Favorite Color Friday

Yesterday was “Favorite Color Friday" for Campbell.  All week they had reviewed their colors and learned cute little rhymes…Campbell’s favorite is “Yellow, Yellow sat in Jello”!

We got a note home saying we needed to help our child choose something they could bring to school in their favorite color that was not a toy.  Favorite color: easy-the child oozes pink. We got lots of that!  But choosing something not a toy…that was a little bit harder!

Matt suggested she bring her pink golf clubs.  Great idea..until I thought maybe her swinging some clubs around wasn’t a great idea after all. Hmmm…we talked about lots of things but then I saw that pink robe hanging in her bathroom and asked her if she would like to take her robe.

YES!  But not just the robe mom…she needed to take ALL pink things that had to do with her love of taking a bath and playing beauty parlor.  That meant a lot! 

I knew Miss Cindy would count on the kids to be independent about getting out their items and showing the class so we practiced putting on her robe and her slippers and then all her garb.

This was her practice round at home….

In her pink kitchen cooking up her pink plan…

Gathering anything she can find to pull off her look…two headbands and scrunchie…I mean an opportunity like this only comes once in a lifetime….you gotta accessorize to the fullest, don’t you agree?

Not sure if she is applying some pink lip gloss or thinking hmmm…what else can I put on??

 

I wasn’t so sure what she would do or what Miss Cindy would think when I dropped her off yesterday morning with her pink bag stuffed with all her pink things and even her “Pinkalicious” book to read during storytime.  I am sure Miss Cindy got more than she had expected!  This was the pic Miss Cindy posted on her blog so I guess it all turned pinkalicious after all!

TGIF

This pretty much sums up how our week has been…

 

This has been a trying and tiring week for me.  Campbell comes home from school every day and seems to go through little stages: first she is cranky and bratty, then she gets totally hyper and silly and finally she goes into her sensitive mode, crying and whining before we get her to crash in her bed. I am so thankful she loves school and seems to be good for her teachers but I almost wonder if all her kindness and manners and good behavior gets zapped out of her by 3pm!  I am so ready for her to adapt to this new routine and ready for my sweet girl to come back home.

Yes, I had to sit down & make the chalkboard list with Campbell earlier this week after she had cried for the 53rd time over the littlest thing, gave me some 14 yrd old eye rolls, told me that when I popped her hiney  “that didn’t hurt” AFTER saying “whatever, Mom” at the dinner table. UGH!!!!!!  

So Matt took Sara Gray out for an errand and Campbell got to sit on her bed for a long talk and then I made her get her Bible out and look up Ephesians 6:1 so she understood that it wasn’t just MY rule she needed to obey and respect me, it was really God’s.  She seems to listen to Him better than me.  Then we proceeded to talk why God thinks obeying your parents is “right” and the difference between what is right and what is wrong. Hence, the board.  That I have yet to erase so she could look at it all week long.  I mean she’s 4…is this the beginning of some looong years ahead??

Did I do this because I am this great Christian mother…um, no.  I would like to think so but basically God kept me from killing her that night.  It was the bible or a beating. Seriously.  Talk about grace.

 

I am now at home with both the girls this Friday afternoon. Sara Gray is feeling a little under the weather, the sitter took vacation today and Matt has a CLE all day. This is how poor SG looked this morning…

 

Doesn’t she look so pitiful but so grown up too??  Campbell actually fixed up her pillow and blanket on the couch for her sister after she got sick last night. Poor Baby!

I think she’s going to be okay, this was her playing in a box this afternoon right before her nap…

 

 

Campbell just came out of her room dragging a full bag of treasures and just said “Mom, would you like to hear a Bible story?” in the sweetest voice! So now I feel super guilty for venting about her and she has changed gears on me once again. I am posting this fast so I can take advantage of this sweet moment!

Weeks like this remind me that motherhood is the toughest but sweetest job of all!

Note Home from School

Today we received the following note from Campbell’s teacher:

Campbell-Apple down.
Please discuss keeping hands to herself. She is wanting to love on the boys at circle and story carpet times.  Thank so much.

Yes, my child-LOVING too much on the BOYS!!  AUGHH!!!! WHAT are we going to do with her???

It’s hard to get on to a child for being too loving, its not like she was biting or hitting but whew, I think her daddy would rather hear she was punching boys rather than giving them too much love!

Go Pike!

