First and Last

Yesterday my kids headed back to school. I am usually full of excitement when my kids go to school. I have never felt sad, even when it was a little one going off to Kindergarten. I think part of it is the freedom for me, but also that I LOVED school!! And for the most part my kids do to.

Well, this year was a little different. As I was taking the annual first day of school pictures, it hit me hard that this would be Zac's last first day of school!! He will be graduating this year and so next fall (well, summer) he will not be a part of the tradition! He is getting closer and closer to leaving us, and it KILLS me!! I will miss him like crazy and have decided to just stop thinking about it.

So here are the photos!!

Kamrie - 2nd GradeScott - 5th Grade
(here that means middle school! And I
fixed his hair before we left!)
Chad - 6th Grade
(took him to the Dr, in that last 5 months he grew
3 inches and put on 30 pounds)Tyler - 10th GradeZac - 12th Grade!!

They wear uniforms to school, I didn't make them
wear matching clothes for the photo!

Where have I been?

I got an email from my Mom and she mentioned she had missed hearing from me. So here is what I have been up to the last month.

Gotta Brag!

My daughter is great!! When we moved here she made fast friends with Christian. He the son of our friends, and was born with spina bifida. She never treated him any differently than any other kids, and that always made me smile.

Last year she was allowed to be in a Pre-K class at school. This is a special ed class, and she was the Typical Peer. This is a child without any disabilities or learning delays, that is in the class. She was also the only girl. She had a great time, loved her teachers, and became friends with the boys.
So this year she is in Kindergarten and three of the boys from last year are in her class. She walks with them when they go for speech or back to the special ed class, and makes sure they are involved.
SO - there is a new program at our school, initiated by the guidance teachers. It is called Shining Stars. Each month teachers can nominate students who exemplify the word of the month to receive this award. September's word was RESPECT. Kamrie came home with this last Thursday. I was impressed and proud of her. Then I talked to her teacher who went on about how much she deserved it, and was a little emotional about it. This peaked my interest and I asked if I could get a copy of the nomination form for her scrap book. I was even more impressed when I got the form. She had been nominated for her "kindness and respect for children with disabilities". When I asked her about it she was very casual, "you know, Joseph, he doesn't walk very well, and sometimes he drops his books. I always help him pick them up and carry them for him." I think this is something the teacher pointed out in class when she got the award. I am so happy to have a child that has such an excepting heart, and desire to help others without being asked.

By the way, you can see in the picture a star for each child that received the award, there are about 30. Our school has over a thousand students.

GUILT

So, there are times in life when I let my guilt get the better of me. Like when I was at back to school night, and Kamrie's teacher says, if anyone would like to take this old ugly puppet theater home and refurbish it! I feel guilt because ever since I started doing daycare I am unable to help in the classroom. I am sure there are a lot of Mom's that don't help and don't feel any guilt. Lucky for Mrs. Garrett, I do. This project started out a very old ugly chiped red. I wish I would have taken a before picture. After a lot of paint stripping, and sanding, and more sanding, and even more sanding, this was the final product. She loved it, and today Chad's teacher mentioned she has one that is very plain!

It's Official!!!

With Kamrie off to Kindergarten this morning, all my kids are in school. It is hard to believe that just 6 short years ago we were awaiting the birth of this sweet little girl, and now she is out in the world. She told me she was little nervous this morning, but once we got into class she was fine. At our school they only go one day the first week. (So she will be home tomorrow) It is a nice way for the kids and the teacher to ease into the class. There were only four kids there today, and two were in her pre-k class last year. For those of you who know about that, I don't know how excited she was about that.



















We have no doubt that before too long, she will be running the class, and letting the teacher know how it should be. Luckily has as seasoned teacher that will be able to handle her.


Kamrie and her teacher Mrs. Garrett