Let Summer Begin!

Summer started in early May in the Pearson house.  Brian heated the pool and we all spent an afternoon swimming.  

Like all proper girls, Reese had to put on a little makeup before heading out. 

With a makeup and goggles in place Reese was ready! 

Jaxon had to try out his new snorkel and mask by jumping in. He quickly learned that a snorkel does not work well underwater. 

Never one to be left behind. Reese had to have her turn jumping in. Yes, she's naked. This is how she prefers to swim. The bathing suit did not last long. "I no want to get it wet." Hmmm. Well, isn't that the point of a bathing suit? But you try to reason with Reese, it is just not possible. 

If jumping in wasn't enough, she had to slide head first into the pool. The girl is fearless!

Happy Summer everyone! 

Kindergarten Graduation!

Jaxon finished his first year in elementary school with a bang! 

Hard to believe that my tiny baby is done with kindergarten. 

I am always nervous about kinder graduation, but I was a tad bit more nervous about this graduation. Not only was I teacher, but I was also Mom. My biggest concern was that I would be able to enjoy graduation as a mom instead of as a teacher. 

Thankfully Jaxon's teacher made an adjustment and had Jaxon's class stand next to my class on stage. This allowed me to watch Jaxon as I kept an eye on my class.  I appreciated this more than she knew! 

On our way to our big day!
Such a handsome boy

Before graduation.
Love his red converse!

Everyone arrives to the school quite a bit earlier than kids are supposed to be in the classrooms. This means playing on the risers and running around before show time. 

Playing on the risers before it was time to gather in classrooms.

Filing onto the stage

Me trying to be teacher and mom

I was most nervous about Reese actually. I knew that she would not want to sit with Brian and my mom the entire time. I had visions of doing my speech with her on my hip trying to take the microphone away from me.

I was not too far off. She wanted NOTHING to do with Brian. All she wanted was to get on stage to sing with Bubba.

Jaxon wasn't exactly THE MOST animated performer.

I really wasn't surprised when I saw Jaxon acting like he was 'too cool for school'. He is always so concerned about what people think of him that he isn't able to let loose and have fun like the other kids. Kind of drives me crazy, I'm not going to lie. 

Giving my short & sweet speech.
Trying not to cry.
I did pretty well I think!

She tried to sweet talk Ami into letting her on the stage. 

The Tooty Ta. A Cottonwood Kindergarten tradition!

Jaxon almost ready to receive his 'diploma'

Here he comes! 

Shaking Mrs. Malm's hand. 

Hanging on to Reese while Mrs. Malm passed out her diplomas.

He was so done with pictures! 

Jaxon with his very very best friend, Joshua. Do not call him his BFF! 

Jax with his long time friends, Jake & Hunter

His 'diploma'.
The real one was in his Kindergarten Memory Book

Jaxon & Kaitlyn.

Jaxon & Mrs. Malm

With Chase

And part of the great kinder team!
Maggie, me, Chris, Ami & Jackie.
There were MANY more missing that made this a successful year! 

I am super bummed that I did not get a family picture. Brian left almost immediately after the presentation of the diplomas because Reese was being a pill.  Little did we know that she had an ear infection. Poor thing was miserable and we had no idea until two days later.

So that's it. Jaxon's kindergarten graduation. A day I had been looking forward to and dreading for a long time. He's off to first grade and as ready as he'll ever be!

First Day of Kinder!

Jaxon's first day of Kindergarten came last week. Sigh. I have been anticipating this day for YEARS! I think since I am a kinder teacher all I could do was picture the day my boy would be joining me. Every time we would do something in class I couldn't help but think I can't believe Jax will be doing this soon. 

The week before school I was so busy and stressed getting ready for MY class that I didn't give much thought to Jaxon going to school. 

Until curriculum night. As I was introducing myself to my new families and telling them about my family. I started to cry, not a full-on sob, but a tear up, let me take a deep breath and change the subject, type of cry. The rest of my presentation went on without a hitch. Then I headed to Jaxon's class presentation. The moment I sat in that chair as a PARENT, I almost lost it. Again. More deep breaths. Please don't cry in front of other families. 

 I was so anxious & nervous all weekend. I normally feel this way anyway, but this year was worse. My sweet boy would be a 'big kid', with homework and 'responsibilities'! I couldn't even believe the time had come. Where did it all go?? Thank goodness I have Reesey as a 'baby' for a few more years! 

He was so excited the night before! It literally took him all summer to get excited about kindergarten! He didn't start counting down the days until Friday. Not kidding. 

When I woke him up on Monday morning, with a big smile on my face, he says, "Mama. I'm not ready yet. I haven't done enough work." Then, "I will try not to talk so much. I do like to talk, but I'll try not to talk as much as I'd like to." Love this kid!

As he's getting ready he says, "I can't go to kindergarten. I don't know my letters." After I tell him that he DOES know all his letters, sounds & numbers he says, "Well, I don't know how to WRITE them all the right way." My little worrier. That's why you're going to school! 

I will be recreating this picture.
You can't see his name very well. 

All Reesey wanted was to be next to her big brother!

He's grown so much in the last year!
No Papi!

In front of his classroom door

Even though I only teach morning kinder, I enrolled Jax in afternoon. There were MANY reasons why this worked out better for us. Mainly, Ms. Courtney we wanted Ms. Courtney to be his Kinder Plus teacher (K+ is a program for those parents who need childcare all day. They focus on developmentally appropriate activities and is play based.

Jaxon was worried that Daddy wouldn't be there to drop him off on his first day of kinder, but Brian was not going to miss it for the life of him! 

He was there early to see his boy off to kindergarten! 

Jax and his best friend Chase.

Jaxon and Kaitlyn.

It's crazy to think that Kaitlyn's mom, Becky, & I have been friends since college! We were bridesmaids in each other's weddings. I would NEVER have guessed that we were going to have kids 2 weeks apart and that they'd be going to school together one day!

Here we go! 

Let me tell you, that I did WAAAAY better than I thought I would! I barely even cried! Dropping him off in the morning with Ms. Courtney was rougher than leaving him in his kinder classroom. I was pretty proud of myself!

I am fortunate to be able to peek in on Jax through out the afternoon. Here's my view from the pod (teacher area that connects 4 classrooms)

Jax is next to the girl in purple.

Snack time with his friend, Joshua

His first school-age teacher, Mrs. Malm

Walking to the welcome assembly.

Waiting for the assembly to begin. Notice the smile on his face? Comet the Coyote, our mascot, is in front of him.

Getting a high five from Comet!
Thanks Ms. Baltes! :) You made his day!

Her survived the first day!
With a smile on his face.

As we walked out of my classroom he says, "THAT was a terrific day! I didn't even know that kindergarten would be so much fun!" Melts my heart. 

A little Starbucks treat to celebrate his first day. 

His first work.
That's a picture of our family and his hand with a heart on top. 

When Brian came home and asked him what he learned he said, "Nothing! I didn't even learn to write all my letters!" 

I've asked him if he likes Mrs. Malm and he get a BIG smile on his face and tells me that he likes her a lot and that he likes her better than before. :)

He had a great first week! I'm so proud of him. Every time I check in on him he is sitting quietly and attentively. I knew he was going to be a good student!