A Poetry Program

It was a sweet morning of haikus, diamantés, couplets, and cinquains (huh?). Second grade poetry at its finest!

Each kiddo had a book of poetry, written by them over the course of the year. They were all allowed to read one of their poems in front of their class and parents. It is no surprise that A) Harper wrote a poem about Dex, and B) that’s the one she chose to share. 

While Kasey watched Dex (no way he’s ready for full on school germs), Willa and I snuck over to Clearbrook to hear our sweet girl mumble five lines from her desk. 😆

It’s always a treat to support Harper and be in her class.  She had tears in her eyes as Willa and I left, so I know it means so much to her, too. May it always be so!

Spring Dance

 

Our little school has one of the absolute best Parent Teach Associations, and one of its big events is the Spring Dance.  Yes, for elementary school.  It's adorable.  We missed it last year because we went to the Lake House to celebrate March birthdays, so we were excited to give it a try this year. 

 

I told Sam I'd take Harper, and he could hang at the house with Wills, but after some begging and finding out that a friend was taking her preschool age son, I decided to let Willa Kate come along as well.  We grabbed some dresses out of the closet, and set out to dance the night (er, hour and a half) away.

 

Oh my goodness, it was the cutest thing ever.  Harp loved seeing her friends all dressed up!  And I always enjoy catching up with the other Clearbrook mamas.  Willa Kate had no trouble breaking into the elementary social scene and quickly had some friends of her own.

 

We had a great time doing every organized group dance from the last 10 years.  (Who's ready to Cha Cha Slide?!  Everybody out on the dance floor for some Whip Nae Nae!  Let's see some Juju on That Beat!)  I can't believe I'm saying this, but I was actually sad when it came to an end!

 

 

 

Harper's TV Debut

Anyone who knows Harper well isn't surprised that her news debut had to do with her inability to sit still in a seat!  Ha. 

Ninety-nine percent of the time, Harper is dressed to the nines for school.  Not because I care (though, let's be real.  Having a little girl is fun.), but because she's such a little diva when it comes to her clothes and accessories.  But, on this particular day, I had to leave super early for work and she had gym that day, so I laid out an easy, comfortable outfit with some tennis shoes for the next day.  We went ahead and put her hair in a pony tail the night before, and I found out when I went to check on her before I went to bed that she had gone ahead and put on her clothes for school and was sleeping in them.  So, naturally, she came home from school the next day, and said, "Mom!  I'm going to be on tv.  The news was at my school today."

Of course. 

At first, I thought she was kidding, but an email came home from her teacher saying that the class's alternative seating options would be featured on the local news.  So, here is sweet Harper.  Telling us about how it's hard to sit in a seat, and it's cool to have options.  I love that she was brave enough to share about her classroom.  Mom always wanted me to be on the news as a meteorologist.  Maybe it'll be her granddaughter instead. 

Goodbye, Kindergarten!

 

For months and months, I knew I'd be emotional when it came time for Harper's first day of school.  Well, really, I wasn't so bad on the actual first day of school, it was more the evening before.  But, it took me by surprise when I started to get teary-eyed last night while laying Harper's things out for today, her last day of school.  Why oh why didn't you moms warn me of that?  Roanoke County doesn't do Kindergarten graduations, so there was no program for me to ceremoniously cry at the growing up of my baby, so I guess instead, that realization hit me while gathering up shoes and pulling out the "Class of 2028" tshirt I bought at the beginning of the year.

I'm not sad this school year is over.  To be honest, I'm looking forward to letting the girls stay up longer and sleep in later, and I won't mind a bit if I don't pack another lunch for the next two months.  But, my word this year has sailed by.  And thinking about that is what got me.  Holy cow, this year went by so quickly.  And I've only got twelve more with her here.  Ugh.  Tears, tears, tears.  I ordered the 2028 t-shirt in the hopes that I could take a picture of her in it each year until she is actually a senior year, standing there as part of the Class of 2028.  Though Sam and I have already placed bets that I will lose it by the time she's in third grade.  Ha!  Probably so, but the sentiment is there. 

And of course, there's the mandatory, internal conversation of "I hope I'm doing ok."  "I hope I'm not messing her up."  "I hope she's going to turn out all right."  Shew, this mommy-ing is deep.

 

Our goal for this year was for Harper to have a positive perception of school and enjoy learning, and we have certainly met that.  Mrs. Campbell created a warm, fun, calm environment even in a sea of spirited five- and  six-year-olds, and she was a perfect fit for Harper's first year.  Her grade card came home with her (along with her attendance and Amazing Artist awards), and she got all S's in her last nine weeks and all S's for the year.  Go, Harper!   

I can't believe how much she's grown.  I am SO PROUD of your effort this year, Big Love.  You did great. 

Harper for Heart Health

Harper came home from school last week super pumped to tell me about how you need a heart to have a healthy body.  Yes, yes you do, Harper.  She also let me know that not everyone has a healthy heart and so her school is raising money to help (the American Heart Association).  Since I still find myself wearing red the first Friday in February (the AHA's Go Red Day) after having a statin and antihypertensive as my first two pharmaceutical products, I was happy to help her raise a little money for this great cause.  On the condition that I didn't have to do the soliciting.  :)  Mama went to private school for high school and had to do her share of begging fundraising.  Your turn now, darling.  So, we set up her webpage through the AHA and recorded her video asking for friends and family to join her efforts.

