Soaked to the bone

I decided to walk to pick up the kids from school today. I saw some grey clouds overhead, but they didn't look too ominous, so I continued. About a third of the way there, huge raindrops sprinkled down. Oh well, a little light rain. So, I continued.

Then it really started raining. Again, I figured, how bad could it get, and stayed under the trees. Now I was late and wet, but I tried to convince myself that it was a nice summer rain and that we'd have fun walking home together.

When I got to the school, the kids were gone. As I started up the hill, it was pouring. I continued home (what else could I do), soaked to the bone and blinded by the rain in my eyes. Finally, a good samaritan mom picked me up. Turns out her daughter is in Sam's class. So nice. I rejected her offer initially because I was dripping wet, but she said, "no problem! I have leather seats!" I explained I was worried about my kids and sure enough, we found them huddled together, walking home.

We picked them up too and made it here safely. We had to strip off the soaked clothes-- my running shoes may never be the same-- and take warm showers.

Kate just sat down next to me and said, "Sam told me we'd survive, and we did. He was right, God did have a plan for us to get out just in time!"

So cute. God does have a plan. (I think it includes no soccer this season for Kate, unfortunately. Haven't had practice in 3 weeks due to rain. In the desert of all places!)

First day of Kindergarten! (oh yeah, 3rd grade too)

It's finally here, the long-awaited day when both of my kids would be in school at the same time, same place even! Wow! I've been waiting for this day for so long, I expected to throw a parade or leave the school skipping and singing while the wind swept through my hair and the diet coke fairy bestowed a fresh, bubbly beverage in my hand and throngs of mothers everywhere would line up on the side of the street and say "Well done! You made it! Free at last!!!"

So I know you're as surprised as I am that I was a little emotional about the whole thing. It didn't help that our morning was a little, well, off-plan. But, when we got out there, and headed on our way, the kids looked good, Stu joined us for his first 1st-day experience, and all was sunny and warm. I felt bad when we dropped Sam, which became sort of an afterthought to the big FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN thing for Kate. He was fine, though, and told his new teacher he was ready to go.

For Kate, I have wanted her to be a kindergartener for so long, and she's been so ready for so long, that over the last week or so it occurred to me that I wasn't giving her first day the same weight that I did Sam's way back when. But once we were there, on the kindergarten play ground, in line to go into class, it hit me that this is a big deal. My big girl is finally where she belongs, where she wants to be.

I am so happy with her teacher, Ms. Consalo. When the bell rang and the kids lined up, she stood on the chair at the front of the line and yelled, "Good morning Ms. Consalo's pirate class. Are you ready for a pirate adventure? If you are, say "Aye aye mate!"" and then all the kids yelled back. It was so fun! She marched them off to the class room, telling them that the big people who were there (Parents) were all soft and weepy about the big day, so she needed the kids to be super strong ("Show me your muscles!" she told them). She read a weepy story (The Kissing Hand), and told the kids to run and give their parents a kiss and say good bye quickly. Kate looked up from her spot on the rug like, "I'm not getting up. You people can go now." She did finally get guilted into coming back and saying good bye, but she was NOT doing the kissing hand thing. See ya mom and dad. Ugh. My heart. Breaking.

I know, I'm proud she's a tough girl, and I taught her to be that way, but geesh. Just a little kissing hand? Please?

Silly faces.

Happy faces.

First day of school faces!

Field day

Here in the desert, field day at the end of the year is kind of... Hot. So, Sam's field day was before spring break began. And what a perfect day! About 82 degrees, sunny... Ummm.

I went to watch some of the day and the kids were having a great time. They'd been practicing field day events in PE, so they'd get to each event and just go for it. No instructions required.

I have some pictures and a video I'll get up here someday. Until then, here he is!

My son, the author

Today Sam's class had an Author's Tea. It was an opportunity for parents to come see what they'd been doing in their daily writing time. 6 kids were chosen to read their story to the class and Samuel (his school name!) was one of them. He spoke loudly and clearly and used great humor and inflection when reading. Stuart and I were so proud!

His story was about our long drive from Missouri to Las Vegas. It was very funny and rather food-centric. My boy likes continental breakfast!

Stuart arranged to be there, which Sam was super excited about. I was okay too.

It is great to see him doing so well in class. We are blessed.

Showing dad his classroom

Sam at his desk

Speaking in front of the class

Sam's Book

This SHOULD be the video I took of Sam reading the story he wrote in front of his class and their parents at Writer's Tea.

First day of School!

Sam and Kate both started school today. Not many stories really, but I did get some pictures. Sam loved it and liked math best. Kate said all they did was puzzles, but I'm not too sure about that. I hope not!

Our kids on the balcony of our temporary apartment-- Looking good, right?!

Walking to the school. We had to park about 2 blocks away-- it was crazy!

Sam with school supplies in tow. Can you see all the people? Chaos!

