NEHS Induction Ceremony

 Zoe with Mr. Harris (her teacher) and her friend, Sarah.

Love this picture of Liam.
So the kids were selected to apply to National Elementary Honor Society because of their good grades. They were both selected and we got to attend the induction ceremony. They both are working so hard at school. I am very proud of them!

Last Day of School '13

Last day of school for 1st, 4th, and 5th grades. Do you think they have grown at all since the first day of this school year?

All we need is LOVE

 I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Valentines Day! I mean, how can you not love a day about love? The kids are still permitting me to send homemade valentines to their classes.
Lydias valentine reads: "I mustache you a question: Will you be my friend?" She wouldn't let me put "Will you be my Valentine?" Zoe also took chocolate mustaches, but didn't put a sign on them.

 Felix had SO much fun passing out his Valentines. He didn't even ask to eat the suckers, he was so excited about giving them to his friends. He also gave them to his bus drivers and helpers and his teachers.

 Liam enjoys doing the same Valentine every year and I am sure there are a few girls who don't mind getting a picture of him (that is his mom talking).

 We made quite a few chocolate mustaches!

As always the grandparents got a reminder...We Love You XOXO!!!!

Pearl of Great Price

 Lydia came home from school the other day excited about a project assigned at school. She was to decorate a shoe box to be a "float" in the first grade Thanksgiving Parade. We had a lot of fun decorating the shoebox. I showed her how to dip crepe paper into glue to make it look like flowers.
It was so fun I thought about how fun it would be to have all of the kids do one every year with a theme of "what I am thankful for". It would be a great Thanksgiving day activity.

 After the parade, the teachers were ambitious enough to host a Thanksgiving Feast. When Lydia found out that the feast consisted of Turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing she literally cried. Geez my kids are picky eaters. I packed her a lunch instead.

 My little Pearly girl is getting so big! Look how lovely she is. She has made a lot of progress with some behavioral issues she had been dealing with this year. Also, she has been working really hard at her reading and sight words and doing great.

Here is a picture she drew. I love how, while the drawings are very simple, you know exactly what those little stick figures are doing and feeling. Hilarious! Thank you public schools and cable t.v. for my 6 year olds knowledge of Justin Bieber.
Lydia is always drawing or coloring. She can't help herself. It is a compulsion (in the best sense possible). She always has a pencil, pen, marker, or paintbrush in hand. I love it. I know it won't last, so I really savor this passion she has.

Crying in the Wilderness: Felix's first day of pre-school

Okay, the title is a little misleading. I didn't cry, but it was definitely bittersweet. He REALLY needs this eduction. He will have access to speech therapy and occupational therapy at school. He really loves nursery (at church) and playing with friends, so I think he will enjoy school. It is also hard for him to get accustomed to new schedules and routines.
 He wouldn't look at the camera because he was too busy looking for the bus.

 He was very excited! He is my BABY!

He is only gone less than 4 hours total. I did the dishes, mopped the floor, studied my scriptures, made some phone calls, planned my week, went for a contemplative hour-long walk/run, checked and returned emails, blogged, and showered. I doubt I will be so productive everyday.
I am excited for his new chapter in life. I hope he is too.

First and foremost

 First day of school for Zoe (5th), Liam (4th), Lydia (1st), and Felix starts preschool next week. He couldn't be left out this morning so he donned his backpack, too.

 See how they are all smiles? I was so mean to them, and they were so bored that they were overjoyed to start school.

 Zoe and Alexis

Liam and Ethan.
The bus stop is directly out in front of our house this year. It is a pretty sweet deal. When they almost miss the bus, they don't have to run all the way down the street to catch it. In the wintertime we can wait for the bus in the comfort of our livingroom. Nice.

School's out for Summa! School's out ForEVA!

Last week of school was a whirlwind. Lots of activities at school for the kids. I was able to go to Lydia's graduation and Liam's lunch picnic. I didn't get to attend anything for Zoe (which is pretty typical of the entire school year :(
That week the weather was good. Better than the first week of summer.

Put your best foot forward

 Our Lydia commenced from Kindergarten yesterday. Class of 2024! Crazy. They sang some songs and received their diplomas. Lydia has had a wonderful year and has LOVED her teacher and her class. She was so happy to go to school this year!

