1st day of school 2016-2017

Today was the 1st day of 3rd grade for Ralph and the 1st day of 1st grade for Henry.

I realized/remembered Sunday night Ralph was supposed to bring something to share with his new class.  He decided on the big stuffed pencil he won at Adventureland which is too big to fit in a backpack so I had a picture printed so he could take the photo . . .so one of my 1st assignments for Monday morning was to run to Walgreens to pick up the photo.

Other than that glitch the morning couldn't have gone any better.  We did the 1st day of school photos at home; using the bricks and address as a method to measure.  Brick by brick, year by year they are growing!

Around 8:30 am we ventured to school to take another obligatory photo near one of the Kahoa signs.

 

 Then it was time to start standing in the lines.  1st graders go in door #1 near the office . . .It helps the time of standing in line when one runs into a friend from last year . . .

and in they go!

 . .and on the other side of the building the third graders go in door #10 near the playground.

A reunion of the Fingerprint kids . . these 5 went to the same daycare since the last one joined them in the Infant 2 room; 4/5 were together since the infant 1 room.

waiting with the masses . . .

and in they go!

School was let out early 80 minutes the 1st 3 days of school . . .so not quite five and half hours later this is what greets me.  I couldn't quite tell if it was a happy face or a not-so-happy face.  The first words Henry said to me as he is holding my hand, "I didn't cry as much today as I did last year on the 1st day." So slight victory for the day.

The boys choose to go to Rita's Italian Ice to celebrate the 1st day of school - What more can I say?  These are the boys I know and love.

Kahoa Open House

Last Thursday we visited Kahoa to see the boys' classrooms and meet their teachers.  The hour goes faster than it should making the rounds and filling out paperwork.


Henry has Mrs. Campbell; the same teacher Ralph had for 1st grade.  He had wanted Mrs. Campbell which should help make the transition easier for Henry.  Henry has had a tummy ache off and on for the past two and half weeks in anticipation of school starting.

Ralph has Mrs. Fosler.  We didn't know much about any of the 3rd grade teachers and didn't have a preference.  Mrs. Fosler has been at Kahoa for about 16 years.  I'm glad to have an experienced teacher for Ralph.  Ralph will also start the year in the front year!

July 4, 2016!

Oops, I somehow got a bit behind this summer . . .

July 4th was a typical July 4th . . .just a tad smaller crowd than most years (ie. just the four of us and grandma and grandpa).

We started with the parade in Waverly . . .

I had the goal of sitting on the other side of the street this year to get the sun behind our backs instead of in our eyes though it wasn't that sunny.  I found out it wasn't the best place to sit (that, along with our parade neighbors didn't follow parade etiquette very well making it not as enjoyable as it has been).  The boys were not deprived of candy by any means but had some dry spells from a few entries in a row . . and our neighbors crossed the invisible line a few times entering our territory

After the parade we went to grandma and grandpa's for lunch, some water balloon play, and some day time fireworks.

 Ralph learned the fine art of twisting wicks together at a gathering the previous night.  Oh, it opened is world up to plenty of new options.

After a bit of coaxing we got Henry to light his first firework, a tank.  

I'm not sure I'd say Henry was hooked after lighting one but he was willing to light a few more.

After we got home and it got just a bit darker we lit a few more.

Ralph: Baseball

Just a few weeks ago Ralph's baseball season came to an end.  It was his 2nd year of coach pitch.  Many of the teammates were same from last year; a few moved on to another league.  The coach helped some last year but this was his 1st year as the head coach. Ralph improved as the season went on.  He had some good hits - and even got a opponent or two out.

Henry: T-ball year 2!

Henry wrapped up his 2nd season of T-ball at the end of June.  He again (luckily) was placed on a team with Hunter, his buddy from Fingerprints.  I think many of the kids on his team were in their 1st year of Tball.  There were a few times Henry tried to tell other teammates what to do . . I clearly remember one time he said "THROW IT TO 1ST!" like he was in command.  I've never seen him so vocal at a game.