First Days of School

Sam started Kindergarten with a bang.  He was so excited for the big day and all went well... until it didn't.  While Melanie waited in the carpool line, the school accidentally sent Sam home on the bus!  Fortunately, another mom at the bus stop noticed a scared boy without a parent, and she stayed with him and called the school. Bottom line, he's alive and not scarred for life.
The first couple weeks were an adjustment, with Sam complaining about being tired and that he didn't feel like going to school the next day.  But he's loving it now.  Last week he raised his hand and told the teacher, "I like visiting my cousins, and I like to be teached".  And today he raised his hand and told his teacher that he loved her.  We'll have to talk to the teacher to find out if it really happened that way.

Sam saying his goodbyes before the big first day

As Sam was stepping out of the car, he stopped and lunged back to mommy for one last big hug.  Then he walk with the principal to his first day.  It looks like he's crying in the picture, but he isn't.  He was just scratching his face.

Touching photo of Liz giving Sam a goodbye hug on his 2nd day of school.  Liz and Sam really miss each other during the day, and they act like wild animals when he gets home from school.

Liz's first day of preschool went much better than Sam's.  The school did not lose her.  Like Sam, she is loving school.  Yesterday, she got to be the "star of the day", which is a pretty big deal for a three year old. She got to be the line leader, along with other privileges.  She is so proud every Tuesday and Thursday, because she gets to go to school like a big girl.

Getting her backpack ready for the first day

Outside the school. No crying or push-back. Liz was willing and able to start school.

On her three "off" days, Liz likes to kick back with Juliette.  Here they are having a tea party.

Besides school, Sam and Liz also started AWANA, which is a group where kids play games and learn Bible verses. (Think Boy Scouts crossed with Vacation Bible School.)  AWANA stands for Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed (2 Timothy 2:15). They get a vest and for every so many verses they memorize, they get a badge and/or jewels for the vest.  It's our prayer that both Sam and Liz pick up badges quickly.  It's so cute to hear Liz, "Firrrrst John, chaaaapter four..."It melts the heart to hear kids saying their verses. I am pretty sure God is smiling too.

One other note about Liz, she is becoming mommy's little helper. For example, she likes to sit and help mommy fold laundry.  And she really is a help.  Surprisingly, Liz is an excellent folder of towels and rags.

As for Juliette, she's not really talking with clear words.  But every once in a while, she mumbles a hello or hi or thank you.  Then she smiles shyly. She also likes to mimic her brother.  When Sam grunts (you know how boys randomly grunt for no reason), Juliette will grunt back.


Lots and lots of pictures for both the August 2013 and September 2013 folders to the right.



Lastly, here's a video taken by Sam on a very early Sunday morning.