 Lydia with her teacher, Mrs. Atkins.

Lydia and her bestie!

The show must go on

Felix went to pre-school today. I packed a snack, put it in his new lunchbox, put it in a backpack, put him on the bus and waved goodbye. He just turned 3, which means that the weekly speech therapy sessions, and the weekly occupational therapy sessions we have been having (at the house, no less) are no longer available. The Infants and Toddlers program is from birth to 3. So now his special education is taken over by the school district.

 We have gone out to the school several times over the last few weeks for testing and meetings, etc. Felix qualified for the program because of his sensory issues and also his speech comprehension is really low.
I am really excited about this opportunity for him to keep learning how to function in different settings.

 His backpack is so heavy he couldn't stand up straight! Actually I think it was more giant than heavy.

Lydia's pumpkin patch adventure

 Lydia's very first field trip as a kindergartner. The day was beautiful. The field trip had actually been cancelled last week because it was raining. Felix and I joined Lydia at the pumpkin patch/farm/carnival (I just say carnival because they had all sorts of money-making rides, etc.).

 First the kids got to go on a hay ride on a trailer covered with hay (covered with tarps, thank you), pulled by a huge tractor. It was pretty fun (as you can tell by Lydia's face). Felix liked it about half of the time. Next they got to pick out their pumpkin. Then there was a petting zoo (complete with Zebra!). Felix and I didn't make it into the tent that held the petting zoo. I think Felix and the animals would have done a pretty good job freaking each other out.

 The little kindergartners got to go through a hay bale maze, a corn maze, and learn about how a pumpkin grows!

Lydia was so happy to have us there. Parents are still kind of like rock stars to kindergartners. It was a nice day out, and I am glad we got to come!

First day of school

 Lydia is starting Kindergarten and is very excited. I am so happy she has brother and sister to ride the bus with. She looked awfully small getting on the bus this morning.

 Liam starts 3rd grade. I think he is excited to have some friends in his class this year.

 Zoe is so big, starting 4th grade! She was excited/anxious. She was definitly ready for school to start so she didn't have to be so bored anymore.

Hope they like their first day of school. The house is really quiet and I keep talking to myself. But I think I will be able to find plenty of things to do to keep me busy. I have a list of projects as long as Felix's nap.

Lydia's preschool

We are doing a co-op with some friends from the Ward. There are six children. Lydia was so excited. She missed the deadline for Kindergarten this year but is really ready for some structure and learning.
Just recently before school started she has been writing all her letters and asking how to spell things. She is eager to learn.

Lydia and her favorite partner in crime.

First day of 2nd and 3rd grade

Friends at the bus stop. They are all being chickens. There is a neighborhood obsession with chickens. Weird.

Cut it short!

Last week of 1st and 2nd grade

I feel so detached from school. Last year I was with the kids everyday of the last week. Because they ride the bus and the school is so far away I just don't feel a part of things. Maybe that is partly because they are older and I will continue to be less involved.
We are excited for summer. I don't want to get too hasty, but maybe we could get some sun and temperatures over 65 degrees?

Art Project

Zoe is writing a research paper on Koala bears for school. One of the assignments was to make a visual representation of the animal you are researching. We decided to make a paste paper collage. We love Eric Carle books and this is the medium he uses (although maybe he has a more acurate name for it). We made the paste paper, let it dry, then cut out the shapes. It really turned out neat!

Pearly's first day of "school"

Little curly, Pearly Turley girlie

As I mentioned, some of my friends and I decided to do a co-op of sorts for our pre-schoolers. Lydia had her first day today. I put her hair in hot rollers (she wanted curly hair). She had a lot of fun at what will probably end up being a glorified playday. She will go every Thursday for two hours.
Iam in charge this week. It should be fun!

first day of school

Zoe started 2nd grade today. She had a good attitude but when I picked them up from school she was really upset. I guess all of her friends from last year were in another class. She was also really tired. It always takes a long time to get use to school again, doesn't it?

Liam started (all day) 1st grade. He has the same teacher Zoe had last year. He was also super grouchy when I picked them up from school, but he was beyond tired. I'm not sure why my kids are so negative. I hope they get use to school and end up enjoying it. Lydia wasn't too sad to see them go. We are enjoying our time together.