Katelyn gets glasses

Katelyn had been complaining of headaches after school for a while. I started asking more questions and realized she couldn't see the white board at school. Time to visit the eye doctor and get glasses! She looks so grown up in them. And she loves them and loves that she can see!

Bike Rodeo Winner

This year for our annual Bike Safety Rodeo, the kids were asked to create an ad to display around the school. They were given specific instructions and words that needed to appear within the ad. Those ads were judged and Katelyn took an honorable mention! She was so excited! Our whole family went to the school to participate in the rodeo. Everyone's favorite was the obstacle course. It was a fun morning!

Katelyn's ad is the pink one in the background. We used magazines and cut out letters to make the words of the ad.

Megan loves her purple helmet!

It's that time of year again...

It's that time of year again. That time when here in Mesa, AZ it's still REALLY HOT and we should be spending every day in the pool. Somehow, Mesa Public Schools think they need to start the first day of school in 115 degree heat. They think it's time to try to get those kids brains moving when all the kids really want is cold water and a pool. Really. Why is the first day of school August 10th? We don't understand. But it's also that time of year when the mommies around here are ready for a schedule, we are ready for some time to get some tasks done during the day. And so it begins. The First Day of School! I actually love the first day of school. It's exciting. This year we have 2 going to school all day. All day! And I'm left at home with one little Adam who is content with playing trains all day long. I have so many plans!

Katelyn is a 2nd grader with Mrs. Trujillo as a teacher.

Megan is a Kindergartner with Mrs. Burton as a teacher.

Aunt Kaley, with a little pixie dust help from grandma and grandpa, placed good luck notes on the side walk for the kids on the way to school (you can see a few of them in Katelyn's picture). They loved the notes! What a great way to start the day!

One last good-by on the basketball court. Sorry about the squinty eyes. The sun is really bright on this super hot day!

Megan's parent program - End of the Year Review

Is it really that time of when we have the end of a school year? Wow. Discovery Club was amazing this year for Megan. She has grown into a wonderful little girls who I'm not afraid to send to Kindergarten anymore! Their end of the year program was a review of all the things they've learned. Since Chris isn't working he was able to come to this final program. Megan was really excited to show things to her dad too. Here's a look at Megan through the year: (you can click on the collage to see it bigger)

Megan's parent program - African Savannah

We are once again at a Discovery Club parent program. This unit was the African Savannah. They learned about the desert, animals found in Africa, and they even attempted to learn all the countries in Africa.

They each had a special speaking part in the program. Megan's part was about the lions and lionesses. My video is not great, but it's cute to see her stand and say her part and not be shy.

"My family is called a pride. We sleep most of the day and hunt at night. The lionesses hunt with other lionesses. The male lion gets to eat first."

Katelyn's 1st Grade Zoo Field Trip

The 1st Grade got to go to the Zoo and I volunteered to be a parent chaperone. This was so much fun! AZ has a really great zoo. Somehow we haven't been that many times in the almost 3 years we've been here. The trick is to find the right temperature to enjoy the zoo and have animals out. This zoo day was just about perfect.

Katelyn in front of these amazingly red-orange birds. I don't remember their name, but I was so impressed by their color.

Since my job was watching a group of 1st graders, I didn't take that many pictures. I did love this flock of flamingos by the water. Not sure how they can stand on one little skinny leg with that big body to support. Guess I'll need the kids to do a report on flamingos one day so I can learn how that works.

This was the group of kids I was with for the day. Hope they had a fun time!

Megan's parent program - Rain forest Unit

This month's parent program was an open house. Our family had so much fun seeing all that Megan is doing and learning in Discovery Club. Adam especially loved all the places to go play. He was first up in the tree house loft playing with the puppet animals. Then he went to the small playroom off the main room. This unit it is set up like a scientist's tent.

Adam in the small playroom.

Megan is showing us her number work she does at Club.

Megan and Katelyn in the rain forest tent. They duplicated the environment of the rain forest with thick plastic and a humidifier. The girls said it was hot in there.

We love Discovery Club! I just can't rave enough about all that Megan is learning and how much she is growing.

Megan's parent program - Desert Unit

Instead of a regular parent program for the desert unit, we got to go on a desert hike! I went as one of the parent volunteers to keep track of everyone on the trail. We went to a little trail about 20 minutes east of us. Who knew there were hiking trails so close to me? This trail was perfect for the kids. It was only 1 mile round trip and literally it was a circle around a small mountain/hill. Also nice, is that is was relatively flat and not too steep for these little legs. On the trail we got to see all the plants/vegetation and some animals that they have been learning about in their desert unit. I know some might disagree, but I think the desert is a beautiful place.

This is Megan's Discovery Club.
Megan is in the back row on the left, holding her hair down.

Megan's parent program - Polar regions

Megan is learning and growing so much from Discovery Club. I wish every kid had the opportunity to be a part of this curriculum! She's now even starting to bring books home and starting to learn how to read. I'm so amazed and proud of my little Megan. This unit they just finished is on the polar regions. They learned about the North and South pole, polar animals, and hibernation. My favorite song they sing is "Hibernation, time for hibernation, hibernation, time to go to.... (kids close their eyes and put their heads down)" I love it! Also, did you know that it's the male penguin that nurtures the eggs until they hatch? They keep them on top of their feet (flippers) because if the egg touches the ice it'll get too cold. The female penguin is the one who hunts and brings the males the food.

Look, Mom...I'm the same height as an emperor penguin.

The small playroom was full of "snow" this unit.

Katelyn the Kindergartner

Well, this day is finally here. As of August 12th, Katelyn officially became a Kindergartner! The first day of school was exciting and a little overwhelming for all of us. Here in AZ, we have all day Kindergarten. Katelyn was so excited that she got to have lunch at school. She absolutely loves her teacher, she loves the kids in her class, and she loves school! She has even asked with eagerness when she gets to start doing homework. Megan didn't quite know what to do with herself without a playmate for a few days, but she has completely recovered. (In fact, she might even enjoy pretending she is an only child while Katelyn is a school and Adam is napping!) Katelyn has been ready for this day for a while and we look forward to her learning and growing this year.