First Day of School 2008

Today was Hayley's first day of Kindergarten!

And Sydney's first day of 2nd grade
And don't forget about Addyson who also had to wear a backpack for her picture today!

We had Sydney's open house on Monday night. She is so excited that 2 of her very good friends are in her class, including one little girl who has been in her class all 3 years. Which is very rare. She had a great first day. They did some sort of Olympic thing. Sydney's class was "New Zeland" I'll have to find more out about it another less stressful night (which could be a whole other post.)

At Sydney's open house Addy was so funny. She pulled up a chair to a desk near Sydney's and watch Sydney and did everything Sydney did. Put the books inside the desk, looked around it, got the same color chair. Then when Sydney went to hang up her backpack, Addy tried to hang hers up too. (I wish I had had my camera)
Hayley's first day was just 1 1/2 hours long. We met with her teacher and her class. Did some "Centers" and read a couple of books.
Wednesday will be her first full day. Instead of going to school with mom and dad she gets to go with her teddy bear.
When I dropped Sydney off I fully expected to walk her in to her school and drop her off at her classroom. But she had a different idea.

Me: "Syd, do you want me to walk you in?"

Sydney:"No mom, I'll be fine. I'll do it myself!"

Me: "Are you sure? I kind of want to walk you in."

Sydney: "NO mom. I'll be fine. Just go, please!!!"

So with that, please keep Hayley in your thoughts Wednesday as I leave you with this:

I Trust You'll Treat Her Well (edited a little to fit Hayley)


By Victor Buono –

Dear World: I bequeath to you today one little girl...in a crispy dress...with two hazel eyes...and a happy laugh that ripples all day long...and a flash of red hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs. I trust you will treat her well.

She's slipping out of the backyard of my heart this morning...and skipping off down the street to her first day of school. And never again will she be completely mine. Prim and proud she'll wave her young and independent hand this morning and say "Goodbye" and walk with little lady steps to the schoolhouse.

Now she'll learn to stand in lines...and wait by the alphabet for her name to be called. She'll learn to tune her ears for the sounds of school-bells...and deadlines...and she'll learn to giggle...and gossip...and look at the ceiling in a disinterested way when the little boy across the aisle sticks out his tongue at her. And, now she'll learn to be jealous. And now she'll learn how it is to feel hurt inside. And now she'll learn how not to cry.

No longer will she have time to sit on the front porch steps on a summer day and watch an ant scurry across the crack in the sidewalk. Nor will she have time to pop out of bed with the dawn to kiss lilac blossoms in the morning dew. No, now she will worry about the important things...like grades and which dress to wear and who's best friend is whose. And the magic of books and learning will replace the magic of her blocks and dolls. And she'll find new heroes.

For five full years now I've been her sage and Santa Claus and pal and playmate and mother and friend. Now she'll learn to share her worship with her teachers...which is only right. But, no longer will I be the smartest, greatest woman in the whole world. Today when that school bell rings for the first time...she'll learn what it means to be a member of the group...with all its privileges and its disadvantages too.

She'll learn in time that proper young ladies do not laugh out loud...or kiss dogs...or keep frogs in pickle jars in bedrooms...or even watch ants scurry across cracks in sidewalks in the summer.

Today she'll learn for the first time that all who smile at her are not her friends. And I'll stand on the front porch and watch her start out on the long, lonely journey to becoming a woman.

So, world, I bequeath to you one little girl...in a crispy dress...with two hazel eyes...and a happy laugh that ripples all day long...and a flash of red hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs. I trust you'll treat her well.

Olympic moments

• Sydney told me she was glad she was born during the Australia Olympics rather than this year. She said she would NOT want to be named Beijing
• Hayley: Mom, these Olympics are in China, right?

         Me: Yes, they are in China.

Hayley: Not BUTT China (what she thinks the female parts are called)

• Hayley and I were watching some of the swimming races. Hayley looks at me dead serious and says, "Mom, DO NOT sign me up for that!!! I am NOT that fast!!!" (I guess it's time to cut down on the activities!)

Stella (In my best Rocky voice)

After the Science Center on Friday we met my Aunt, Uncle and 2 of my cousin's children for lunch at Stella's Blue Sky Diner http://stellasblueskydiner.com/

The girls ordered a bubble gum milk shake and the waitress asked if she could pour it on their heads. The girls caught ever last drop. She then asked Hayley if she could try to pour one drop IN to her mouth. Hayley thought that was REALLY cool.

Sydney was a little more bashful about the whole ordeal. She was happy to hold the glass, but would NOT let her pour it into her mouth. Syd has hit that stage that if she thinks maybe it isn't "cool" she won't do it.

Science Center of Iowa

We had a great time last Friday at the Science Center of Iowa. http://www.sciowa.org/ It has so many great hands on exhibits. Addy even enjoyed all of it.
























I think I need a new camera. I don't think it is the kids movement that I can't keep up with anymore.




















One of the local tv stations has a weather center at the Science Center. The girls had a BALL watching themselves on tv and trying to point to the right thing on the green screen.



















Addy couldn't figure out how the girls got ON the TV.













































Addy dug for dinosaur bones too.






(Sorry about how spaced out these are. I HATE Blogger's editing. If anyone knows how to work in blogger and make it LOOK right, I'd LOVE to know!)

Monster Baby

Addy found Hayley's Dora Jeep this evening and decided first to push it around the house, but then realized it was much more fun to RIDE around the house.