Read-a-thon winners

Every year the kids' school does an annual fundraiser called Read-a-thon.  Basically for a week the kids read as much as they possibly can, minutes counting both at school and home and then the child who reads the most minutes wins.  Well not exactly that simple....our school acknowledges the top reader in each classroom, and they also divide the competition between the lower elementary and upper elementary.  They then award the top three fundraisers for the school medals as well.

This year, read-a-thon was awesome.  Not just because of this either.'

That's right, my sweet Noah got top reader for his classroom.  He was so excited and surprised.

And my big girl, I know at that point she was anxiously awaiting hearing her name being called for top reader in her class.  That's all she wanted was to win.  And when we asked her what exactly she wanted to "win"?  She said she just wanted her name called at the assembly.  She wanted to be a "top reader."  And a top reader she was.  Because after they called the top readers for each class the started calling the top readers for the lower elementary.....and guess what.....

She won, 1st place.

It was so aweome, not that she won, but the determination she had, and how hard she worked for it.  The child literally read during all of her free time for the week.  Who am I kidding, she's still reading during her free time.

And her classroom, won the most minutes for the lower elementary and so they got an Ipad for their classroom!

Here are the rest of the big winners!

But no, that above is not the only reason read-a-thon was so awesome.  The picture below was another reason....

It was awesome, because our awesome parent volunteers and awesome music teacher worked on this.  Imagine the kids singing this, with drums and all.  It was AMAZING.  I am blessed to have such a great school to send the kids too.

Fist day of school - 2012/13

6 a.m. came early.

Real early.

In fact when Josh woke me up I asked for 5 more minutes and then realized I had two small people in our bed with us.  And then I realized that school didn't care how many times I snoozed.  It was going to start on time regardless and I couldn't be the mom that got us there late on the first day.  Seriously.

I jumped out the bed and showered and then promptly threw up.  My nerves were on edge.  Noah was starting BIG school today.  Like real school.  The real deal.  And I wasn't sure how that was going to go.  I was a ball of nerves.  He got up at 5:30 with excitement and got in our bed.  He couldn't wait!  I was hoping school exceeded all his little expectations.

After my brief moment of panic, it was 6:30 and luckily everyone was up and in full swing.  After our summer days of sleeping in until 9 and 9:30am, we were on it!  We had time to eat, get dressed, and take pics.

And my did they look cute!  Josh was inside dressing Giddy so she missed the photo-ops and it's cloudy because my camera had not adjusted to the hot Mississippi weather outside.  So please excuse the crummy cloudiness.

I even had time to make my own cheesy signs.  Thanks pinterest for the idea.  Although it doesn't look half as cute as the ones I saw there.  Oh well.  It happened right?

After our photo-op we loaded into the car and headed to school, chatting about it the entire way.  We turned onto the street the school was on and it was a MADHOUSE.  Oh my word.  There were cars and kids everywhere and no parking spots to be had.  I had forgotten about that.  Luckily we found a spot and were able to grab a picture in my favorite location, one that I have made a tradition each year.  Now Noah is in that picture too.  Sniff, sniff.

It's not the best, because I had a camera and a baby in the arm.  We hadn't found Josh yet in the sea of cars and people.  It was crazy.  We then headed inside and to the first grade hall first.  Of course we bumped into tons of friends and moms along the way so it took us some time navigating our way.

At some point I looked at my Noah and grabbed his hand and said "Don't worry buddy, I know you are nervous, but it is going to be a GREAT day!"  To which he quickly replied "I not nervous Momma."  And he wasn't.  He rocked Pre-K!

When we got to Mere's first grade room it was pure chaos.  Lots of parents milling around, which made dropping Mere off so much harder.  She wanted us to stay, but we still had to get Noah to his class and we knew staying would just make leaving harder.  This is my third year dropping her off, I knew what to expect.  She never shed a tear, but she got damn close.  She ran into a friend and that made it so much easier.  Here she is with her best little friend.  It's always awesome to see a familiar face.

We then headed in and started depositing all her stuff where it needed to be.  Her supplies that were added at "Meet the Teacher" day and the ones we got wrong to begin with.  We also dropped off all my homework and her lunch box.  I then left her with her teacher with a quick kiss good-bye.  I knew my big girl would do just fine. 

