Cohan is a Kindergartner

The transition from preschool to being school age is huge, not just for kids, but us parents too.  No longer do we have two little kids.  We have a little man that is in KINDERGARTEN!!  

I came home from one of the first teacher work days with a present for Cohan.  A New Haven Elementary School t-shirt!  He was so excited!! 

Cohan came to work with me a couple days and he made quick friends with lots of teacher's kids.  I knew the transition to kindergarten would be great for him.  

Nanny and Papa H watched him for two days while I worked.  Papa H even brought him up to school to do a kindergarten assessment.  He loved his time with them!!

Wednesday evening, he came to school for Meet the Teacher.  

To say he was excited was an understatement.   

His new backpack is a shark, but has a pump in it.  The mouth of the shark opens and shuts.  

He thinks it's pretty much the coolest thing around.  

He ran right to Mrs. Garth, the principal, to find out who his teacher was.  He was REALLY hoping for Mrs. Maddox.  He got her!!!!  He was so excited because during the assessment he had done earlier that day, Mrs. Maddox told Cohan he knew Aunt Beth and his cousins.  It blew his mind.  That was the first thing he told us about her.  I've known her for years too and know they will be the perfect match.  

He put his supplies away and found his seat...

She had a photo props to go with their underwater adventure themed classroom.

The next morning, he was so excited to get to school and start Kindergarten!  

Here are just a few of the other teacher's kids that he plays with before and after school.  They were so excited for him to start.  

Headed to class...

He got right to work.

I even got a text from his teacher during the day with this picture!   

I'm so impressed with his love of school already.  

He is now officially a New Haven Star! 

Boom... just like that we have a Kindergartner.

Ireland Takes on Preschool

When our kids were born, people always said, "Don't blink... they'll grow before you know it."  This past week was full of milestones and big steps for our kids.  We blinked, they grew.  We keep asking them to stop, but they won't listen.  This week has tugged at this Momma's heart strings, but I've kept it together.  I am so proud of what our kids have become.

Sunday, Ireland went to her meet the teacher night at Trinity Lutheran Preschool.  She was not at all nervous, was ready to go and wanted us to leave her there.  I knew she would do great.  

GramMo photo bombed

As we were getting closer to the school, I started to get a little anxious.  Cohan had been at Trinity for the past two years.  They knew us and our family.  I had requested that Ireland have Mrs. Oliver.  She was amazing for Cohan, is so loving and made the transition so easy for him.  I knew that this might not work and told Ireland we were so excited to see who she would have. 

She got Mrs. Oliver!!  Prayers answered!!  Even better?!  Sofia is in her class!!  They immediately got out the princess castle and started playing.  Then in walked Wilson Hickey!!  She was so excited. There are also three other girls in her class that I am friends with their moms.  

We are so excited for her year!!   

Since my mom stayed and spent time with Cohan so we could make this a one-on-one time for Ireland, we decided to do ice cream with the Quintero Family after we met their teacher.  

These two can be TROUBLE!!!  

Ireland woke up Monday READY for school.  She was so excited to get there!!   

Should I be nervous face

As we walked in and got Ireland settled, we set a gift on Mrs. Oliver's counter.  When I did this I noticed she still had a framed picture of she and Cohan from two years ago.  Seeing that made it even more clear how lucky we are to have Trinity, Mrs. Oliver and so many people that love our kids.  

Before we left, Cohan showed Ireland the "wave window" where she could stand and wave each morning after she is dropped off.  She smiled and waved to us as we pulled away.  

"Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.
~Winnie the Pooh~

GramMo Visits!

Much to my sadness, summer ended for me last Wednesday.  Scott took off Wednesday and spent it with the kids.  My mom came in town Wednesday night.  The kids had two full days with her while Scott and I were at work.  Those days were jam packed with as many activities as they could fit into each day.  Both days they went to Chuck E. Cheese, the mall carousel, the park and Barnes and Noble.  I loved getting texts while I was working of all their adventures.  

 

Making brownies...

Since Cohan starting watching television this summer while eating breakfast, he's become quite interested in infomercials.  I mean, he tries to get us to buy EVERYTHING.  He has his sales tactics down.  First, asks if we are 18 (apparently they say you have to be 18 or older to order), then he tells us about something we need and how it's "only two easy payments of $19.99"!!  

That whole song and dance hasn't worked on Scott and I, but he sure did get GramMo with it.  He called and told her all about the Cloud Pets that he and Ireland had to have to send messages to her.  So, of course, GramMo ordered these pets.  While she was here, they arrived.  The kids couldn't have been more excited.  He named his dog Lovie.  She has a kitten she named Bubba.  It has been really sweet to hear my mom's voice coming out of these stuffed animals and listening to the messages they send back and forth to one another.  

While my mom was here, she also did lots to help me get ready in my classroom.  I mentioned how I wanted to make a wreath for my classroom door and boom, I came home from work to her making it with all the supplies she had gone to get.  I'm so lucky. 

Anyone that knows my mom, knows she is a worker.  Her backyard is amazingly landscaped with gorgeous flowers.  Our new house had some weird landscaping.  We really wanted to rip everything out and start over.  My mom, the kids and I went and got all new flowers, shrubs and bushes.  Scott pulled out the old stuff and we are really happy with how it turned out.  

BEFORE... 

DURING (one of 3 loads)... 

AFTER...

Cohan also loved learning to blow bubbles...

We are going to miss GramMo!!!  Thanks for such a fun and busy visit!!  

We love you!