The Mean Kid

I'm sorry, but this is a GREAT story!

Friday was Mr. Fingers kindergarten interview (that's when the teacher does a little skills assessment and Mr. Fingers gets to see his classroom). She let us find his desk and we looked at the name of the kid he would be sitting next to.

"Oh, look... you sit next to insert kid's name," I said.

To which Mr. Fingers replied, "I don't like insert kid's name. He's mean."

Well, I was a little embarrassed at this point that my kid was passing judgments on someone he hadn't even met yet, in front of his new teacher. "You don't know insert kid's name yet, I'm sure he is a nice kid," I quickly assured.

On the way home Mr. Fingers told me that insert kids name was in his pre-school class and that he was always hitting, pushing, and yelling at all the kids. I let him know that we live in a very large town, and it most likely is a different kid with that name.

First day of school rolled around and I sat down Mr. Fingers at his desk and gave him a hug before I left. As I was leaving insert kid's name sat down and his dad said something that made my jaw drop.

"OK, insert kid's name. You're going to be nice this year and not mean, right?"

Turns out it was the same kid! His parting word to his son totally confirmed poor Mr. Finger's story. What a laugh!!! Hopefully insert kid's name won't be a mean kid this year :)


Here he is, the Big Kindergartner:


It was so cute when they all lined up, waiting to go to their classes for the first time. The all looked absolutely petrified.



Finally, every one's in school. Staggering the first days makes a first day of school picture difficult, but I still got one.

This kid...

So, Mr. Fingers walks into my room wearing a different set of clothes then what he was wearing earlier, and brown marker all over his face.

My first reaction was frustration. "You are old enough now to use a marker with out getting it all over yourself," I said.

He just looks at me.

"Why have you changed your clothes?" I asked. "That isn't what you were wearing a minute ago."

He just looks at me.

"Go wash off....." -then it hits me.

"Are you pretending to be The Brain?" I asked.

He nods his head.

Then I laughed.

Big, Big Day

Today was actually the "Second Day, of Second Grade (clap, clap)" - sorry, Veggie Tales song...

Yesterday was the BIG DAY!!! We have been waiting for this day and it FINALLY CAME!!!

When we were back to school shopping, I tried so hard to pick out some clothes that I thought were nice, but I'm a mom... what do I know about fashion these days???? (apparently not much). As far as shirts go, he was only interested in the ones that had "kids stuff" printed on them. That's why on the first day of school, my son is wearing a Bakugan shirt.... sheesh.

He sat down and got to work right away on the Frog name tag that was sitting at his desk. On the way to school we were talking about what he might learn in the 2nd grade. He was excited to learn new math skills, and not to mention all the interesting books he would be reading this year.

I think The Brain was disappointed at the end of the day when he hadn't learned any long division yet... I told him that, "First days are usually filled with a lot of house keeping kinds of things."



But, for breakfast we had birthday cake! (there was also fruit and sausage links mom). It was 'lil sis's birthday!! She turned 5 years old. I had this brilliant idea to make her a scooby-do cake with little scooby-do dolls on it. Well, I put a layer of marshmallow spread in between the two cake layers and.... we had a bit of a landslide.

Not to worry, Scooby and the Gang all stayed safe from harm. Even though it wasn't the best looking cake ever made, it still tasted great... that is the point, isn't it???? And she sure loved her Scooby toys, in addition to all of her other gifts.

Happy Birthday Girly!!!




As far as first days of school goes, that's one down. Lil Sis starts pre-school today. Big Bro. goes to private school and starts tomorrow. Finally, Mr. Fingers will start Kindergarten on Monday. Then, my college classes start on the 28th... can't we all just get our routine going already??? I'm getting antsy....

Summer Eulogy

A reverent silence falls over those attending Summer's funeral service, as Bug approaches the podium.

It is hard not to morn the loss of our dear friend... summer 2009. So, instead of tears of sadness, we are shedding tears of joy, as we remember the good times we shared.

There was the wonderful trip we took the the Osborn Aquatic Center. I can still feel the burn in my leg muscles from having to climb the stairs to the water slide over, and over, and over again, as The Little Snake would cheerfully exclaim "AGAIN," when we would finally splash into the pool. Summer, by this time our friendship had grown to the point that we didn't even need - sniff, sniff - to put sunblock on anymore; thanks to our nicely browned skin. For that, we thank you.

Your delicious treats, dear summer, though quickly eaten/slurped, will not quickly be forgotten. You even taught us how to share... so that everyone could partake of your Hawaiian Shaved goodness.

And every day at noon, we would walk the single block's length, down to the elementary school for our free lunch. Because a Bug refuses to pay for something she can get for free. Then we would gather on the back porch and eat Popsicles to our hearts delight.

Thank you summer, for the beautiful days at the park (a single tear drop falls onto the podium). For allowing scene and scenarios, where our imagination could take us to so many interesting, playful, and beautiful places.

Time spent with summer wouldn't be complete, with out a couple trips to our favorite swimming hole.

Even with out the kids, Summer provided exciting adventures.
Like, riding on an Elephant at Mary's Peak.

How we look forward to the day when we will once again be reunited. When we can splash, and climb, and slurp, all in your warm summer's sun.

Oh Summer, how you will be missed!!! But now is not a time for such sadness. We are looking on to new horizons, with back packs, newly sharpened pencils, brand new sneakers, and smart new hair cuts, we march on... into the next phase of our life... Fall.