School Memories

Wow - this year has flown by! I can't believe it is time to fill out Alyssa's School Memories Book again. Well, here goes Kindergarten . . .

My teachers: Mrs. Holly Browder and Mrs. Anne Patterson

My favorite story: Judy B. Jones, First Grade at Last

My favorite activities: Swinging on my disc swing, flipping on the couch and exercising

My best friends: Kayla, Isabell and Jamiah

My favorite TV shows: iCarly and Phineas & Ferb

My favorite movie: Honey, I Blew Up the Kid

My favorite game: Hungry, Hungry Hippos

The best thing about school: Doing classwork

Here is how I write my name: Alyssa - This year it's capital "A" no more all caps with backward "s" 's

Why do they have to grow up so fast? : (

The Sounds of Christmas

This morning we were serenaded by more than a hundred Kindergartners. Their program was great; they could really sing loud and all were dressed in their Christmas finest. Alyssa is hard to see, but she is on the second row, second from the right, on the right side of the stage.

They did quite a few songs and used various props.

Miss Charming up closer with her gift she made for us.

The hand prints always get me and I found myself misty-eyed. A gift we will always treasure. We'll be using it for Santa's cookies this year!

We wish you and your families the BEST Christmas ever!

Great Work at School!

Alyssa received her first Report Card this week. She made all C's (Consistent) with one S (Sometimes Demonstrated) in completing assignments at school. Apparently she is quite POKEY, not only at home but at school as well. This was no surprise and we will be working on her speed of completing assignments, especially at school. Artists and dreamers have a hard time being rushed :) We were very pleased with her first report card and happy the adjustment to Kindergarten is going well. Geat Work, Girl!

BIG Day!

So today was the day, Alyssa's first day of Kindergarten. She was so excited. She had trouble sleeping last night until she climbed in bed with me, then guess who didn't sleep?!? Notice it is DARK outside.

A short video of Alyssa doing her Happy Dance.


A few more photos before we go - such a big girl!

With her Momma - she is wearing a big SC Aquarium Charter Member sticker that she picked out and insisted on wearing a few days ago. I had saved the sticker not quite sure where it should go, I guess there is no more nobler cause than a Kindergartner's first day.

Sweet girl with her Dada.


We were there early, sat with the children in the Cafeteria then were the first ones in her room - such geeks! Not such a big girl anymore, she looks kinda small on the big rug all by herself. Twenty-five others soon joined her.

And as if this day was not exciting enough - she pulled her second loose tooth (and we didn't swallow it) so the tooth fairy comes tonight!

Firsts and Lasts

It's been a difficult week to Blog - a week of Firsts and Lasts and I have been an emotional roller coaster. We had our last day at Redeemer, our last day of Preschool. We had our first Gymnastics lesson and the BIGGIE - our first visit to Kindergarten! My Let Me Hold You Longer book came out and quite a few tears were shed (not in front of Alyssa). "Silly, scattered images will represent your past. I keep on taking pictures, never quite sure of your lasts . . . "


Drew signing Alyssa out, her last day of Preschool.

Alyssa, running out the door (for the last time, sniff), ready for whatever comes her way.

Alyssa at her new school - 47" tall - how tall will she be when she has her last day here?

Thumbs up for the new place - we have a real live Kindergartner on our hands! "I look ahead and dream of days that haven't come to pass. But as I do I sometimes miss today's sweet precious lasts . . . "

Collage Drew and I put together of the past 4 years at Redeemer.

Goodbye Piper

Even though we will see Piper at an end of school picnic, this is the last photo of Piper and Alyssa together at school. Piper was Alyssa's first friend and she will always hold a special place in our hearts. Here they had on their special hand made tie die t-shirts and sang during the church service after a week of Bible School. I'm glad the photo turned out well, now I'm trying not to cry : (

Preschool Graduation Photos

Can it really be time for our 5 pound "sack of sugah" to go to Kindergarten?

That's what this Diploma says.

The Three Amigas sharing refreshments - we are REALLY gonna miss our friends, especially Piper and Hali!

And our teachers, especially Ms. Melissa and Ms. Elsa.

I love this photo! Our Preschool "boyfriend" - Gabriel, notice the matching missing tooth.

Hali, William, Gabriel and Alyssa - Look Out Kindergarten . . . . . .

HERE WE . . .

COME ! ! !

Preschool Graduation

A historic day - not only did Alyssa graduate from Preschool, we finally figured out how to record, upload and blog a video. Photos coming soon but for now here's our girl pomping and circumstancing. Note: caps were attached with scotch tape :)

Appreciation

The last two weeks of school were so nice! We had Teacher Appreciation week which was wonderful and then the last week of school we all received so many nice gifts from our precious students.

These are my fellow teachers enjoying an Appreciation lunch given by the parents. It included home-made Key Lime pie - delicious!

These are just some of the flowers I received from Mother's Day, Teacher Appreciation Week and the last few days of school. Flower givers included: Drew, John Lewis, Owen, Mia, Jennifer and Laurel. I wanted to capture them on film so I could keep them forever!

Nice photos, compliments of Drew :)



My favorite photo - Thanks, God, for appreciating me with these wonderful gifts, especially the one in the middle!

Circus

Alyssa's school put on their version of the "Greatest Show on Earth" Friday afternoon.

So, send in the Clowns . . .

The Stunt Men - tumbling, tight rope walking and walking on stilts


Ms. Elsa and her "Divas"- Alyssa is last one on the right

The young preschool and older preschool classes who showed us how much fun it can be to be in the circus!

Our own little "Diva!"

El Cinco de Mayo

This week has been so crazy busy that I just about could not get it all blogged - but here is the last bloggable event - El Cinco de Mayo, Alyssa's class performed and celebrated with the parents on El Siete de Mayo (the 7th). The kids did a fantastic job - they sang a song in Spanish, performed a Mexican Hat Dance and scrambled for candy with an indoor Pinata. Here they are getting ready to sing with Ms. Melissa and Ms. Elsa close by for support.

Here they are dancing and shaking flowers . . .

Close up of our girl in her hat and flowing skirt

The two toothless wonders, Gabriel and Alyssa.

Muffins with Mom

Today was Muffins with Mom at Alyssa's school. We had a lovely time . . .

Piper, Jennifer and new baby Whilden . . .

Susan and Hali . . .

Lillian and Morgan . . .

Three silly girls sneaking back in line to get MORE muffins!

The three Amigas in typical form. Happy Mother's Day to all the GREAT Mom's we know. We hope you have a WONDERFUL weekend!

Tea Party

Alyssa's class had a lovely Tea Party to show their parents the manners they had been working on all week. The boys wore coats and ties and the girls wore their finest dresses, hats, shoes and accessories. The gentlemen escorted the ladies in, pulled out her chair for her and then found his place. It was really cute!

Hali even wore lipstick!

Cheek to cheek with Gabriel who lost his first tooth this week at school eating pizza!

Piper all dressed up . . .

And one last shot of the Princess!