First Day's of School!

August brought firsts for both the boys this year. First Ryan started Kindergarten on Aug 5th. We tried to prep him during the summer that he would be attending a big kid school. He wasn't so sure about this and at one point he told us, "I just want to go to school with the little kids." I took him shopping two days before school started for his school supplies. A new backpack, a pencil box, crayons, eraser, glue stick and pencils and Grandma Toni bought him a first day of school outfit. He was very excited about his new supplies. The first day of school I took him to school and he did just fine. He found his name tag at his seat with a very enthusiastic, "I found it!" 

We are now three weeks into school. It has taken Ryan a little while to settle into his new routine. Carpet time, where the children listen to stories and work on letters and numbers is Ryan's best time. He sits and participates well. Working at his desk and especially writing and spelling his name were met with more resistance. The teacher was able to get him to trace his name at the top of his papers written in highlighter. Now I am happy to say that after 3 weeks he is writing his name on his own. We are now hoping that the district will hurry up and get a permanent aide in the classroom with him. He has had 4 different ones in 3 weeks. It does not seem to have affected him much to have different aides but we know that it is when things are consistent that Ryan does the best. He has started Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy. We are very excited to see what new things he will learn this year!

On August 10th Jaiden started Preschool at Center Co-op preschool. All summer when we would past the preschool we would tell him it was his new school and it didn't take long for him to announce "There is my new school!" Every time we would pass by. With the school being a co-op I work in the classroom one day a week. My work day is Monday so I got to work on Jaiden's first day. Still being a young preschooler, he wont be 3 until Sept 6th, Some activities were met with resistance. During the flag he refused to stand up declaring, "I can't!" But now after two weeks  he tells me, "I put my hand on my heart and sang flag of America!" His favorite activity is swinging during outside time. 

Chipboard house, My Moms Birthday Present

I bought this kit at the greatest little craft store in Pendleton Oregon called "The Heart of the Home." I was a little intimidated when I took  it out of the package. I couldn't decide just how to cover it. Should I paint it or cover it with paper? In the end I ended up covering it with paper and adding some old fashioned stickers friend had given me, popping some of them up with pop dots. I printed small 2x3 pictures of my children and fit them in the windows and door opening. I am really pleased with how it turned out and my Mom loved it!