Harry the Hedgehog

Addison's class "pet" (a stuffed animal), Harry the Hedgehog, came home with Addison on Thursday, and we had him all weekend. Here's the "report" we are sending back to school to go in "The Adventures of Harry the Hedgehog" book.

Harry’s Visit to Addison’s Home

Wow, I was SO excited to have Harry spend the weekend with us! We had a super busy and super FUN weekend!

The first thing we did when we came home from school on Thursday was introduce Harry to all of my stuffed animals. Then my mommy and I read Harry’s favorite books to him, so that he would feel happy, not shy, in our home. After a little rest time, my brother and I had to go to work with my mommy at the dance studio. I always like to sit in on dance class with the big girls, and Harry liked it too.


After my daddy picked me up at the studio, we took Harry to our neighborhood park. We had lots of fun sliding, swinging and climbing! Before we knew it, the day was over and Harry slept in the special bed I made for him in my room.
Friday morning, I had dance class! Here we are with my two best friends, Kassidy and Embyr!


After a yummy lunch at the County Line (where we got to feed turtles!) we were off to see a dance show with all of the dancers from the TV show So You Think You Can Dance! My mommy and daddy agreed that it was a good idea to leave Harry in the car during the show, and I understood, because I knew Harry was tired and needed a nap anyway.
The next morning, my mommy’s dancers had a performance at a Fall Festival in Round Rock. Here are all of the Dance eMotions Rising Stars with me and Harry!


After the performance I went on my FIRST SLEEPOVER EVER at my cousins’ house! I WAS SO EXCITED! I have 4 cousins, ages 7, 5, 3 and 1 and they are my best friends in the whole world. I love them so much! Here's Harry, me and my Auntie in a photo that Auntie texted my mommy on Saturday night:


And here I am with all of the cousins (and Harry, of course!) at bed time:



Sunday night we went over to my GaGa’s house for dinner. Harry helped Daddy grill steaks, and I played with my crazy cousins. It was a really fun night with my family!

Monday morning, I had school, and Harry stayed home with our dog and cat. Once I was back home, we enjoyed just sitting around and hanging out, since our weekend was so BUSY! I hope Harry gets to come and visit us again, we really liked having him tag along with us on our adventures!

First Day of School

First day of school was a great success!

I dropped Addison off in her classroom first, since I expected Aiden to have a rougher time. To our surprise, Mrs. Haedge wasn't there- she lives in Steiner Ranch, one of the main areas devastated by the wildfires. Nobody knew whether her house is safe or not, I hope it is. These wildfires have caused so much devastation and tragedy. Ugh.

So, today Addison had Ms. Amy, her teacher from the 2 year old class! Yay! We love Ms. Amy! Addison had no problems with first day jitters, she marched herself right in and didn't look back! I DID get a great big heartfelt hug and kiss before she left me, though :-)

After big sister was successfully dropped off, Aiden and I walked down to his room. We put his backpack and lunchbox in his cubby and walked him to his little chair. He did GREAT! There were at least two VERY LOUD AND UPSET babies already there (I say at least two, because that's all I remember seeing, but the sound of the cries were much louder than only two kids!). The poor teachers had their hands full! As much as I wanted to stay, I knew it was best to let the kids and teachers just close the door. So I gave Aiden a big hug and kiss and told him I'd be back soon. I snapped this picture from the hallway.
Right after I took this, he started crying. :-( I walked away, and when I walked back by on my way out about a minute later he was done crying and eating his goldfish.

When I picked Addison up, she told me that she had a GREAT day. Aiden was very happy to see me, and his teachers said he did great. They said he did have a few minor moments of tears, but that they were short lived and as long as he had his teddy bear and paci he was happy. We weren't in the car longer than 2 minutes before he was fast asleep. He woke up while I was transferring him from the car to his crib, and he hasn't slept a wink since. Ohboy.

Aiden is EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME now, so I only got pictures of Addison this morning. Aiden IS in the second picture here. This was the best I could do.

Meet the Teacher

Last night I went to Bethany School's Open House, and this morning Addison got to meet her new teacher, Mrs. Haedge! It's pronounced Hedge, like hedgehog. The Hedgehog is their class mascot :-)

I LOVE her teacher and am THRILLED with her style of teaching, her curriculum and the year ahead for Addison!






















Aiden tagged along (he didn't get to meet his teachers, they don't do that with the "baby class") and made himself quite comfortable. He looks like such a big boy in this picture!!



I can't believe this is my baby girl's last year in preschool. She's even in a totally different wing of the school. Where the "big kids" learn. And my BABY boy is starting school this year too?!? I don't know if I'm ready for this!!!

Thanksgiving Feast at School

Halloween Parade

My favorite "production" that Bethany School puts on is their Halloween celebration. The kids all come dressed in their costumes, march around the sanctuary to cute songs like Ghostbusters and Monster Mash and show off their costumes. Here are a few pictures from this year's parade:

Entering the sanctuary. Ms. Carol was Dr. Carol today.

Sweet Addison

This is one of Addison's two "best friends" from her class, Sierra. She was a bunny rabbit.

All of Addison's class! The unfortunately named "Cow Class"!

So cute. Addison said that Matthew, the little boy next to her, "doesn't like to dress up".

Happy Halloween!

Bethany School's 30th Anniversary

We celebrated with Addison's school on Saturday. They had The Biscuit Brothers come out to perform, and they were so great!

