Update on our Summer Project

If you will remember, last month our "Summer Project" started out like this:

And now it looks like this:
Can you even believe how beautiful it is?! It is so full and feathery. I actually mowed it for the first time this week. I am so impressed with my brother-in-law's strategy to spread fine bark dust on top of the seed to keep it in place and moist. THAT is why is looks so good... oh, and the 8 straight days of rain we got the week after we planted.
Thank you again Mike and Jim for all your hard work on this yard. We could not have done it without you!

Writing books

Maddie's teacher, Mrs. Evans, is a huge advocate for reading and computers. She was the computer lab teacher at her school for 12 years until being a first grade teacher this year. So she has computers in the classroom that the kids are learning to type on. Every week, the kids write a couple books, Mrs. Evans has them laminated and bound, then they can check them out to bring home.

The first day of school, their first book was appropriately titled "On the First Day of School."
The kids got to color one picture to put in the book of something memorable about the first day. They also got to type and print the words that went along with their picture.

Most kids drew pictures that said "We rode the bus," or "We ate lunch," and even "We had free time."

What did Maddie think was so "memorable" about the first day of school?
So it begins...

First visit from the Tooth Fairy - Updated

It has finally happened! Maddie lost her first tooth!!
She was the only kid in Kindergarten last year that didn't lose a tooth. She had a few loose ones, but didn't lose any... until last night!
Our bedtime ritual includes brushing teeth, reading for 30 minutes, prayer time, and wiggling teeth. We have been working on them for months. Finally, last night, she told me when she was eating an apple at lunch time, it felt like her tooth loosened up even more. So we got the tissue out and started wiggling. I bent it forward, and her eyes got HUGE! She joyfully yelled for me to pull it out. So, I did. She was so excited, and a bit grossed out at the blood in her mouth, but nevertheless, ecstatic!

We put the tooth under her pillow for Ms. Tooth Fairy to visit. Check out that reward:
**Update: I need to mention this: the first tooth in our house is a big deal with a big reward ($5)... BUT, after that, Mr. Fairy's prices go WAY down...

She even got a personal letter from Ms. Fairy herself:

Congratulations, Missy. The next one should be out soon...

Taylor's Big Day

Last week, Taylor started pre-kindergarten. I can't believe he is already into his second year of preschool!

He was SO excited! He is going to a new school this year. It is actually Maddie's old preschool. He couldn't wait to get there and see his new teachers!

This is his school, Gardenview Montessori

These are his teachers, Amanda and Kelda. I think Taylor has a teeny-tiny crush on Miss Kelda... :-)

We are so proud of you, Mister. Learn well... laugh a lot... play hard... We love you.

Quotes from the 1st Grade

"Mom! Guess what?! Today we were in the gym practicing for the jog-a-thon, and guess who we saw?? REAL, LIVE CHEERLEADERS! Can you believe that?"
~Maddie

Maddie N. Norris, 1st grader!

Well... here it is! The big day - First Grade. At Public School! She was so excited to go... so was I...

Complete with her Tinkerbell backpack and HSM lunch box.

This is her teacher, Mrs. Evans. Mrs. E has been teaching for over 30 years! Maddie was thrilled to see all the books in her classroom, but even more thrilled that her classroom has its OWN bathroom!

This is Allie, one of Maddie's best friends. They met the first day of kindergarten. I took this exact same picture on that day, and so it was only fitting they get one for First Grade. We are so excited that Allie and Maddie are in the same class!

There is nothing like a Watermelon Italian Soda with a DumDum sucker! Happy first day, Maddie girl.

On the second day of school, Maddie took the bus by herself for the FIRST TIME! It was so exciting! She couldn't wait to get to school. When she got home, she was so thrilled that she met a new boy on the bus. When I asked why she was so happy to meet him, she said it was because he was really nice, shared his seat with her, and read her a book about mummies. Uh oh... so it begins!

Good luck, Maddie girl! See you after school...