back to school round two

I think this is how we all felt when schools closed down last March.

And when they stayed closed.

And then when the start of school was postponed and the calendar year was adjusted to take away our longer fall and spring breaks.

And then we had to do virtual school.

But here we are finally taking steps towards normal school again! And back to in person instruction for half of the kids.


Happy, happy days!


This little Brinna Lou started at preschool for two mornings a week.

I can not believe how much she is growing up.

Hands down, three year olds are the best!


Maybe a little emotional and sassy, too. But I love everything about this three year old of ours.

I'm excited for her to have some new experiences at preschool. 


Though I very much miss her, I think the time at school is so good.





She gives me the best I love you squishy faces.

The best.

Oh, we love her so!

That cheese grin!

Perry and Layla have started in person instruction as well. Perry got to go to school a week before Layla did. Perry rides the bus. Layla and I walk to school each morning. There was a lot of big feelings about the requirement to wear masks. However, even though we still don't like it, Layla and Perry will both wear face shields. Perry has a medical exemption so they are not supposed to be pushing him about it. And when they did it caused some big behaviors. So, it's a year of learning and adjustment. But we are happy these guys all have in person instruction right now. And we can't wait for the high schoolers to get to go back, too!!

Preschool at an end

I have spent the last four years teaching preschool out of my home. I have so much fun teaching so I felt so lucky to be doing something I love and getting to stay home and be mom, too. It has been wonderful.

But my role as mom has gotten a bit busier than it was when I first started teaching and only had two kids. I got a feeling this year that it would be right to step away from preschool for awhile and focus on my family. So I made the decision not to teach next year. It was such a bittersweet conclusion to come to. I will miss teaching, but I'm so excited to put more of my time and energy into our home and family.

Here is the end of preschool Teddy Bear picnic and program.

The kids split into three groups to play a variety of picnic games.

They ate teddy bear shapd pb&j's, teddy grahams, gummy bears, and more with their teddy bears and friends.

The kids sang three songs for their parents, A Tooty Ta, Preschool is Fun (to the tune of zip-a-dee-do-dah), and You've Got a Friend in Me. They also each told us what they wanted to be when they grow up. Layla said she wants to be a "doctor office".

I passed out certificates and gave a balloon to each of the kiddos for a job well done this year.

I will miss my little preschool friends.

field trips

I was lucky enough to get to go on two field trips last week.

My preschool class visited the zoo. Layla had a fun day looking at animals with her friends.

Every time I take my class on a field trip I make a Bingo card for them to wear around their neck. I give the parent chaperones stickers to put on the cards when the kids find something on their bingo square. Once we find everything, we stop and pass out a special snack--in this case, it was animal crackers.

I spent Friday with Kyler and his 5th grade class at UW for the Engineering Discovery days. It was a fun day of science for me and my group of 3.

Kyler made sure he had on his ASU shirt as he walked around the UW campus.

These yeast balloons were fun and simple to make. It's just yeast, sugar, and warm water in a water bottle. We put a water balloon on the top and throughout the day we watched the balloon blow up.

I loved spending a whole day with this wonderful boy and seeing him with his school friends.

Last Days of School

Perry grew so much this school year! We were so glad that by the end of the year he loved going to school and getting on the bus and got so excited when we mentioned his teachers or anything about school. He loved teacher Diane and the four other teachers he worked with in the classroom and for pullout services.

I had my last day of preschool. We had a teddy bear picnic, a little program, and the presenting of certificates. It was a fun group of kids! I'm sure going to miss those little ones who are heading off to kindergarten in the fall. Some of them I have had the last two years. I'm looking forward to another year with some of these guys.

My 3rd grader and 4th grader each made it through another year just splendidly.

They were so ready for that last day of school.

Two days before the last day, these three boys put their minds together and planned out an end of the school year party for a few friends.

I would be lying through my teeth if I said that this planning session was smooth and productive and all warm fuzzies. 

 But it was a great opportunity for some learning on empathy and compromise and communication. 

And in the end they pulled it all together and threw a super fun party that went according to their plan.

There was gaga ball, xbox kinect sports, the Categories game, cookie ice cream sandwiches, Legos, and playing outside. 

Yay for summer!