Birthday Table

Stanley's school has a birthday table for lunch in the cafeteria for all the kids who have birthdays that month. The table is decorated with balloons, they get ice cream, and have their pictures taken (and sometimes, Mom comes to have lunch with you that day!).

Open Gym at the Gymnastics Studio

Lisa went to open gym at a local gymnastics studio. The gym is so close to our house, we can walk. She really loves to swing and climb. I've been thinking that maybe I need to sign her up for some gymnastics classes!

Reading in the Wild

Lisa and I went to Reading in the Wild at a local nature center. It is a weekly outdoor story time. Each week there is a theme, and the instructor reads books and leads activities about that topic. This week it was "seeds." She read two books about seeds. Then we went on a seed hunt. She had a paper for each kid with pictures of seeds that we had to find. The kids collected their seeds in a cup as we walked. Then, they examined the seeds with magnifying glasses. At the end, they made art using seeds and markers. It was a great experience! We're going back again!

Collecting seeds

Examining her seeds with a big magnifying glass

Looking through another magnifying tool

Lisa's "seed art"

Lisa's First Day of Preschool

Lisa has officially started preschool! She is so excited for school!

On her way!

So happy!

Bringing her folder into her classroom

Finding her name tag

At the end of the day!

Playing with her friends at the end of the day

A Visit from Auntie Monica

My dearest friend, Monica, who I've been best friends with for over 20 years, came for her first visit to the Northwest! She was the star of the show while she stayed at our house. The kids adore her! She even brought Stanley a new Cubs hat straight from Chicago. (He needed a new one--his old one is so dirty and ripped!) Monica and I managed to get away and stay in a beautiful cabin for 2 nights without the kids. They weren't too happy about that, but Monica and I had a great (and relaxing!) time by the river. We were so sad to say goodbye to her, but hopefully we'll all visit together again soon!

A Visit to the Fire Station

Lisa and I took a tour of the local fire station with the MOMS Club that we belong to. Lisa loves fire trucks and always says she wants to be a "fire engine guy" when she grows up. She did a great job listening to the fire fighters and was very excited to see the pumper truck!

My little fire fighter

Checking out the engine with friends

Watching the fireman wearing all his gear

Giving a high five to the fire fighter
(They want kids to be familiar with what they
look like fully dressed, so they aren't scared
if there is really a fire, and they need to be reduced.)

She loves fire trucks, but the sirens are loud!

She's ready to fight some fires! :)

Stanley's 6th Birthday

Stanley had his first day of kindergarten on Friday, and his 6th birthday on Saturday! We started the morning by opening family presents. He got a Lego set, a Lego movie book, and a Lego mini-figure. (Can you guess what Stanley really likes to play with right now?) Lisa got her own "little sister" present: a Frozen book. 

After breakfast, we took a family adventure to the Lego Store! It's about 40 minutes away, south of Portland, so it's a pretty special treat to go there. He got to pick out any set he wanted (Thanks, Mimi & Papa!), so he had a tough decision ahead of him. After a long debate, he picked a new Chima set, which is a good complement to other sets he already has.

Instead of a birthday party, he just wanted to take a friend to do something special. So, he picked Lucy, and went to JJ Jump (which is where he had his 4th birthday party). After Lucy and Stanley were done jumping, we went out to dinner at Benny's Rod & Custom Pizza Cafe, which is a hot rod-themed restaurant.

He had a great day, but in all the excitement, we forgot to sing "Happy Birthday" and blow out candles. Whoops! But an added bonus was that Stanley felt like Sunday was also his birthday because he got to put together all the Lego sets he got the day before! 

Morning Presents

Lego Store

JJ Jump

Benny's Rod & Custom Pizza Cafe

Lisa's Meet the Teacher Day

Lisa will be going to a 2's class preschool this year. It is one day a week for 2 1/2 hours. She is attending a co-op preschool, which means parents take a big part in running the school. We all have jobs (mine is writing the newsletter), we fundraise, and we take turns volunteering in the classroom to assist the teacher.

Lisa visited her classroom to meet her teacher and classmates. They got to play with the toys and explore the room. Then the teacher had them clean up and sit on the carpet. They sang a song, and she handed out their special school folders. The folder she held up as an example had Lisa's name on it, so Lisa got up and said, "That's my 'L'!" Everyone laughed!

After they said goodbye for the day, Lisa and a few little friends played on the school playground. Lisa loves swings and climbing! When we left, she said she wanted to go to school everyday. She loves having her "own school" and her "own teacher." Her first full day will be on September 14!

Heading out the door, ready for school!

Lisa's got right to work.

She did all the puzzles.

Sitting on the carpet with her classmates

Holding her special folder

"Flying!"

Walking with her friend

First Day of Kindergarten

Stanley started his first day of kindergarten! He will usually take the bus in the morning, but for his first day I took him to school and walked him to his classroom. He hung up his coat and backpack on his hook, put his lunch box in the bucket, and found his name at his seat. He is in class with one of his best friends, Lucy, and luckily they were sitting at the same table. They got started working on their pattern block puzzles, and I left him happily doing his work!

It felt like a long day with Stanley gone! He doesn't get home until the bus drops him off at 4:00 p.m.  I was so happy to welcome him home off the bus and hear about his day. He loved everything about kindergarten!

He told me that they went on a hunt around the school for Pete the Cat (a character in a series of children's picture books). They visited the music room, the gym, and the library. He ate lunch in the cafeteria. And the best part, they had three recesses! Sounds like a great start to a great new adventure!

Walking out the door for his first day!

In front of his new school

Going in the school with his friend

Hanging up his backpack on his hook

Stan's new teacher, Mrs. Schram

Getting right to work!

Coming home on the school bus

Getting off the bus

He rocked his first day!