Elliot's first field trip

I was so excited to chaperone Elliot's very first field trip! We got to ride the school bus and went to Deanna Rose Farmstead. Elliot was nervous about the bus, but of course he loved it. I had 4 three year olds, one of which was a bit of a flight risk. I think I was almost as tired as Elliot when the day was over, but it sure was a lot of fun. We teamed up with another mom and her four kids and stayed together as a group.

Elliot's first time on a school bus!

All of the students in Miss Susan's class 

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Following the leader as we attempt to keep the "runners" with us :)

Lunch 

A buffalo that was peeing.  For a long time.  These kids were CRACKING UP!

Cute, cute, cute!

Kindergarten Stuff

Noah's portrait "My Family" (The yellow guy up top is Grandpa Rick)

"What My Family Does Together" - Go to the beach; Dad buried in the sand
I was concerned why I had a sad face.  It was because there wasn't room for me and I was falling off a cliff

This was in the Kindergarten Singles Ad 

I met Noah for lunch 

I went on their first field trip of the year, the Discovery Center 

We learned about nature and trees

This is Noah's whole Kindergarten class.  His teacher, Mrs. Pease is standing by the tree.  Mrs. Malone is the teacher assistant and on the left side.

Making their "tree" 

Noah's tree art project

First day of school 2012

This was a big year for the Thomas boys going back to school.  Noah is officially a Kindergartener going to school 5 whole days a week.  Elliot moved up from Rainbow School where he went once a week to St. Elizabeth ,where he now goes twice a week.  Both the boys love that they are going to the same school and are in the same building.  They enjoy passing eachother on the playground as Elliot's class comes in and Noah's class goes out.  Elliot's preschool classroom is on the basement floor and Noah's Kindergarten class is on the 3rd/top floor of the Early Education Center.

Next year, Noah will move to the "big school" across the street for 1-8th grade.  He goes there now everyday for lunch in the "big" cafeteria and specials (Spanish, Art, Music, Computer, PE).  Kindergarten also goes to Mass once a month and sits next to their 7th grade "big buddy".  

It has been an adjustment for Noah getting up 5 days in a row for school, but he's transitioning well.  He has a new appreciation for Friday and the weekend.  We took the boys out to Waldo Pizza the first Friday night to celebrate the first week of school, and it's become a tradition to celebrate the week every Friday night at Waldo Pizza.  They love staying in their pajamas and just playing at home all morning Saturday, as opposed to getting out right away to do something.  Noah's soccer season just started this past weekend, but all of his games are at 11:00 or 12:00, which is perfect to allow him that relaxing Saturday morning still.

Here are some pictures from the first day of school.

Noah eating his power breakfast (eggs, clementine & blueberry muffin)

Hudson & Noah's first day of Kindergarten

Standing next to the welcome sign from St. Elizabeth School

Noah signing into his first day of Kindergarten

All the neighborhood kids

Noah first day of Kindergarten, Elliot's first day of Preschool

Elliot is excited to see his best friend (and now classmate), Nona Grace

Noah, Elliot & Nona Grace on the school steps

Elliot getting settled in his class

Noah settling into his class

Noah's Field Day/Last day of PreK

Noah had his last day of PreK on Thursday.  His last day also happened to be Field Day, so it was a super fun day.  I worked there most of the day, helping with setting-up, lunch in the garden and manning my station "the bike races" for preschool, preK and Kindergarten. 

All the kids in the ECC (preschool-Kindergarten) did a handprint on this mural

This was during free-play at the Duck, Duck, Splash station

Then the kids went nuts and started dunking themselves in water

Lunch in the garden was fun

Noah's handprint from the mural

By the time I left, the preschool and preK were in their classrooms having rest time and the Kindergarten was out doing the stations.  I knew the fire truck was scheduled to arrive at the end of the day, so Elliot and I rushed up there and got there just in time.  I thought Elliot would want to get sprayed by the fire hose, but it was a little intimidating for him.  Although he loved seeing the firetruck!

Noah, not so intimidated :)

It was hot and muggy and the perfect day for a good hose down from the KCFD

Gavin, Noah & George lined up to go back into class (10 minutes before school was actually "dismissed")

One last jump roping session on the playground after school.  Catherine is one of the "best rope swingers", according to Noah.  He's quite the jumper, with his personal record being 184 jumps in a row.  He held the record, until recently when Libby from Miss Erin's class got 214.  :)

It has been a great year for Noah.  He's made some good friends that he'll be going to school for at least the next 9 years with.  He is already reading and is going to do great next year in Kindergarten.  On Noah's assessment, he "passed" everything on their checklist.  This was the note from Miss Mary.  I am so proud of Noah.

And I wanted to save this sweet note that was on her final newsletter she sent home on the last day of school.  She's a great teacher and I'm so glad Noah had her this year.

Elliot's last day of school

It's the end of an era.  Elliot had his last day at Rainbow School last week.  He's been going there since he turned two, just once a week for not even a full day.  Rainbow School is fun.  They not only play outside on a playground at recess, but have a designated "outdoor classroom" time where they work and play in the garden, sandbox, riding cars, etc.  Outdoor classroom time was always Elliot's favorite because it had a sandbox.  Elliot LOVES sandboxes.  