Today was Pike’s first football game which meant Campbell got to be a cheerleader today!!  Each Friday is “Spirit Friday” and the kids are encouraged to dress in their red, white & blue. But every little girl loves to take the opportunity to wear a cheerleading uniform to school just like the big girls!  Campbell has no idea what a pep rally is yet or experienced a high school football game….but she is super excited.  Go Pike!

First Week of School Report

Campbell had a GREAT first week of school!  I only had got to walk her in on Monday and ever since I have dropped her off at the front of the school where either Mrs Dee or Mrs Tommy Lynn helped her out of the car, into her backpack and escorted her to her classroom.  She loves being such a big girl!

Campbell has already learned the days of the week, managed to keep her apple on the tree all week and is very eager to get up, get ready and get going every morning.  This has been a very big but good adjustment for the whole house! I don’t think my co-workers have seen me at work so early in a very long time!!

Campbell’s teacher, Mrs. Cindy, keeps her own blog which is great for giving us updates and reminders but also so much fun!  She took pictures of the class and posted them on the blog for all of us to see what the kids have been doing….here’s some she of her pictures & captions:

We found the Gingerbread Man!!!! He was sooo fast, he led us all around the school.

We finally found him in our classroom. He left us cookies, sprinkles & frosting! YUM YUM!!!

 

 

Off to a FABULOUS start!!!!

 

GGGRRREAT job counting!!!!

 

Our first K-4 masterpieces!!!!! What wonderful artists!!!

 

Showing their Patriot Pride!!!! GO PATRIOTS!!!!

 

Center time is soooo much fun!!!

 

SHHH! We are all tired out after a busy first week!!!!

Sara Gray’s First Haircut

I am so excited I have something new to blog about Sara Gray for today…her very first haircut!  With starting school and all Campbell’s new activities that have come with that the camera has definitely been focused more on my oldest daughter and I have been feeling guilty about now giving Sara Gray some spotlight too.

Honey made her an appointment with Miss Rebecca for today.  This is a tradition with Honey and Campbell-getting to go the beauty parlor together (since I am typically at work it works great that Honey takes her!) and now she will continue the tradition with Sara Gray.

Of course, I brought her to meet Honey at the shop since I wasn’t about to miss out on this milestone and I wasn’t too sure how Sara Gray would behave.  Immediately, she walked in the room and squealed because Honey was getting her hair washed and she didn’t like seeing Honey laid back in that sink! But then I sat down in the chair with her and she was quiet and very observant.  Eventually, she got curious and then ready for it to be over so she started squirming but thankfully Miss Rebecca was very patient with us and Sara Gray got her first trim, little bangs and all!

First Day of School

Well today was the day…Campbell’s official first day of “big school”!

I hadn’t felt emotional leading up to today but this morning I was getting ready and that pit in my stomach surprisingly started stirring.  On the way to school, I thought maybe it was because I hadn’t really thought about it, the emotions were going to sneak up on me. 

We got to school and I parked the car so I could walk her in and deliver the last bit of supplies and nap mat. Campbell walked slowly but confidently into her classroom this morning and then we found her desk and she turned around and gave me a kiss.  Which was her way of saying “okay, I’m here..I love you…you can go now!”  I still had supplies to put away, lunch money to turn in and pictures to take! She was ready but I wasn’t!!

I stayed around to take pics for some friends that were teachers and unable to make that first day for their children but instead of Campbell paying any attention to me in the room, she got her play-doh and got busy playing, hardly realizing I was still around.  When the bell rang and Mrs. Cindy gently reminded us parents that it was time for school to begin, I left knowing she was perfectly ready and okay.  With no tears!  I couldn’t believe it.

Matt picked her up from school and her teacher reported that Campbell had a great day and showed off her good manners. Campbell was very excited to tell us all about chasing the Gingerbread Man through the school. He left notes in the library, the office, the lunchroom and of course led them back to their classroom.  What a clever way to give the class a tour and introduce them to all the important spots they will need to know!

Campbell says she is ready to go back tomorrow. I am so thankful for a wonderful first day and praying this year is filled with many, many more!!

7:20am: The traditional stopping on the front steps, on her first day of school picture. 

Hugging Daddy good bye

Showing off her new backpack-it seems impossible she’ll actually grow into that huge thing this year! 

We got into the car and right before we backed out she said “Mom, I need to tell you something…”. I thought Oh no-this is it, she’s nervous, scared, worried… Then she says “I don’t think this hair bow matches this dress (it didn’t really…Daddy was doing his best to hurry help us get out the door early!) and I don’t think I have to wear a bow. Sometimes I will but maybe not today. Not my first day.”  How could I argue with that?