When we finished our good-byes with Meredith, I picked up Noah and literally ran back upstairs to his room, Josh towing and running with Margot behind me.  We made it to Noah's room in the nick of time and said our good-bye's at the door.  His teacher sent out a sweet email reminding parents that was her policy.  It's a good policy for good reasons.  Of course I had to grab one quick picture outside of his door, although he was done with pictures at this point and ready to join his new friends.  

Noah gave me the biggest hug and kiss and told me not to forget to pick him up and that he loved me most.  He then headed in with his teacher asking questions and following directions on what to do.  He did not even come close to shedding a tear.  Neither did I.  It warmed my heart to see him so happy and so confident.  I love that boy and that girl.  

When I finished dropping Noah off I ran back down to peak in on Mere one more time.  She was sitting at her desk, doing her work and talking to her little friend with a smile on her face.  I knew it was time to head out with my littlest tike.  The two bigs were going to survive their first day.

The day flew by.  Of course Margot and I stayed busy.  We went to the gym, the doctor, lunch and then a quick visit to see Poppa and before we knew it, it was time to get the big kids.  While I thought about the two of them often throughout the day and wondered how they were doing.  My baby girl asked for them ALL day.  "Go get O-wah....go get sissy!"  "O-wah at kool...me kool momma!"  "GO get O-wah!"  "SissY"

When we pulled up at 2:45pm and I said let's go get the kids she screamed "YAY get O-wah....get Sissy!"  I think she might have missed them just a touch!

I was nervous on how the first days were going to go.  While I was sure Meredith would do fine and knew what to expect, I hope she liked it.  She did, but she said they did A LOT of work.  She missed Kindergarten.

Noah came out beaming.  It is no lie when I say the first words out of his mouth were..."I FREAKING LOVE SCHOOL!"  If you know my Noah, you can practically hear him saying it too.

He absolutely had a blast today.  He even told me that he didn't have to nap or rest his eyes.  He just had to lay quietly and listen to the story and music for a little while.  His teacher explained that nap time was the one thing that worried and concerned him all day.  I'll be honest it worried and concerned me too.  She helped him by saying it would pass by super quick and then they would have snack time and go home, to which he asked her "How quick?" and "How many minutes?"  She said that it the only time in the day that he got a little teary, but he recovered quickly when she told him super quick.  He was beaming as he explained that he did not mind nap time anymore in his own Noah way.  He was so excited about school.  He just kept repeating " I LOVE SCHOOL MOMMA!"

Their days could not have gone better.  They were beaming and smiling and declaring their love for school all the way to the car,. while waving and smiling at all their friends, new and old.  Let's hope tomorrow goes as well as today.  And now I'm off to bed, because 6a.m. is kicking my ass.

Back to school - Meeting the teachers

Today was "Meet the Teacher" day at my oldest two tikes school.  That's right I have two tikes going to big school.  Part of me is so freaking excited....woohoo....the bickering at home is ending.  And part of me is so sad....oh how I will miss those two boogers.  And part of me is overjoyed to get some one on one time with my littlest and I am pretty sure she will enjoy it too, even though I know she will shed many a tear as we drop those big ones off.

Noah excited to finally be going to big school.

Yes, Noah is going to big school and that is very bittersweet for me. Mainly because my boy is still so baby.  He needs me to dress him, brush his teeth, put on his shoes and wipe his little heiny.  And yes, those are all things he can do and is perfectly capable of, but things he still prefers his momma to do, because he is my baby.  His wife is going to love me one day.  He still uses that baby talk and baby voice and he is still so perfectly innocent.  I'm afraid big school is going to make him grow up a little and change some of those baby things.  However I know he needs gain some independence and a little bit of self-control (okay a lot) and I know it's time.  At least that is what my husband tells me.  And most importantly I know he is ready for school.  He loves to learn and he is so inquisitive.

He was a littler nervous, but once he went in to his classroom he was right at home.

And his teacher Mrs. V and her assistant Mrs. R seemed great.  I know he is going to have a great  year.

Meredith was pretty excited about starting first grade.  She loves her school and has had two fantastic years here.  She also loves her friends at school so she was more than happy to be going back to see them.  So yes, she was pretty excited about starting back, although I am sure she won't be come 6:30 Wednesday am.  Today though she was all smiles.  She was also excited to be moving to a new floor in her school.  She is going to the 1st and 2nd grade floor, which is a very BIG deal.