Here are some fun shots of Addison dancing with her friends. The little girl with the pigtails dancing next to her is Trinity, her "best friend". :-)



Again, The Biscuit Brothers were so great- if you ever get the chance to take your kids to see them, I highly recommend it!

She's a Cow Now

Oh my goodness, could her new class "mascot" be any worse? It's true, Addison is officially one of Ms. Carol's cows. Yuck.

But, as much as I hate the name, Addison loves it, and that's all that matters.

And really, when a cow is this cute, what's there to hate?

Didn't really get a lot out of her about how her day went, hopefully she'll talk more next time.

Seems to me that the day was a success and that she was very happy with her new class! Yay!

Birthday at School

I can't believe I took pictures at school, considering what I was going through... but I did. Didn't get any great pictures, but still, I got pictures. (see previous post if you have no idea what I'm talking about)

I took cookies to her class and got to spend the last 30 minutes with them in the classroom. Mike was able to join us for a few minutes, and this MADE Addison's day! She ran to him, gave him a huge hug, and was THRILLED that he came to school too.

It's always fun to get a peek into what the kids do every day. BIG props to Ms. Amy and Ms. Sarai for handling 10 2 year olds so well.

Addy and Cierra enjoying birthday cookies!

Acting bashful during circle time

Song time

I don't think that it ever occurred to Addison that her birthday was anything less than special, thank goodness. I am so glad that my "condition" didn't ruin her day.

I did, however, feel the need to apologize to her teachers that this was the last time they were seeing me before the school year ended, since I looked and was acting the way I was. Truly embarrassing. Yuck.

Easter Egg Hunting at School

Addison was so excited for this day! We had to prepare 6 plastic eggs to take to school. Here she is stuffing the eggs:

Then carefully placing the eggs in the egg carton:

She was so excited and proud!


Today at school... Here comes Addison and her class!


Hunting


Addison and her best pal, Erin. Love these girls!


Showing off her hunted eggs!


The kids went back to the class for a little cookie party. They were very serious about their cookies! :-)


Again, thanks to Bethany School for organizing such fun events for the kids. She had so much fun!

Christmas at school

After missing over a week of school due to various illnesses, Addison got to return on the most fun day of all- Christmas party day!

They made reindeer food for Christmas Eve.

Everyone got a turn to stir.

Pretty girl.

Addison with her good pal, Erin.


Making and decorating a Candy Christmas Tree.

The finished product. When Ms. Amy asked the parents if we'd like to take them home, she was answered with a resounding "NO!"

With her teacher, Ms. Amy. She's so wonderful and we are very lucky to have her as Addy's teacher!

I always love when we are invited into the classroom to get a peek at how the kids behave and what they do. The party was super cute and Addy had lots of fun!!

First day of school

Last night when putting Addison to bed, I reminded her that when she woke up in the morning, it would be time to get ready to go to school. And boy, did she remember.

Overheard via monitor: "Mommy, are you? Addy wake. School day! Mommy! School day!"

There were no fights over her outfit, no fights over her hair, and... this is the big one... no fights over her shoes. She was ready and willing to do whatever it took to get to school!

On the car ride there, we talked about how Mommy was not going to stay, I had to go to work, that I would come back to get her when school time was over.

"Okay, mommy. You go to work. I go to school"

I sensed a brief moment of panic as we parked the car. "Mommy stay?" I reminded her that this was HER school and of all of the fun things Ms. Amy and Ms. Sarai (WHY does she spell it that way? It's totally pronounced Sarah. WhatEVER)... um, I told her about all of the fun things her teachers had planned, and the panic subsided, she was back to being excited.

There were no tears as I dropped her off. There were however, tears when I picked her up. She was just a tired little girl. Pick-up time was pretty rushed, since it was the first day, so I didn't get much from her teachers aside from "She did great!"

When I asked her how her day was and what she did, she responded, "eat dinner". Funny thing is, when I looked in her lunch box, 95% of her sandwich remained, her yogurt was still un-opened- all that seemed to be missing was the grapes. Aside from "eating dinner", I wasn't able to get much more out of her. We'll see if she'll share more after Friday's class.

And now, the part you've probably been waiting for. The pictures!

Bye, Mommy!!

OKAY, Mommy. Let's GO!

Waiting patiently for her turn to go in. (the first day, they go in one at a time) We won't comment on the sleepy eye look she's sporting.

There she goes, my big 2 year old! (and the cutes, curliest, head of hair you've ever seen!)

Addy's school orientation

Tonight (while parents were unhappy at the studio- see below), Mike and I attended Addy's pre-school orientation. Oh, we are SO excited about this year of school for Addison! Her teacher's names are Ms. Amy and Ms. Sarah and they are great. Each month we will be given a curriculum list, things the class will be learning and working on. For example, in September, they will work on: the color yellow, the square shape, getting to know you and me, new friends, the five senses. They also give us a list of songs they sing so we can reinforce all of this at home. They have a music teacher come in every day, they do an art project every day and have story time and table activity every day as well. (in addition to indoor and outdoor play time, snack time and lunch time). I am SO excited! Yay for Addison and yay for school! She starts next Wednesday, so I'm sure I'll bloggy blog to let you all know how her first day went.

Oh, and Addy and I get to go on Friday so she can meet her teachers and get acquainted with the classroom, etc. I am very much looking forward to this as well. :)