Fishing and Niagra Cave

Yesterday Youth First and Cabela’s had their annual fishing event where you can go out and fish on their ponds for free (fishing poles and worms provided) and receive a free fishing pole, hotdog, and rootbeer float.  Some of their fish were tagged and if you caught one you got a $100 Cabela’s card.  We didn’t have much luck but the boys had fun.  Jacob even puts on his own worm.

 

 

 

Today we went to Niagara Cave with John and Lynn.  They came and picked us up and we headed down to Harmony.  We had a yummy picnic lunch made by

Lynn and panned for gold while we waited for our tour.  The caves were pretty amazing.  Way more and better than I was expecting.

 

 

 

     

 

           

        

Last Day of School

Oh how they change!

 

They had some mixed emotions.  Connor got pretty teary eyed.  He was sad school was over.  Jacob got teary eyed as well, kept saying he was going to miss Mrs. P.  Nolan kept saying he really loved Kindergarten and Mrs. L, but was excited about 1st grade.  Bring on the summer……

End of the School Year

There have been a lot of fun activities this end of the school year.  We had track and field day.  I really do like how we do it at SMS.  I know the older kids would enjoy the track meets like the public schools have, and be able to do the All City Track meet, but I feel they get so much out of our Track and Field Day.  They learn to work as a team, show their spirit, work with other kids of all ages, and the older kids get to be great leaders and role models for those younger children.

 

Jacob’s team was had  a sports name, so he was excited about that.

 

 

Connor’s team was the Billionaires.  He enjoyed passing out his money!

  

 

Nolan’s team also had a sports name, right up his alley.

  

 

One of our favorite babysitters graduated this year.  We absolutely LOVE Megan and wish her the best.  She helps out at Mary’s as well and is just AMAZING.  She is going on to great things, that’s for sure.  Congratulations Megan!

 

Jacob got a surprise award at the Award’s banquet.  He got first place in a contest.  It was great because Matt was there for Connor, so he also got to see Jacob’s award. 

 

 

Connor received the Citizen of Year award for his class.  We were/are so proud of him for that.  We know the school stuff comes easy for him, but makes us so proud and happy that his classmates have that opinion of him and voted for him for that award.  Way to go Connor!

  

     

 

In 3rd grade they learn about machines in science and they get to be inventors and have an Invention Fair.

 

The last 3 days of school the 1st and 2nd grades get to do some activities and this year’s theme was Rodeo/Cowboy.

              

 

I am so fortunate and blessed that I get to experience most of these events.  When it’s all school its easy, but teaching partner and the rest of the staff really go above and beyond to help me (and each other in general) so that parents can see and participate in their children’s programs and activities.  It’s wonderful.  I am so thankful to be at SMS.

Busy Busy.  It’s hard to believe this year is coming to an end already.                          

Nolan’s Kindergarten Graduation

Nolan’s class has been working on and practicing for his graduation for a couple of weeks and we’ve been talking about it at home.  Every night we practiced his petition.  He seemed fine with it and excited about it, UNTIL the day before.  He told me he didn’t want to do it.  I was kind of a bad mom and played the “you need to do it in order to graduate from kindergarten” card.  How awful I know.  Didn’t work.  Well, the day came.  On the way home from daycare Nolan fell asleep in the car, so I knew he was really tired.  Nolan + Tired = Disaster.  We ate a snack because we were going to go out to eat after and it was time for him to get dressed.  He didn’t want to.  We had tears, we had a stomach ache, we had bribes……ugh.  Poor guy.

I was at a lost.  Him missing a concert I could deal with, but this was his kindergarten graduation – which I know doesn’t sound like a big deal, but it was with his class and they were celebrating their year.  He has had such a great year too.  I tried one last thing by giving him a lucky turtle.  He had seen me give Connor and Jacob one for certain things.  I told him to put it in his pocket and he could touch it when he got scared or nervous.  It at least got him into the car.

I got him to the classroom and Mrs. L. talked to him and got him to put his gown on.  I left because I thought it would be better without me there and went to go sit down.  I looked back to see the class lined up and everything looked good to go.  Well, the class came walking through the middle aisle of the crowd and there was no Nolan.  I saw him standing in the back of the room.  I went back to talk to him and he was just really sad.  He was so nervous and just didn’t want to get up in front of people.  I gave him a big hug and asked if he would go up there if I went and sat by him.  He said yes, but everyone was going to stare at him.  I said, no…they’ll be staring at me. ;)  He smiled. After two songs,  I finally got him up there and while the rest of the group was standing he sat and said I didn’t need to go up there with him.  He’s the one sitting in the picture.  I was just glad he got up there.

 

Then when it was his time to speak but he didn’t want to, so Mrs. L. had him stand by her and she read it.  She was very cool about it and just kept going about the program. 

 

 

Then it was Mrs. L.’s turn to talk to the class and Nolan went back up and joined them.

   

 

I think he started to forget things and he actually stood up and sang the last song with the class.  It actually brought tears to my eyes.  It’s hard…I get frustrated with him because I know he can do it, but at the same time feel so bad for him that he is so torn. 

   

 

He walked up and got his diploma even.

    

 

The Kindergarten class of 2013!

 

 

Grandma and Grandpa were able to join us.

 

  

   

 

 

 

Nolan says if he had a girlfriend, it would be Preslee, but he doesn’t have one. ;)  His friend Zach H.

 

 

I love this picture of Mrs. L. giving Nolan a hug and telling him that she knew he could do it and she was very proud of him.  The second one is with the principal Mrs. H.

  

 

Nolan and Grandma reading a book he got from them at dinner.

 

 

Congrats Nolan.  You worked hard and overcame that fear.  I am proud of you for getting up there still, when that had to be hard in the middle of the program.  I could see how relieved and proud you were of yourself after.  We were very proud as well!