She was little shy when she went in to her classroom.  We located her desk and her teacher went over a few things with her.  Like what will happen first thing in the morning when she gets there.  Where she will sit, where her mailbox will be and how she will choose her lunch for the day.  I also realized she will be using real text books this  year, not just work books, but state issued text books.  She is very excited about accelerated reader, since she is reading anything and everything.  She has her own desk now, not just a table and she will have homework every single night.  It's the real deal now...spelling test, vocabulary words, math test....1st grade.  I know Mrs. G and Mere will have a great year.

After we met the teachers and dropped off the supplies we left with big smiles on our faces and a lot of paperwork/homework for me.  Noah cannot wait to go back.  He wanted to know how many sleeps until Wednesday and then told Mrs. V he would see her then.  I'm pretty sure he would have stayed with her all day today.  Meredith listened to all the homework rules, her weekly writer's suitcase assignment, the various tests and other work and decided that she wasn't so sure about 1st grade.  Josh and I had a good laugh and assured her she would be just fine.

Dearest Meredith....Six

It's once again your birthday.  I'm happy they keep coming, I just wish they didn't come so quickly.  Six.  It's such a big number.  You are soon headed out of kindergarten and into first grade, how did that happen?  Last night you came down at bed time and asked if you could sleep in my bed.  Even though a part of me knew that I should send you right back up to your room, so we could all get a good night sleep (you kick a lot), part of me knew the days of you wanting to sleep in my bed were becoming short lived.  I told you to jump on in and we snuggled up together.

In the past few months leading up to your sixth birthday you have done and achieved so much.  You ride your bike on two wheels now, you lost your two front teeth, you started reading independently, you write letters and notes that make sense and that I can read too.  You have become such a big helper around the house.  You are growing up.

I know it is cliche' about how quickly time passes, but it is so true.  I can remember sitting with you in our leather chair when you were three weeks old,  just us, sitting in the quiet and thinking....wow, three weeks have already passed, why is time flying? She will be in kindergarten before I know it.   And it was true, you went off to kindergarten in the blink of an eye.  And now that year has flown by too.

But I'm ready to embrace this new year....Six...and all the fun things that come with it.  The talks that we share, the giggles that happen before bed, and all the other things being a big girl brings too.  While part of  me will always miss the chubby fingers that once held on to me so tightly, part of me loves the firm hand nestled in mine of a confident little girl.

I love the girl you are growing up to be.  I am so proud of you.  You amaze me everyday, and while sometimes you try my patience, you mostly amaze me.  I often sit in awe of the fact that out of all the other moms out there, I was picked to be yours.

I love you Meredith.

And now for the story of your birth....as always...

Six years ago on April 8th we invited some friends over for a crawfish boil.  That same friend told me that night that crawfish were known to induce labor.  She was right.  At 6:30 am the next morning, my water broke.  I remember your dad asking if I was sure.  Which I am sure, had something to do with the joke I played on him an hour earlier claiming it did when it really hadn't.  I told him I was for real this time. And that even if it wasn't my water that had broke....something was very wrong down there and either way we needed to head to the hospital.

So off to the hospital we went, where the nurse confirmed it was indeed my water that broke.  We arrived at the hospital about 7:30am.  You were born at 12:03am the next day.  Do the math...171/2 hours later.  My epidural didn't work....your labor was no picnic.  But I promise I still think you are totally worth it.

I remember being incredibly nervous during the c-section (which is normal), I remember hearing you come out screaming, and then I remember tears of joy falling down my own face.  I then remember them whisking you away and the anesthesiologist giving me something to knock me out for the rest of the procedure.  I remember waking up in recovery and asking Dr. B if I had, had a baby.  I remember him telling me yes and telling one of the nurses to please bring you in immediately.

I remember being so out of it when I held you for the first time, but I clearly remember thinking how perfect you were and how lucky I was to know you and love you.

I love you Meredith more than I ever thought possible to love someone.  I will forever cherish that moment that changed my life and who I am forever.

Happy Birthday my sweet girl.
(That video is of you when you were only a couple minutes old)

Momma

Meet Zoe...our new pet.

