Fabulous Firsts

Well, those of you that know me well - this post is late in true Kelli style!  So, it's the third (almost fourth) day of school, just pretend it's Monday afternoon.

Ready for the first day!
 I realize Kendall has no bow in her hair. 
I hate to make her sweet teachers try to keep up with it!

Jackson started first grade this year.  FIRST GRADE!  When Jackson was born it seemed like it would be forever until he was in the same grade I taught, and now here it is.  Seriously, where does the time go?  I got a little emotional (okay a lot) as we prayed together before we left for school.  However, I am one blessed momma for a multitude of reasons.  Jackson's teacher is a dear, dear friend of mine.  She is God's gift to teaching and Jackson is so lucky to have her.  I know he will be well taken care and blossom in her care.  Also, his classroom is just right across the hall from me.  Jackson has a little crush on our other talented, precious first grade teacher - he would be blessed to have her as well!

Jackson and Mrs. Sevigny

Jackson had a great first day!  He said, "We read, we cut, we colored, we glued, we did some math.  We pretty much covered it all!".  He is also very impressed with the overhead projector (ahh, to be six years old again).

It was also Kendall's first day back to school since last May.  Zach takes her to school since it does not open until 7:30.  He said she was excited until she realized he wasn't going to stay with her.  Then began the screaming that he could hear the rest of the way down the hall.  Zach and I both called to check on her throughout the day and she was doing fine.  She just needs to get over the initial shock - hopefully by September the screaming will stop.  I'm sort of glad I don't have to drop her off, I'm not sure I could leave her crying!

When Zach picked her up she was all smiles and having a great time!  I asked her if she went to school and she said, "No, I go to church (pronounced chirch in Kendallese)!".  I asked her is she had fun at church and she said, "I played toys and I runned and I played outside."  Sounds like a good day to me!  I didn't get any pictures of Kendall and her teacher on the first day, I forgot to send the camera with Zach (imagine that). 

Kendall's backpack and lunchbox - a present from Yommy for the first day of school.  Too precious!

And so another first day of school is in the books, for the kids and for me! 

Our annual picture in front of my door -
Can we call it annual if we've only done it twice?

Verse of the day - "For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7

Blessings,
Kelli

Mr. Mom and other ramblings

This week has been a whirlwind for everyone...

Part 1 - Back to school
I officially had got to go back to work last Wednesday.  Don't get me wrong - I LOVE my job, but it is hard to go back after spending an entire summer with my lovebugs.  I love getting my room ready for a new group of first graders, after all who doesn't love the smell of masking tape in the morning?  But, getting a classroom ready takes a lot of time.  Contrary to popular belief, we don't get to spend all 8 days before school starts working in our rooms.  So, any extra "free" time is spent working in my room.  Somehow, it all comes together before Open House (nobody sees the stuffing and cramming behind the scenes - a trade secret, don't tell anyone I told you)! 

Outside my classroom (not sure why the color is so funny...)

Part 2 - Mr. Mom
Have I mentioned that I have a wonderful husband?  Zach takes off the week and a half before school starts (when I have to go back) to spend time with the kids.  They have a great time together.  This week he went above and beyond and kept our friend AnnaBelle a few days as well.  He is a wonderful father!  Sadly, I don't have any pictures because:
a. I wasn't there to take them
b. Zach hates taking pictures and
c. Kendall is very unwilling to pose - a.k.a. sit still for half a second - for pictures.

Part 3 - Baseball and Football
Jackson is playing machine pitch Fall Ball this year.  Ah, Fall Ball or as another parent stated quite eloquently, "sit in the 102 degree weather to watch baseball because you love your kid!"  Seriously, he's had a lot of fun and improved quite a bit.  Even though he still has one more year of tee-ball next season, I think he likes machine pitch better.  His coaches are really positive and encouraging - they give game balls away at the end of every game.  Jackson was really excited to get three! 

Last summer, Jackson played baseball and basketball at the same time - we swore we would never do two sports at the same time again.  We were all exhausted, especially Jackson who sometimes didn't know whether to dribble or bat!  And we're not doing two at the same time exactly, but football practice has already started and Fall Ball is not yet over.  Trying to make it to both in one night has been a little tricky.  Luckily, Fall Ball will be over this weekend, then we will be back down to one.  Jackson will be on the Cowboys this year in football - much to Zach's delight!  Pictures to come...

Sidenote - Please don't think we are crazy, competitive parents...Jackson is all boy and seems to be more focused when his extra energy is put to good use! 

Jackson with one of his game balls.  He also lost his top tooth the same day!

Love that determined little face!

 

Part 4 - Kendall

A bundle of curls, energy, smiles and jewelry - she can melt your heart and make you want to pull your hair out at the exact same time!  She's a beautiful mess just waiting to happen and she's stolen our hearts and a lot of our energy!

"Watching" Bubba's game with Brobee and Toodee from Yo Gabba Gabba

I was cleaning the restroom during her self make-over. 
Her back was towards me - no wonder she was so quiet!

Hope all your Back to School preparations are going well - Ready or not here it comes!  I'm not ready just yet to discuss Jackson beginning 1st grade (crocodile tears, anyone?) - I'll save that for next time!

Verse of the day - But Jesus said, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children." Matthew 19:14

Blessings,

Kelli

Hello...

Hey, everyone!  I am going to give this blog thing a whirl.  I just told my school friend that I finally realized I try to take on too much. So, I thought I'd add one more thing...At least I know my weakness.  (Isn't admitting you have a problem the first step, anyways?)  But, seriously - another weakness I have is documenting my children's lives - I'm so far behind, so maybe if I'm held accountable...I can try to keep up!

I guess I'll start by explaining the title of my blog.  We recently went to the wedding of a close family friend (the wedding was beautiful, by the way).  The ceremony itself was outside in a breathtaking place where peacocks happen to live.  My 2-year old daughter, Kendall, loves ALL animals.  This did not bode well for the peacocks!  She chased them all over the place (after the actual ceremony, of course).  She kept screaming at them "I love peacocks, I hug peacocks, I kiss peacocks" and she would have if we would have let her!  She's our little Elmira, you know that little cartoon girl that says "I want to love him and kiss him and hug him and squeeze him forever and ever!".  Anyways, I thought to myself, my life is a lot like chasing peacocks!  I run and run and never quite seem to get it all done!  So, I will continue to chase peacocks, because I LOVE being a wife, mother, daughter, sister, teacher, friend, etc.!

Kendall Grace - peacock chaser extraordinaire

Okay, so I promise not to always be so long-winded, but...I can't do a blog post without mentioning both my children, so here's a conversation I had with Jackson (6-years old going on 45!) on Tuesday...

Jackson: "Mom, can I have an IPad?"

Me: "No, they're expensive, besides I don't even have an IPhone!"

Jackson: "But Oprah said it would change the way I learn forever!"

Jackson - Oprah quoter

Verse of the day - "The LORD bless you and keep you, the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." Numbers 6: 24-26

Blessings,
Kelli