Standing in front of her cubby hole, backpack in place and smiling so big!

Saying one last goodbye to my sweet, grown-up girl.  Jackson is her neighbor and an classmate from MDO. Her seat is close to both the board and Mrs Cindy’s desk so she better pay close attention! 

It’s a joy and blessing to see her sooo happy!!  It made my day a lot easier!

When I got home from work she showed me this necklace and hat she made at school.  I asked her about the Gingerbread Man and it sounds like she had a wonderful day!!!  Earlier tonight her teacher sent me a short email letting me know Campbell had a great day and that she was looking forward to being with her this year.  How blessed we are!!

Play date with Lola

We had the Drinkwaters over to grill out, swim and let Campbell and Lola celebrate the end to their summer vacation since Campbell won’t see Lola at Mother’s Day Out this year.

Campbell discovered goggles last week when another friend, Sydney, came over to swim.  We picked up some on sale and she decided Lola needed a pair too!

The grill decided to die and a thunderstorm came so we didn’t get to have dinner on the deck but the girls enjoyed having their own table inside.  The girls had cover-up dresses that were similar and they thought that was so cool.

 

It’s fun to see our girls getting old enough to have their own conversations and playtime together!

Bid Day 2010

Once again, Spirit Week and Recruitment has come and gone!!  It takes a toll of my body and my family but it’s worth getting to play a small role in helping some great young women. Campbell got to spend more time with me at the KD house this year and the girls gave her lots of attention, which she totally loved!  Sara Gray didn’t stick around too much-all that paint and glitter was too tempting for her toddling self and way too stressful for me to keep an eye on her and do my job. So she got lots of good Daddy time!

One night, Campbell actually was telling the chapter they weren’t smiling (and pointing them out) and giving them grades on their door songs. She had the girls cracking up and I couldn’t believe how comfortable and bold she was standing in front of all those college girls.  I definitely don’t think I would have done that at her age!

The week went well, Kappa Delta had a wonderful rush and pledged some amazing girls and I’m thinking I might have picked up some good babysitters in the process too!!

Here’s some highlights from (a very hot!!) Bid Day:

 

PLA Orientation & Registration

Well the time has come! Campbell is starting K4 this year at Pike Liberal Arts and she is so excited about going to big school!!  She has asked me all summer how many more days and finally we got to give her a countdown this week. I have had fun getting her supplies together and remember how geeked out I would get about getting new clean notebooks, school supplies and labeling all my things just so.  The excitement has been building with every new thing…her new backpack & lunch box, picking out her folders, shopping for her craft and classroom supplies, etc.

We had Orientation Thursday night and found out who was going to be her teacher (Mrs. Cindy Boutwell) and who was going to be in her class.  We were surprised to find out that many of Campbell’s classmates and friends from Mother’s Day Out were going to be in her class again!

Although I went to Pike from K-12th grade, the school has changed sooo much!  I was impressed with all the new rooms, organized efforts, traffic patterns and instructions-yes, its has changed a lot since 1996!!

Matt even ordered a PTO t-shirt for himself and as we left the school said “well, I’m a Patriot now!” So I guess the whole family is in the spirit!

Today was registration and although we didn’t have to go, Campbell would have been so disappointed not to! We dropped off her a lot of her supplies and while I registered her paperwork at the office, she played in her new classroom and spent some time with Mrs Cindy. She didn’t want to leave!!  I hope she is this enthusiastic on Monday on her “real” first day of school as she says.

 

Thursday night Orientation & Open House. Campbell was so excited to find a box with HER name on it!  This is where she will keep her play-doh & toys.

 

Campbell and her teacher, Mrs. Cindy!  I can tell she will be a very loving and patient teacher which is just what Campbell will need.

 Mom & Dad with our new little Patriot. She is wearing a police jacket-already found the dress-up clothes and ready to play!

Playing with Emma Cate Baker, a friend from church and school.

The apple tree!  Daddy helped Campbell find her apple and we talked about all the good things that happen if your apple stays up but if you are naughty, that apple will come down!

I took this quick pic on the way to Pike Friday morning for registration.  She looks like she grew up overnight!! It was like I looked in the backseat at this big girl on her way to school, chatting all the way about all the fun things she was going to do this year, so confident and excited and ready.   It makes it easier for me to to be more excited than emotional when I see how happy this new beginning makes her.  Where has the time gone??!!