This past weekend, Meredith came running into the house after spending the morning outside with her dad telling me to come meet her new pet Zoe.  I had no idea what she was talking about because Josh had put the kibosh on any more living things under our roof some time ago.  So I went out and was shocked to see she was talking about a caterpillar....And holding it.  I don't like bugs, birds, caterpillars or any other creature that lives outside unless it is domesticated or at the zoo.  

I admired this new pet from a distance and re-iterated that she was to live in her home outside.

Here is the habitat that Meredith constructed herself with a little help from her dear old Dad.

She put the flowers in to make it pretty. And we researched what we needed to put in her condo with her to keep her belly full.

Everyday she ran home to check on Zoe and hold her and "play" with her.  She swung on the swing with her and would take her afternoon snack outside to share with her too.  In fact she was the one that noticed the bite marks on the leaves, It was really neat to see how much she ate each day.

Meredith grew very attached to her new friend Zoe and I was shocked by how well she took care of her.  She checked on her every morning, after school and before bed.  So you can imagine the horror after about a week when she came home from school and rushed to see Zoe after forgetting to check on her one morning and saw this...

She knew that Zoe was in the process of becoming a beautiful moth/butterfly, but it still didn't ease the pain of losing her caterpillar.  Zoe is still in a cocoon in her box on the back porch.  We still check on her everyday.  No moth yet, and Meredith is still sad.  I was picking up around the house one day when I found this...

This is the end 

of you Zoe

I'm going to miss 

you too

(her and Zoe)

I miss you

Hopefully we can update you all soon on Zoe's transformation.

And they're off!

Meredith has been asking for some time to take her training wheels off.  Like months.  I haven't because let's face it, driveway time is my favorite time of the day and with three tikes running and riding all over, I knew chasing after one on a real bike was not ideal for me.  It's really all about me.  Besides Meredith has been riding her balance bike for quite some time and was already AMAZING on two wheels, who needs pedals right???

Tonight though I broke the news to her that her best little friends A and E had taken theirs off and were riding without them now.  So that only set me up to having to take off hers.  And luckily Josh was agreeable and he did.  Five minutes later she was like this....

She kind of took to the whole thing like a fish to water.  I'm pretty sure that strider bike had a lot to do with it.  We love those bikes.  Before I knew it she was going up hill to.  We still need some practice but I'd say she did pretty good for her first 15 minutes without training wheels.  And I'd say my days of the balance bike in the driveway are over, at least for Meredith!  Margot has been eyeing it for some time so she is thrilled!

And this little guy, well he is a whiz on his strider bike too.  Actually he's better on his strider bike than most adults on bikes.  Noah is pro on anything with wheels.  And with the way he's wheeling up and down the hilly streets our neighborhood I think he will soon be without his trianing wheels too.  Luckily for me, he's a cautious little guy!

And not to be left out of the milestone department, tonight Margot learned to double fist freezy pops!  Now that my friends is talent!  So proud of my Giddy!  And seriously how grown up is she looking now!  Not to mention every time her sister got off her big bike, Margot did indeed try and get on.  Every single time.

Pennsylvania

This week at school, Meredith, presented her very first "big" school project to her class.  I say "big" school because we have done the yearly "About Me" posterboards before, but this was an actual presentation on one of the 50 states.  Each kindergartner was given a state.  They had to identify it on a map, find and color or make the state flag.  Identify the state bird, tree, flower and a famous person from that state.  They also had to tell about one "fun fact" of that state.  

While Meredith thought there were much cooler states than Pennsylvania on the map, she was happy that she had her very own project to do.  And when she realized that Hershey was a city in PA, where they make chocloate, like the famous Hershey bar, the state became much more alluring to her.

Her Daddy helped her research the state on the Internet.  They looked up several pictures and printed them out.  Meredith colored her flag and a few of her pictures and we cut them out together.  She did all the gluing with a little bit of help regarding where to place them on her posterboard.  She identified her capital and drew the star and labeled it accordingly.  She then labeled each item on her poster board.  

Here she is immediately after her presentation.  Notice the box of Hershey's next to her posterboard.  At the end she told the kids...."Today I brought each of you a chocolate candy bar from Hershey, PA!"  The kids were amazed.  She impressed them big time.  I guess it would have been more truthful to say, I brought them to you from Sam's who had them shipped in from Hershey, PA, but we won't bother with those technicalities in Kindergarten.  