She set the goal of raising $100 (that's still fresh in her mind with the 100 days of school), but she was so proud to end up with $150 thanks to some super sweet (and generous) family members!  She even contributed five of her own dollars to "help people have healthy bodies."  Thanks Aunt Leah, Papaw, MarMar and PapPap for helping her meet her goal.  (You'll be thrilled to know all that money earned her several of these little dog lanyards!  haha)

Valentine's Day 2016

Valentine's Day isn't quite as glamorous as it used to be.  Who am I kidding, Valentine's Day has never been a big deal in our book.  Since we've been married, Sam and I have done the "no presents" policy for all holidays and birthdays, which means Valentine's Day is usually just celebrated with a dinner out.  Which we do a couple times a week anyway.  So, actually, it has become more fun now that my Little Loves are around to celebrate the day of love with. 

Roanoke County schools have three big parties a year-- Halloween, Winter (Christmas), and Valentine's Day, so this is the last big effort required of the homeroom moms.  Isn't that so hard to believe?  It was the last holiday party for Harper in Kindergarten.  Gracious, it's gone quickly. 

I got to pop in over at Clearbrook for Harper's party.  Walking into her class never gets old.  You're literally like a celebrity.  "Harper's Mom!!!" followed by big hugs from Harper's close friends and a couple of the more outgoing kiddos in the class.  It was fun getting to celebrate with them as they glued conversation hearts in the shape of the word "love," and played Cupid as they shot "arrows" (aka q-tips) out of straws at their targets.

Harper has been obsessed with Shopkins lately, and apparently her friends really like them, too.  So, she decided she wanted to do Shopkins Valentine's for her girl classmates (and included a Shopkin figurine in their candy bag), and the boys got a little Dinosaur in theirs.  Willa picked some straight-out-of-the-Target shelf Palace Pet scratch off Valentine's cards.  Bless her heart.  Always the easy one. 

And speaking of easy, I went the easy route for the girls' little Valentine's gifts from us.  It's called Etsy.  In five minutes, I had two custom candy/hairbow bouquets headed our way, for $12 each.  Cheaper than I could've made them.  Harper was super pumped with her Shopkins themed bouquet, and Willa Kate loved getting a Skye bow from Paw Patrol.

Like I said earlier, Sam and I don't really celebrate.  We've been busy all week preparing to host a baby shower and houseguests, so I hadn't given Valentine's Day much thought.  On Thursday, when I ran in Sam's for some groceries for the shower, I came out and mentioned they had some really nice bouquets with sunflowers, but my hands were full and I didn't want to get a cart.  My sweet Sam had two bouquets, one of nothing but sunflowers, waiting for me when I got home from work on Friday, and two cute little stuffed animals for the girls.  He's not often romantic, but that was super thoughtful, and I love having fresh flowers around the house when we have guests.  Win, win. 

Mimi and MarMar gave the girls some Valentine's money, which they've been super excited about.  MarMar included a little lesson about money that Harper may have since told everyone that would listen.  "With your first dollar, you give it to God..."

I love this picture that Harper randomly took but it's real life.  It's loading the dishwasher on a Saturday morning, fueling my day with some Diet Pepsi and soaking in some love for my baby girl.  Sweet, every day love. 

We love because He first loved us.

1 John 4:19

School Christmas Parties

Merry Christmas to our girls' sweet teachers and classmates!

Willa Kate's last day of school was December 14, but before their winter break began, they were able to celebrate Jesus' birthday with their friends at school.  There are only five preschoolers in WK's class (kudos to Mrs. Collins for being able to do footprint crafts with FIVE two-year-olds), so I let her pick out a little wooden puzzle for each of her friends at school.  I'm not sure that she or any other two-year-old will be able to put it back together, but hey, it's the thought that counts.  :)

This is fourth year at CSBP, so we know the deal.  Teachers loved being gifted with chocolate and Target gift cards.  :)  So we packaged those up in a little bucket, and sent our love to Mrs. Collins.  I don't have any pictures from her class party because parents aren't invited to attend.  When we first started at the preschool, I was so disappointed by that, but then I learned to appreciate it.  The reason they do that is because they have many families at the school that are dual-working households, so they don't want children whose parents can't attend to feel left out.  Makes sense.

Harper and her friend Ella

Lila and Reagan

But, I sure do love finally getting to attend a class party or two!  I have loved getting to know Harper's sweet classmates by running by her school for her 20 minute lunch once a month.  I do it to spend time with Harper, but also to get to know all her little friends and put sweet faces with those names.  You literally feel like a celebrity when you walk into lunch.  "Ahh!  It's Harper's mom!  Harper's Mom, do you want to see my fruit snack?  Are you coming to our Christmas party?"

Adding the "snow" to her globe

Ella with her snow globe ornament

Addie, Mia, Jacob, and Cohen

Jamie, Delaney, and Violet

 By the Holiday Party time, these kiddos were ready. to. go.  Poor Mrs. Campbell.  I can't believe she manages all 18 of them when they are in this sugar-expectant hyper state.  But, they loved snacking on their veggies and cupcakes, and were fired up and ready for their game after the snow globe ornament craft.  The game ended up being so fun to watch.  Shelley (PTA president, fellow room parent, and Lila's mom) brought two pairs of ski gloves, and each of the room moms wrapped six presents so that each child had one gift in front of them.  Only the kid with the gloves could open their gift, and when they got the last shred of paper off, they could pass the gloves to the next kiddo in line.  It was hilarious watching them try to get the unwrapping started while wearing oversized gloves, but it was even more sweet watching them cheer on their teammates.  Merry Christmas, precious Cave Spring and Clearbrook families!