so what are your thoughts?? Will it work? Are there other songs you can think of??

It's almost Halloween!!!

So, we finally bought Jackson's costume last night. I decided to drag my feet a little more than usual since he has changed his mind an average of twice a day. We have gone from Lego Batman to Ironman to Optimus Prime and (my favorite) a Native American. That's right, a blonde hair, blue eyed, creamy white skinned Native American. I really think it was just the appeal of a mohawk that did it for him. So, I let him wear a mohawk to school a couple of days and got rid of that little urge. All that to say, Jackson is going to be...drumroll please....a Ninja. Yep, he never mentioned a desire to be a Ninja at all but fell in love with the costume at the store last night.

Sebastian will be dressed up as a soccer player. I know, it's a stretch. The boy sleeps with two soccer balls every night and wakes up to dribble a ball out of his room and through the house every morning. I wore a necklace yesterday that had a silver circle and he kept chanting "ball, ball, ball." This boy loves soccer so it's a safe bet that he'll love his costume.

So, stay posted because I'll have pics of them in their costumes this weekend from our Fall Fun for Families at our church. Also, I am room mom for Jackson's Kindgergarten class. HOORAY!!! I am getting things ready for their Halloween party. I'll keep you posted.

Jackson's First Day of School

I am so proud...I didn't cry! I'm thinking the summer camp experience helped us all! Jackson and I walked to school this morning. This is something I have dreamed about since literally the day he was born. I remember my first day of school with Mom walking me and Julia with my Mork & Mindy lunchbox. We are blessed to live close enough to the school that we can walk. I don't think I could bear putting him on a bus yet.

Along the walk he talked with Cito on the phone. He kept saying how he has to see Jackson's new school shoes. He also said that Cito has to hurry with school or he's going to miss it. Last night he talked about how in 13 years he'll be finished and can be Felipe's roomate in college. (For those who don't know, Felipe's my 19-year-old nephew!)

And now...for some pictures:

Look, he's already learned something!! There was a 2nd grader in line before us to take a picture by the marque. Jackson was inspired by the sour look on the child's face and decided to do the same.

Of course, that didn't last long with Mom behind the camera!

Here he is in the hallway outside his room. They were all lined up ready to get inside! Luckily, he already knows 3 or 4 children in his class through church, Y Soccer and YMCA Summer camp. He's off to a great start.