My girl was beaming....and she had every right to be.  She delivered her speech with a loud, clear voice and hit every point dead on.  She did better at 5 years old in a room of her peers, than I would have done at 33 years old in a room full of mine.  Meredith, I could not be more proud of you.  Job VERY WELL done!

(Sorry for the blurry picture, I was excited and happy and wrestling a 22lb octopus with flailing arms while taking it.)

Her poster board.  I will save it forever, along with the video of her presenting it to her class.  When did my girl get so big?

A date with her daddy

Meredith and Josh once again attended Sacred Heart's father/daughter dance this weekend.  She loved getting all dressed up and going on a date with her dear old Dad.  They met some friends to eat before the dance and I was told the excitement started then.  Lots of squealing and giggling with lots of little friends!

She was just a tad excited when her daddy gave her a dozen pink roses.

Lots of sweet girls and I heard lots of giggles.

The girl has moves like Jagger.

But the highlight of the night was when she lost her first tooth.  Yes, at the dance.  I heard she had lots of cheers from her friends and they were all as excited as she was when she lost it.  That night when she got home, she was beaming from ear to ear with a pearly, white tooth to show me.  And I have to admit I cried. It is such a big deal, like kindergarten, but worse.  And I was also a little upset that I didn't witness it firsthand.  She had been promising me for weeks she wouldn't lose it at school, because I didn't want to miss it.  Her daddy was more than happy to witness a first, firsthand though.

When she got home though, I noticed the tooth she lost was not her loosest tooth in her mouth.  It was the other.  The tooth that was the loosest when she left for the dance was still in there, but now laying side-wards at a 90 degree angle where the other tooth was.  So with that I asked if we could pull it and being on her high from loosing her first tooth she said "Sure!" and out it came!

I mean does she look excited or what!  Her first two teeth.  And the tooth fairy was very generous....two in one night....she had to be!

What day is it???

I know it's been a while, what can I say.  I've been busy, I'm 4 issues behind in my US Weekly...you know it's been rough around here.  But, I've missed  blogging and documenting all of the kiddo's milestones and things they say  and do that just make me smile.

Let's see....

Margot....oh my little caboose.  The girl has more energy than my other children combined.  She NEVER stops.  She is constantly in motion and when she is strapped into her car seat she is a jibber jabbering away.  She cannot stop moving.  It's different.  Her favorite things to do these days are to climb...anything.  To shove stuff in places they don't belong.  I found a sippy cup with week old milk in the crystal cabinet.  A cabinet that I don't frequent often and therefore I was lucky to find this sippy full of yucky goodness.  She is talking alot.  Her favorite thing to say is Noah....O-wah!  She repeats everything her big sister says and trys to say Meredith, but Ta-ta works for now.  She went to the pediatrician for her 15 month check up.  Besides her constant runny nose and changing her thyroid dosage again, she is the picture of health.  I just love this one to pieces.  Melts her Momma's heart.  She loves to cuddle and give kisses.  She loves to wave and say bye-bye.  She claps for herself when she is proud of her accomplishment.  And if you don't pay her enough attention she walks over, tilts her head and sticks her smiling face right in yours.  Her favorite place to be is outside.  She would go to anyone if they promised to take her out to walk, play, ride or swing.  She's our giddy girl!

Noah....This boy....oh the love of my life.  He is such a Momma's boy.  He wrote the definition on that.  He has me wrapped around those little fingers of his and I often forget in less than a month he will be 4 years old.  Independent is not a word I would use to describe my little ham. He likes for his Momma to do everything for him.  He is always smiling, always willing to give you a  hug and a kiss.  He is as tender hearted as they come.  He wakes up everyone morning in the best mood and is so dang lovable.  It's hard not to start your day off right with Noah.  He LOVES school.  He is learning so much this year.  He is writing his name and knows all of his letter sounds.  He loves to ride his bike and begs to do it everyday all day.  He stills loves trucks, planes, trains and automobiles.  When he grows up he is going to be a monster truck driver and a jet fighter pilot.  He wants to play all sports and loved soccer.  He is getting ready for t-ball.  Oh how I love this boy.

