First Day of Her Fabulous Junior Year

And all of sudden . . .
she's a junior in high school!

She was up early today even though school had a late start

and off on her own in the big red jeep!

Bummer that someone was in her assigned parking spot

this morning, but she found an empty one.

1st Grade

It felt a little strange that I wasn't dropping her off at school --

wasn't she just starting first grade????

We have tagged a word of the day/year for 

junior year and it is FABULOUS!

If we say it, think it and believe it, it will happen.

This year one of her friends has the locker below hers!

Yes, finally she was assigned an upper locker.

That made her so happy!

She took a bunch of snacks today as she thinks

she and Gracie may be starving at either the beginning or

end of the day and  need some nourishment!  :)

She's planning to check our some clubs and try new things

this year!

I just love her so and hope she has the best year ever!

7th Grade!

7th Grade has started!

It was an exciting and short first day of

school -- they started at 8 am and were out at 11 am!

Pretty good plan -- especially for a

certain 7th grader!

It was exciting to be back to school, 

see friends, meet new teachers

and

end up totally confused by the 

switching of classes every 45 minutes plus homework!

Seriously -- homework the first couple days - no fair! ;)

The first week was a bit of a challenge for

Miss M, but she came through and we

know next week will be even better!

Retake of first day of school with her plaid uniform skirt! 

Bonus this year --

her school finally has 

air conditioning!

After cool temps earlier in August, the heat and humidity

ratcheted up to near 100! 

Oy!

Now, where's that arctic plunge when you really need it?  

:)

The First Day

 

Maddy had her first day as a 5th grader on Monday.

 

 

You'll be happy to know that she survived.

Although I think she didn't want to exactly say it out loud,

she was nervous.  

Each new school year brings a bit of anxiety.   

 

This year was a little more difficult as neither of her two best girlfriends

are in her classroom.

  She'll see them before school and at recess, so that helps.

 Knowing that it might be a challenging first day,

we spent the weekend before school started doing lots of her favorite things!

 

She had one of her best friends sleepover on Saturday night.
Lots of whispering and giggling!
 
Then, after Mass on Sunday, we went to Starbucks! 

That may, in fact,  be one of my favorite things,

 but she likes it too and expanded her horizon in trying their

marble pound cake (yum -- i had to have a bite!)

 since they were all out of her favorite cinnamon crumb coffeecake.

 

Later, we went to the zoo and rode that silly camel again!

 

 

We went shopping together and she bought a new book --

one of the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" books --

Hilarious!! 

We starting reading it together Sunday night and

finished it (all 217 pages) in 3 days reading it together in the evenings.
Can I just say here that I love reading out loud with her!
I know it sounds kind of dorky, but it's so fun for both of us.

 

And even though I thought it would be super to go out to eat, 

we stayed home and I made her fave for dinner --
 homemade tacos!

 

It's been a long time since I was in 5th grade, but I haven't forgotten

how scary the first day can be.  And that 10-1/2 is a hard age --

almost ready to be more grown up, but still hating to leave the

comfort and security of home.

Gosh, it's taken me this long to figure out that raising kids is a
balancing act,  isn’t it.  Encouraging independence and a sense of
resourcefulness, but also being there for comfort and
emotional support.  Wanting to keep her close,
but also to give her a little nudge,
letting go and watching her fly . . . 
a little.

A favorite oldie!

 

 

First Day of 4th Grade!

Today  marked Maddy's first day of 4th Grade! She's been alternating between looking forward to seeing her friends again and worrying a little bit about her classroom.  Even though she has some good friends in her room, her two bff's are both in the other 4th grade classroom and that has really concerned her.  Reassurances that she'll see them at recess have helped a little bit. 

One of her sweet friends yelled her name when she saw her this morning and gave her a great big hug.

I loved watching that and seeing the girls be so sweet!

We kept very busy on the last weekend before school with a trip to the pool, the miniature golf course, the zoo and visiting my Dad. And, of course, we had to shop a little.  The stores called our names, after all.  The bad thing about wearing a uniform is that those most adorable first day of school outfits are unnecessary.  The good thing is that it really cuts down on morning decisions! :)  Hmmmm -- what color polo to wear today . . . navy? white? yellow? green?   Love that about uniforms! :)

Is it just me -- or is there something too cute about that backpack with her name on it!  I love it!  No more backpack mix-ups like happened last year!

Don't worry -- she put that silly Elmo in her backpack for the photos --

 he did not go to school, but waited in the car! 

 Her sweet baby niece, Janie, loves Elmo and since Maddy loves Janie --

 Maddy also loves Elmo all over again!

The First Day of School

[ 3rd Grade - 2010 - 8 years old]

Maddy's school started today.

What happy and excited faces I saw this morning --

and I mean the students too, not just the parents! :) Tee hee hee!

[Maddy and Mr. Tennis for the obligatory 1st day photo]

Maddy has been looking forward to the start of school and seeing her friends, but a little bit nervous about being a 3rd grader! She got a letter in the mail the other day from her teacher! Wow -- that meant a lot and she was thrilled to get it!

When we got to school this morning, one of her friends that we haven't seen all summer said "Oh Maddy, I need a hug!"

The girls gave each other big hugs [so sweet]!

And then her friend said, "You shrunk!" YIKES!!!

I thought it would be fun to see some flashbacks from previous

first days of school!

2006 - Preschool (4 years old)

2007 -- Kindergarten (5 years old)

2008 -- 1st Grade (6 years old)

2009 --2nd grade (7 years old)


Wasn't that a fun trip down memory lane?? It was for me too! :)

Look, I managed to get in one photo today!! :)