Holy Wow!!

I was sitting here reading someone else's blog post (because I have nothing else to do *sarcasm*) and started thinking about how I haven't written a post in a while.  I looked back to my blog and saw that it has been almost a year - A YEAR!! Holy smokes have my kiddos grown in that amount of time!! So here is a rundown of things that have happened...

Bucky started 2nd grade

Playtime in the pool

Kira turned 2!

BJJ tournament

Our first NFL game

Gamma and Grandaddy came for snuggles 

Halloween

Soccer

Thanksgiving

Home for Christmas

Geocaching

 Easter in Tucson

Our New Adventure

A lot has happened since my last post so this will, again, just be a recap. Since I last wrote, we have visited PC for the holidays and traveled cross country to PCS to Arizona.

Bucky got his Orange Belt in Jujitsu.

We visited Florida before heading west.

Visited the battleship in Mobile Bay.

We spent a couple of days in Tombstone.

We rang in the New Year at a hotel in Tombstone.

Moved into our house at Fort Huachuca, AZ. 

And, of course, enjoyed the beautiful weather.

Now is where I promise to stay caught up and blog every X amount of days but between 2 kids, a husband's erratic work schedule, my school and continuing to set up a house for us for the next few years (hopefully), I'm a little busy. It's a good busy, but busy nonetheless :).

Agendas

These were the bane of our lives last year. Who knew one little calendar could cause such ridiculous uproar? For those non-parents or parents without kids currently in school, this is how the teacher tells you what's going on in your kiddo's class. Last year, it was like the Holy Grail that led us to believe our child was just not cutting it (behavior-wise). Behaviors, such as playing in line, talking during instruction, playing on the carpet, became regular topics of conversation last year. I tried to remind myself (constantly) that he was only 5 and in a new environment...because he was. I was at a loss about what to do once he got home because, after all, this behavior had occurred several hours prior. I was in tears some days feeling like a failure, especially because I could tell how bad our little boy was feeling. Sadly, I did not realize until the month before school let out that it was a bunch of BS. Yes, my kid acts out sometimes. Yes, he talks a little too much (don't know where he got that). And Yes, he likes to play. But he was in Kindergarten. Teach him, oh Teacher, how he is supposed to be acting. You can't just punish him for the bad and not reward him for the good. How will he know when he is doing what is expected? How will any of them know? I went to his class a little early towards the end of school because it was his birthday and I took some cupcakes for a little celebration. These "centers" that he was getting in trouble for talking during...there were four kids at each table, facing each other and doing their activities. How in the world were they supposed to "not talk"? Don't get me wrong...I did like his teacher. Otherwise I would've tried to get him out of that classroom. He loves school and I didn't want that to change. This year, he has had good days every day. His teacher gives them many warnings, sometimes for the same behavior, before we even find out. And even if he did have a bad moment at school, we just talk about it and move on. I messed up last year, but I was learning too. I asked my mom how she handled my brother and I when we were that age. Her response - "I didn't have those issues with you. Of course, I didn't know what you were doing unless it was really bad." Point taken. If it's not that bad, don't tell the parent. If it keeps happening, please let me know and we can work together to handle it. But don't expect me to work miracles hours after this behavior has occurred. Who's idea was it anyway to let parents know every little thing that's happening while they are in the teacher's care? You mean...GASP...my child talks and plays?? He NEVER does that at home. Yeah right...

Picture Day

While everyone seemed to be sending their kiddos to school for the first day, we were getting ready for Fall pictures. We always practice a little before school because, well, I want pictures I don't have to spend a bazillion bucks to have. I do buy a package anyway because he's cute but the photographers don't take the time they did when he was in Preschool. 

Couldn't help but laugh :)

He wanted one with lil sis in it as well

(This one is going on my wall)

Big Boy

Today was the beginning of my year. Forget January 1st and all it encompasses. This stay at home mama's year begins the day her baby goes back to school. Today Bucky O-Fish-ally entered the number grades. He was beyond excited to be a First Grader. Mama, however, has mixed feelings about this next step. Thankfully we will be starting off on a better path than what I had dreaded all summer and he will hopefully have a wonderful, exciting year. We walked him into his classroom and he proceeded to put his things up just like he had learned last year. Then he sat down and started doing his busy work. That was it. No big deal this year. Good for him! I could tell he was a tad nervous but that he had also gained some maturity over the summer. He knows this is the real deal and last year was kind of like practice for this year. I did manage to get a few pictures but nothing like last year. Oh well...

Soooo Excited :)

With his teacher, Mrs. Homer

October 2012

Since I am behind, yet again, on blogging, here is a quick glimpse into our lives during October. And keep in mind, these are only the events that I took pictures at...October seemed to be a very busy month for us this year.

We went to a civil war reenactment...

Celebrated the 50th day of school...

Celebrated my 33rd birthday...

Enjoyed a corn maze as a family...

Carved pumpkins at our neighbor-friend's house...

Enjoyed fall festivals...

And finally went trick or treating with our neighbor friends.

No wonder we were all exhausted when November rolled around :)

Not a Baby Anymore

 Bucky's first day of Kindergarten was August 1st. He had been asking about it since Pre-K ended and was quite thrilled when the day actually came. We had met with his teacher the night before for the Sneak-A-Peek so he felt comfortable on his first day. It was hard for me to figure out what morning routine would work best for us and it's still a work in progress but he gets a lunch and gets to school on time so it must be working somehow. He is now a week in and still loves school! I am so happy he enjoys going and looks forward to it every morning...even on the weekend. Last weekend he was upset because he didn't have school but then became happy when he realized he would be able to take a nap :). It balanced out for him.

PB&J - his choice

On the Front Porch

Getting Ready to go into School

At his Table

Pic with Daddy 

Pic with Mama

Pic with Addy (across the street)

Pic with Mrs. Grieshop

Family Pic - he was tired of smiling by this point :)