Meredith....my big girl.  My first.  The one I tried the hardest with and worried the most.  The one who will probably have a complex because of it.  Oh I kid.  She's my learning curve.  She sets the pace.  She is getting so big so fast.  She is so sweet and compassionate.  She loves fiercely, worries constantly and has a heart of gold.  She is loving school this year and loves her teacher.  She is reading....thank goodness...she's been wanting to for so long.  She absorbs so much....I'm impressed on a daily basis.  She is cheering and dancing and loves being center stage.  She is funny.  She loves being the big sister and the boss.  She loves riding bikes, and writing....all over everything....list after list after list....she is her father's daughter.  She is my first....my big....my love.

So that's where we have been.  Josh and I well....we are blessed.  

She's got spirit...yes she does!

Today she earned the spirit stick!  

The Overall Spirit Stick.

Not the one for her grade, but the one over-all the cheerleaders.  

Cheerleaders ranging from pre-k to 6th grade.

Approximately 40+ cheerleaders.

The coaches picked her. 

Yes, I'm bragging.  

Deal with it.  

This is my child who is so shy, she hides from her own shadow most days.

She earned it....

 for cheering the loudest, good participation, good listening and a big smile all practice.

She earned the spirit stick today!

And we were both very surprised.

The other moms around me noted how she lit up at her name being called.

Oh Mere, I knew you had it in you.  And I love seeing you do, what you love to do!

And I'm so very sad we have to give it back Wednesday too.  

But she is determined to earn it again!

First days of Kindergarten

Last week on Tuesday, Meredith started Kindergarten.  Wow.  It's such a milestone year.  Everything I ever learned, I learned in Kindergarten.  It's the start of a crazy, big adventure.  It was one I was not ready for.  I mean where have the past five and half years gone?  Meredith was excited, however she really did not want to go.   She would have been perfectly content to stay home with me, Noah and Margot all day.  Unfortunately that's not a reality and off she went.  There were no tears from Meredith for her first day and actually none from me either.  Of course I still have two monkeys at home to keep me very occupied.  

She was very excited about her teacher this year and the fact that lots of her little friends are in the class....excuse me....lots of her big friends...I'm not allowed to call them little anymore.  A few of her friends were not in her class, but she told me that was okay because she plays with them on the playground.  To hear how big she sounds saying all of that is what amazes me the most.  The way she says things....it's bigger this year.  

I already went to school and ate lunch with her.  I was anxious.  I also stayed after to watch her on the playground and help in art.  This year her personality seems to be blossoming.  She's not the shy, quiet child I saw last year.  She was excited I was there,  She wanted to show me two very important things.  One the big slide and the other a big mushroom.  First, she climbed to the very top of the play structure to go down the very biggest slide.  Then she jumped right off and took me to see an "amazing mushroom" growing high up in one of the trees. I had no idea what she was talking about, but I did not picture a real mushroom.  Apparently it is all the rage with kindergarten girls on the playground.  The entire group was amazed by this mushroom.   After that she ran and played with lots of different friends and had a smile from ear to ear.  She didn't sit next to me, or hang out by me like some of her friends did.  She was too busy.  After art when it was time for me to leave I expected her to cry or get sad, instead she had a big smile, gave me a big kiss and said see you later alligator and marched right into line.

My baby is growing up...

Her new beautiful princess school bag for her big year.  She loves it...

And of course the "Meredith pose"

When we got to school we met up with her friend Grace, they are in the same class this year and wanted to walk in together.  I think both girls were very happy about that.  

We found her classroom.

And once we were inside she asked me in a whisper, to please help her find her cubby and seat.  There were tons of parents and children in the room it was very chaotic, and boy did it melt my heart for her to ask me for help.  And here she is ready to go.  After this I gave her a quick kiss and headed out the door.  It was a long first day and a long first week for me, but I survived and she loved it.

Before we headed out, I had to get one more superstar's picture.  Although this super star was sad and going to miss his big sister, he was very happy to be going home with his momma.

Time is flying....

Look who finished his first year of preschool....

(this is noah and his best little friend Bella....I have no pictures of Noah without Bella and for his two year old preschool year I will always remember Noah tagging along with his sweet friend Bella.  They were obviously looking at Bella's momma.)

And look who got the keys to kindergarten....

Here she is with her key and sweet friend Grace.

And look who got a tad emotional.....okay A LOT emotional....(and who might need a tad of botox!)

And look who is literally hell on wheels......in the blink of an eye it will be her....the baby going to kindergarten....time please slow down!