Kate's first day at preschool Nothing as cute as the mural at Stepping Stones to take pictures in front of, but here she is anyway, dressed in her favorite purple with purple shoelaces in her (required) tennis shoes!

After school... happy boy = success!

Winter Program Pictures

It's been a quiet winter, really. I do have a few pictures from Sam's spring concert at school. He did a great job, as usual. The music teacher always picks really fun songs that the kids like to sing, and there are plenty of actions. Here are the pics!

Sam's desk



Sam and Mrs. Simons-- she's due in May, so we had to get a picture in while we still could!



Sam's classmates in their first-ever "party pic"



Kate with friends Mitch and Grant from Stepping Stones (their big sis is a K student)



Being silly before/after the singing



School Eve

This morning I told Sam it's school eve (you know, the night before school starts). His response?

"You don't get presents for that, right?" This from the kid who just had 3 birthday parties.

"Um, no. But you do get new school supplies!" He smiled.

FIeld Day

Sam had his first Field Day last Friday. It rained all week (as it has been for the last two weeks-- welcome to Seattle), but was dry on Friday morning. He's wet in these pictures because of the games, not the weather! Stuart was an official helper, so he took pictures of his station-- the Leaky Bucket race. As you can see, they had a great time!

The bucket

Sam had his first day back to school yesterday, and came home pretty excited about seeing his friends. When I asked him what they learned, he told me that they learned about the invisible bucket. Later he recounted the same tale to Dad like this:

"Well, we learned about invisible buckets. You know, everyone has one that they carry around and stuff. So, there's two kinds of people. When you do nice things, or say something nice to someone, that's being a bucket filler. When you do mean stuff, that's being a bucket dipper. Bucket dippers think that they are..."

...and then Dad cut him off and he didn't really finish, but I'm thinking the end of that is something about how bucket dippers think that they are getting more full by taking from others, but they really are wasting the water. Or something philosophical like that. Sam's our resident philosopher, so I'm not surprised that this was a meaningful lesson for him.

Really, if they'd learn this now, it would save a lot of trouble later on. Particularly in middle school.

In trouble?

Kindergarten is a big wasteland. I have no idea what's happening over there, but am happy to report that we are getting "monday mail" now that attempts to keep us boy-moms somewhat informed.

Therefore, every sentence from Sam about school is a treasured gem. I'm looking for anything and everything that will help me glean some sort of understanding about his day. So last night in the car, you can imagine my surprise when his comment about his day was:

"Well, I didn't get in trouble, and I didn't have to have any meetings."

"Have you been having a lot of meetings?" I asked. (Meetings are some sort of new disciplinary code for getting called up to the teacher's desk, I think.)

"Well, yeah. Sometimes I have meetings."

"What for?" I asked, shocked. I think of Sam as the good, compliant one, so I'm shocked to learn of his newfound rebelliousness.

"Just doing things I'm not supposed to, breaking rules. Like talking in the hall, and stuff like that."

I'd heard about a talking in the hall incident before, but I'm not sure where the other meetings have come from. I guess the fact that I haven't been called in to meet with the teacher means that it's not too serious. Right?

First note from teacher

Okay, so I emailed the new teacher on the first day of school. Before you judge me as over-eager or whatever, know that I had a specific question about Sam's birthday snack for tomorrow. We drew early snack due to Sam's August birthday, so I needed to know!

Here's what she said:

Dear Mrs. Matthews,

Donut holes are fine... they are not homemade, so that works. I will just pass them out... if you could please send some napkins. :)
Sam has had a great day.... He is so fun. One time he remembered something and he said, "I am always on it!"
He is really a doll. Thanks for checking with me.

J.B.
Kindergarten Teacher

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See! He really is great!

The First Full Day of Kindergarten

Waiting for the bus

My big kindergartener!

I stayed home to put Sam on the bus for his first full day of Kindergarten. We did all of the pictures and videos and such on Friday's transition day, so I figured this would be easier. He wanted to ride the bus, not be taken to school, which was fine with me.

When we went outside to wait, he wanted me to stay in our driveway, while he waited across the street. No problem. The separation was symbolic of the way he's being cut out of my life and transplanted into new, big boy, school life. (Ha. Just kidding about that part!)


It was difficult though. I gave him a couple of hugs (he asked for an extra- yea!), and he wanted me to watch from outside, not inside, while he waited. He is so ready for school, and I know he'll do great.


I never thought I'd be one of those moms who greeted the first day of school with tears and apprehension, but I drove away from the house with tears in my eyes. It is the beginning of something so great in Sam's life, but the end of something great in mine. Those years where we were the primary focus of his world, and influencers of his life, are gone. I am really glad that I was home as much as I was. I feel like I truly appreciated and enjoyed every day, or most every day.

So, onward and upward! The Father who has watched over Sam and listens to my prayers will continue to watch him now. "And Samuel grew in wisdom and stature and favor with God."