Halloween 2012

We started October at Boone Hall Pumpkin Patch, which is an annual tradition. Besides pumpkins, it has a hayride, corn maze, jump castles and pillows, play structures, and a new spider web.

Spider Web

I think we're lost!

"It's not too heavy!"

"If you're gonna take my picture, I'm gonna look goofy!

We had fun carving the pumpkins!

And finally... HALLOWEEN! Rob and I felt very safe walking the streets of our neighborhood with two ninjas to protect us!

The boys got a big haul, most of it thanks to Jay who asked each person, "How many can we take?" When we returned home, Cole built Mt. Chocomore, and Jay got a candy bar's worth of chocolate on his face! Two signs of a great Halloween!

Halloween 2011

This year we decided to get creative and use stuff from around the house as costumes. Cole was a detective and Jay was an angry bird.

First Day of School 2012

This year, school started on my birthday! It was so chaotic that I didn't even remember it was my birthday until I saw the greetings online. The quiet house was a treat; nonetheless, I really wasn't ready for the school schedules and activities to begin again.

Jay was very excited to start first grade. (The puppies were excited too!)  He became even more thrilled when he learned his teacher's name is Heather (imagine his huge grin!). She is very sweet and young with a strong Georgia accent, so it will be interesting to hear if his crazy accent changes over the year.

He loves that he has homework this year (what a difference it makes to have an older sibling). Each Monday, the students bring home 3 or 4 worksheets that they need to finish by Friday. Within minutes of walking in the door Monday afternoon, he has them all finished.

I'm going to be one of the room moms in his class, so I'm looking forward to getting to know all the kids and the teacher better.

I can't believe that Cole is in third grade! He looks so grown up! Thank goodness for my new camera or I wouldn't have been able to get this picture in the split second that he paused on his way to the car to say, "Don't take my picture."

The year got off to a great start when he found out that he came in 3rd place (out of the whole school) for the most pages read over the summer. The prize was a gift certificate to his favorite store, Barnes & Noble. (As he says, it has his 3 favorite things: books, legos, and cupcakes!)

He also tested into a gifted class that meets once a week to work on special projects. Later in the year, they'll learn about bridges and study the beautiful one that brings us from Mt P to Charleston. I'd like to go to that class!

People had warned us that third grade is challenging and we've seen that from the beginning. A month into the year, however, we've finally settled into a good homework routine and he's doing well with the higher expectations.

Cole's in Second Grade!

Somehow, Cole keeps getting older and older. I wish I could keep him at seven year old, because he is such a fun, wonderful boy. (Although I seem to say that every year.)

He is now in second grade, which, with two full grades below him in school, is officially a BIG KID! Second graders have a little homework every night, get to check out two library books at a time, and go on two field trips. In Cub Scouts, he is now a Wolf Cub and has a lot of patches and belt loops on his uniform.

Cole was a great big brother on Jay's first day of kindergarten and helped him find his cubby and seat. We are excited to see what this year brings!

Mother's Day 2012

I received many hugs, kisses, and artwork from the boys for Mother's Day. Jay's gift included a song...

Jay's First Day at the BIG SCHOOL

 

Jay is finally in kindergarten. I say "finally" because he has been waiting to go to the BIG SCHOOL since Cole started two years ago. As usual, his favorite classmates are girls. Cecelia, his friend from preschool, is in his class, as well as Gracie, the girl who lives across the street. His new crush, however, is Kaylee. Not long after school started, they asked the teacher if they could be girlfriend and boyfriend. Apparently, however, there's trouble brewing in class K-E. Another boy told his mom that he and Kaylee are getting married.  According to the mom, he said very seriously, "Mom, I can't believe I already met the girl I'm going to marry." Kaylee came over for a playdate and Jay put on a nice button-down shirt. When I complimented him, Cole teased, "He dressed up for Kay-lee." Cole also took his big brother role quite seriously and teased and annoyed them the entire time. We need to have her over again soon and banish Cole to his room!

As room mom, I've been able to spend time in his classroom and I'm quite impressed with the class. His two teachers have been at the school since it opened about 25 years ago. They handle the kids beautifully and seem to really enjoy teaching kindergarten.

Academically, he's doing very well. His reading improves daily and he loves to do math problems. I find pieces of paper filled with equations all over the house. He takes computer class once a week and for awhile he muttered "www-dot-com" under his breath. He always tries to look over Cole's shoulder when he's doing homework and when I quiz Cole on his spelling words, Jay chimes in with the first letter. It makes Cole mad, so I try to give Jay some "homework" to do at the same time. He recently told me he doesn't like art because he has to do what the teacher tells him to do. He'd rather do his own projects (he's always creating little projects at home with tape and scraps of paper), but he is still proud of his school artwork.

The school's uniform policy is the hardest adjustment for him this year. He's always had a unique sense of style, from dressing as spiderman with his baby blanket as a cape and cowboy boots to wearing a batting helmet backwards while carrying a purse. The uniform is very casual (a red, white, or blue shirt [solid or with the school logo] with khakis or jeans), but the first few weeks, it seriously cramped his style. He'd come downstairs wearing his favorite Hawiaan shirt and I'd have to send him back. "But Mommy," he'd say, "It's beautiful." As the year has progressed, he's gotten more used to the dress code, but there are many days we let it slide. The other day he wore his blue fleece hoodie (with the hood up), gray gym shorts, and his cowboy boots. His teachers got a kick out of that.

They recently celebrated the 100th day of school. I can't believe Jay's kindergarten year is almost over!

Five Little Pumpkins

The boys put together this little Halloween program. Here are the lyrics in case it isn't clear. Enjoy!!

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate.

The first one said, "Oh my, it's getting late."

The second one said, "There are witches in the air."

The third one said, "But we don't care."

The fourth one said, "Let's run and run and run."

The fifth one said, "I'm ready for some fun!"

Oooo went the wind and out went the light,

And the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight!