Kindergarten Quote & Poem

Ella's cute quote of the day: "Mom, I never really wanted to go to Kindergarten. I just want school at home." Me: "Well, that won't work!" Ella: "Sure it will, it's called home schooled." Um, I was thinking it's not what your mom is geared for, but didn't say that. I was shocked she knew about home schooling. I felt like she was in on a secret I had tried to keep from her. Then she said, "Mom, maybe I could just stay in your tummy." WHAT??? She's almost 6! Maybe I've protected her too much. Ah, well, we sure have been a fun team the last few years.

A friend sent me this, sweet words of emotion for sending my baby off:

I Trust You'll Treat Her Well

Author: Victor Buono

Dear World:
I bequeath to you today one little girl...in a crispy dress...with two brown eyes...and a happy laugh that ripples all day long.. and a flash of light brown hair that bounces in the sun when she runs.
I trust you'll treat her well.

She's slipping out of the backyard of my heart this morning...and skipping off down the street to her first day of school. And never again will she be completely mine.
Prim and proud she'll wave her young and independent hand this morning and say "Goodbye" and walk with little lady steps to the schoolhouse.

Now she'll learn to stand in lines...and wait by the alphabet for her name to be called. She'll learn to tune her ears for the sounds of school-bells...and deadlines...and she'll learn to giggle...and gossip...and look at the ceiling in a disinterested way when the little boy 'cross the aisle sticks out his tongue at her. And now she'll learn to be jealous. And now she'll learn how it is to feel hurt inside. And now she'll learn how not to cry.

No longer will she have time to sit on the front porch on a summer day and watch an ant scurry across the crack in the sidewalk. Nor will she have time to pop out of bed with the dawn and kiss lilac blooms in the morning dew. No, now she'll worry about those important things...like grades and which dress to wear and whose best friends is whose. And the magic of books and learning will replace the magic of her blocks and dolls. And now she'll find new heroes.

For five full years now I've been her sage and Santa Claus and pal and playmate and mother and friend. Now she'll learn to share her worship with her teachers ...which is only right. But no longer will I be the smartest woman in the whole world. Today when that school bell rings for the first time...she'll learn what it means to be a member of the group...with all its privileges and its disadvantages too.

She'll learn in time that proper young ladies do not laugh out loud...or kiss dogs...or keep frogs in pickle jars in bedrooms...or even watch ants scurry across cracks in sidewalks in the summer.
Today she'll learn for the first time that all who smile at her are not her friends. And I'll stand on the front porch and watch her start out on the long, lonely journey to becoming a woman.
So, world, I bequeath to you today one little girl...in a crispy dress...with two brown eyes...and a flash of light brown hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs.

I trust you'll treat her well.

Tear, tear!

First Day of Kindergarten, 3rd Grade

The kiddos are off and running to school today -- Ella in Kindergarten and Dylan in 3rd grade. After a long, hot August, I thought I'd be happy to see them go -- but instead I find myself staring at the clock and wishing they'd hurry home! I love my kiddos, love hearing them play at home and fight and sign and be here. I miss their sounds. But, I know they are both excited. Dylan kept saying how nervous he was this morning. But he had the biggest grin on his face. Ella was ready to go super early this morning. She was excited, but as she walked in the building she said "Mom, are you going to give me a hug and kiss? And come to lunch?" Well, of course I did all three! Ella got to put "jitter glitter" in her hair from her Kindergarten teacher. That was a big hit!

Meet-the-Teacher 2010

We had a great back-to-school night. Ella has Mrs. Thacker for Kindergarten. Could she have a cuter personality for Ella? She has a cute theme of things that grow. Ella loves all the flowers, lady bugs, cute decorations. We love Mrs. Thacker, Dylan had her for the past three years for special ed. Now, she's a Kinder teacher. Her teacher has a blog if you want to follow Ella's Kindergarten year. Ella and her friend Katie got matching Twinkle Toe shoes. Perfect!Dylan also has a super teacher, Mrs. Reeves, for third grade. She seems really calm and has good teaching experience. Thank goodness! He also has Mrs. Cassie for resource who he had as a Kindergarten aide. So, lots to look forward to. Eric gave the kids back-to-school blessings today, maybe I was the one who needed it? I'm so excited for both kids, just a little nervous.

Horse Camp 2010

This is our third year at Frisco Horse camp. I remember starting here when Ella was 3 and Dylan was starting Kindergarten. Now, it's Ella's turn for Kindergarten. The kids have really improved with their riding ability. Dylan can get on his horse himself and says "whoaaaaaaa!" Ella knows how to give the horse a kick when it's grazing. Although the kids had a blast, mom got stepped on by one of the horses on my achilles heel. OUCH! I have to say it's interrupted my workouts and really does hurt. WAAAAA! But I made sure to follow my dad's example and got the kids right back up on the horse. When I was little, if any of us got hurt or fell off a horse, we had to get right back on. A good life lesson. Now my kids aren't afraid! Ella fell in love with this little goat named Nibbles. He loved to Nibble on her shirt.

Ella's Acting Camp

Ella got to play the little green snake in the play 'Little Bear' at a camp this summer. She picked out the animal she wanted to be. I never knew she liked snakes. But she sure is a cute snake. She does a great job with acting, talking loud enough for all to hear.
And she slithered across the stage and made everyone laugh! Applause, Applause Ella!

Camping

We found a lake with a nice beach area that we love -- Lake Ray Roberts. It's so close to home and the beach area is nice and clean and wide areas of sand. We had promised the kids a summer campout, so here it is!

Some of the kids' favorite things: collecting seashells, s'mores, nighttime stories around the campfire and swimming, swimming, swimming.

Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Nicole came the next morning to swim at the beach. Good memories!

Dallas a Bit Empty!

My sister Nicole is off to BYU grad school and leaving me behind in Dallas. I do not like this one bit. When Nicole was young and we'd change plans, she'd have a fit. Well now it's my turn to have a fit. We moved here and you made Dallas so fun. Whenever we were lost or getting restless, you'd seem to show up and make everything fun. The kids will miss Aunt Cole so much! And what will I do when I have to eat all the holiday cookies we are craving by myself? That's not fair! I need you here to share the calories... pumpkin cookies for Halloween, chocolate mint M&Ms for Christmas...

Nicole is so amazing, she let my family of four live with her for at least six weeks when we backed out of one house and waited to buy another. She put up with kids going through all her stuff. And she was such a great sport. I love it when Dylan tells people, "In 2007, we lived in Aunt Nicole's apartment!" Ok, it wasn't ALL year, but probably felt like it too Nicole.

Ugly Betty TV nights got me through the transition from my Virginia home to Texas! I will miss you stopping by randomly on Saturdays and Sunday dinners. You always came with a fun, entertaining story to tell us. What can we say, we are the old boring married folks and you have the fun single life stories! I will miss pool time with you. And movie nights. WAAAA WAA WAA (as Dylan would say)!

Thanks for leaving Ella with a little white stuffed dog, so glad you two agreed on a name. Oh and of course, what better gift to Dylan than your old laptop? How many of your computers will that boy inherit? LOL!

Best of luck, but mostly best wishes getting your butt back to Dallas ASAP!