Toys, Toys, Toys

A toy catalog came in the mail today.........
and Elizabeth claimed it............
and picked out 75 birthday gifts.

What A Good Boy

In Patrick's class they have a system of keeping track of behavior using a rainbow. Every kid is a drop. Everyday they start on yellow of the rainbow. If they are meeting, and exceeding, classroom expectations they move up to orange and then red. If they are struggling to meet expectations then they move to green, blue and then purple.
Patrick has been on red for most of his time in the class. Today the teachers gave out certificates to the kids who were on red. Patrick was sooooo proud and excited with his prize. We are so proud of our good little boy!

Ballet and Tap

Elizabeth has dance all year, and I know I can't take pictures every week, but they are just so darn cute, I couldn't resist!

Dancing away!!

Two good friends tapping their hearts out!

Annual Apple Picking

We headed out for some great fall apple picking today. It was a dreary day.......almost rainy. Great day for picking because it wasn't really that crowded. We didn't wait on any lines and had a great time.
Cute picture, huh?
The ladder was a huge hit. We had to walk three rows to find a ladder with a full tree......but once we were there, watch out!
And then we had to find a second ladder..........God forbid, we share.
Elizabeth wasn't as good of a picker as Patrick. I had to stop her quite a few times from just chucking the apples on the ground.
She was finished fast.......more concerned with eating her harvest.
Playing peek-a-boo......still fun, even as a big five year old kindergartener!
Liz munching away........I think this face is just priceless.
Patrick's feats of strength!
Apple Picking Love :)
The next best thing to picking apples is all the extra stuff that there is to do. We told each kid they could pick one thing to do........Pat picked the Jack-o-latern jumpy house, and Liz would have too, except she was too short.
So, while Pat was jumping Liz was playing in the baby barn yard. I know she really didn't care for it......she is into way older things just from hanging out with Patrick.
Since Liz couldn't do the bouncey house she opted for the ponies. Pat would have rode to but we did say only one thing per kid (and I didn't have enough cash for two kids).
Liz rode Brownie and loved every second of it!

More Firsts

Elizabeth went to her first all girl birthday party all by herself today.......and she had a blast.

Workin' Out

Patrick was showing off the exercises he had to do in gym......because all he really talks about willingly from school so far is gym and lunch.......and what other kids were naughty. He showed us his sit ups and push ups.
Dad showed Patrick the correct way to do a push up. The kids then up the anti and made Dad do push ups with both of them on his back!

First Day Of School

Today was Elizabeth's first day of school.......she has moved up to the Butterfly room. It wont be too hard of a transition because that was the room she was in, with one of the same teachers, for summer program this summer.
Elizabeth is very excited for her new backpack. I wasn't going to get her a new one until Kindergarten but she was with me when we bought Pat's and saw this one and loved it. She kept telling me that she was going to be in the Butterfly room.......which obviously meant that she had to have a butterfly backpack. I should start looking now for the dragonfly backpack we will need for next year's Dragonfly room.
Miss Smiles......ready for mom to walk her to her classroom. I was worried that she would have a hard time with Patrick not being there but she was a champ.
We were being silly before we got into the classroom.
Elizabeth had to pick out her name tag for her mailbox. She found her name right away and stuck it on the mailboxes. Then it was off to play.
I left Elizabeth smiling and playing in the kitchen. What a big girl she is becoming!

Tap, Tap. Tappin' Away

Tonight was Elizabeth's first pre-ballet class. The first half hour was ballet.....pretty similar to what she did this summer with Miss. Rochelle. But, the last 15 minutes were tap.......and Liz just loved it!
She managed to inch her way up to being right next to the teacher, instead of behind her. She was doing her best to follow along.

She even has her fingers out, just like the teacher. She was so proud of the sticker and sticker chart she got at the end of class. We can't wait for next Monday!

First Day Of Kindergarten

Today is the day I have dreaded since Patrick was born........his first day of kindergarten. Yes I want him to have fun. Yes I want him to learn new things. But I can't let go of him being my baby and can't believe that the time has flown right by and now is in school! I was sure I would be a puddle of tears on the floor of his classroom but I did remarkably well. All in all, it was a great day.
Patrick having his first breakfast of kindergarten.....waffles.
Lizzie Lou at breakfast. She had a hard morning. She was very upset that she isn't going to kindergarten. She insisted on wearing her new school sneakers and stomped all over the house. At one point she took her back pack for school next week, slammed it on the counter, and screamed kindergarten. Then she cried the whole ride to the sitter's house :(
Dad and Pat on the big day!
Mom and Pat on the big day!
He's got his lunch packed up, his shoes tied tight, he better not get in a fight..........hehehehe. I can't believe that my little baby is so big and grown-up.
Heading toward the car........off to Kindergarten!
Patrick waited in my classroom with me for about 15 minutes. Then it was time to suit up and head out.
Patrick has two teachers. Here's Patrick with his teacher, Mrs. Patrick! How cool is that!
After getting his bag in his locker, supplies handed in, papers put in the bin, Patrick had to find his name at his table. Smart kid found it right away.
There's my big man!
Patrick settled in well. When I left him he was getting ready to color the table and his name tag. There was one bump through the day, but he got it together and was all smiles when I stopped in to visit later on in the morning. Patrick loved his first day. I was able to spy on him doing the pledge and listening to a story. He told us all about going to the cafeteria for lunch and going to the gym to play games with "Coach". Try boy huh? I hope he has a great first year of school!

Kindergarten Orientation

Tomorrow is the first day of kindergarten. Today there was an orientation at school. We met the teachers, the principal, received some paperwork, and got a tour of the building. Patrick was excited to have Daddy come along. Daddy was excited to get to see all the different parts of the school and meet Patrick's teachers, Mrs. Ianno and Mrs. Patrick.
Patrick was excited to see the cafeteria. It is so big!
Patrick wasn't in the picture mood so I had to be sly about what I could get. He better change his song tomorrow!
Showing Dad the cool computers in his classroom.
Patrick managed to find the teacher's secret toy stash. He and another little boy were loving the slinkys.
There's our man.......one of the important puzzle pieces in his class!
And here is his locker........
And the surprise inside, of course. I had to remind him later that today was the only day he would be allowed to get in his locker.
We had some friends over for playing and dinner tonight.......to celebrate back to school Mom and Liz made a special cake. Good, huh? You're envious of our skills, I know.