Elliot was excited to give his teachers their Starbucks gift cards he got for them.  He wasn't sentimental about it being over though.  He's excited to be home all summer with Noah & I.  Although he likes Rainbow School, he still picks being at home with Noah & mom.  Next year, he'll be in preschool two days a week at St. Elizabeth's.  He'll be on the bottom floor in preschool and Noah will be in the same building on the top floor, Kindergarten. It'll be nice having them together.

Lunchtime visit & bike ride home

Last week we had the perfect storm for a bike ride to school.  Kids were up early and ready and the weather was nice :)  But, when we were in the garage getting our bikes ready Noah INSISTED that he wanted to ride his old, tiny 12" bike.  This bike is what he first learned to ride without training wheels when he was three.  It's Elliot's size.  I discouraged him, but he insisted.  So I told him he'd have to pedal a lot harder and we took off.  He was fine until we got on the Trolley Trail.  He was slower than usual and said he had to pedal harder.  By the time we hit QuickTrip he wanted to stop, but I told him we had to keep going.  The hill up 74th Street until you get sweet relief at Main was a struggle on that itty bitty bike.  After resisting singing "I told you so, I told you so!" I asked him if he'd like me to bring up his big bike and switch them out while he was at school and he did.

I showed up around 11:45, which is right when they line up from recess to go into the cafeteria.  The timing wasn't planned, but Miss Mary saw me and motioned Noah over.  He is a big rule follower at school and instead of running excited to see me, he was worried because he was supposed to be in line and was missing prayer before lunch.  He did want to show Elliot his cafeteria though.  So we followed him into the cafeteria.  Miss Erin gave Elliot a chocolate milk and we sat with him long enough to have some milk and have Noah show him around and then left.  It was a lot of fun for both the kids.  I wish I had packed a lunch for us and we would have stayed and just eaten with his class.

After school it was pretty hot.  Noah was doing much better on his bigger bike though :)  We stopped at QuickTrip on the way home for a treat.  Elliot chose an icee and Noah picked the biggest donut he could find.  I had a zone bar.

climbing a tree at QT

Heading home.  Our last bike ride of the year home from school.  Next time we do this, he'll be a Kindergartener.

Zoo field trip with Noah

This year, I had not been able to chaperone for a single field trip for Noah's class.  To be fair, there was only two other ones, but I never had someone to watch Elliot.  So I volunteered for the final trip of the year, Zoo day, way in advance determined to find someone.  Luckily, my sister, Sam, has graduated from college and just finished a long-term subbing position so she was willing to watch E.  It was a very hot day.  My extra kid had a schedule conflict and was going to meet us at the zoo later in the morning.  I understood his mom would call me when she got there and we'd meet up.  Easy Schmeasy.  I only was in charge of Noah for awhile.  I then got an extra kid, since his chaperone's son was sick.  

I love volunteering at school.  It's really fun and hysterical watching the kids together.  They are just so funny.  It's also hard work and makes me really appreciate the teachers.  They work so hard.

This is Noah & Gavin on the bus to the zoo.  Riding the bus is such fun for them.

The group of kids we spent the day with, waiting on the Tram to take us to Africa
(Sam, Maddie, Delaney, Charlie, Oscar, George, Gavin & Noah)

These goofballs were putting on the most hilarious "show" for us on a stage

Waiting in line for the carousel

Oscar & Noah doing their best fish face

Fin & Noah on the bus ride home.
Finn was my "charge" that came late.  His mom ended up staying with us for the field trip & we had a great time.

 

Lunch Date

A couple of weeks ago a friend in Noah's class had his mom come to eat lunch with him.  It never occurred to me that parents could do this.  I set up a date to come on a Tuesday so Elliot would be in school.  Noah forgot about it and I didn't remind him today.  I showed up to recess about 20 minutes before they go inside for lunch.  I watched him play for awhile before he saw me.  He got a huge grin on  his face and ran for me, excited to see why I was there and even more excited to see the Mr. Goodcents bag that contained our lunch.  It was a beautiful day in the low 70's, but very windy.  I loved watching him and his friends play, and then lining up to go to the cafeteria and eat with them.  90% of the time Noah's lunch contains peanut butter and since we didn't have any today, we sat at the peanut free table.  It was such a fun day!  I loved seeing Noah in the school setting getting along so nicely with his friends and playing.  Also watching him following all the rules and routines was hilarious to me.  The teacher blew the whistle and he jumped off that swing so fast and ran to get in line.  Cracked me up.  I think I need to buy a whistle.  Then they all lined up perfectly and before heading in to the cafeteria they said their prayer.  I loved being a part of it his day.  PreK is pretty fun stuff.

Noah and his good friend, Finn

Noah swinging

Lined up for lunch (John, Gavin, Benjamin, Noah, Finn, Oscar & George)

Benjamin & Noah

my lunch buddies