Dear H, o and B,

We are going to have a very fun summer! We talked a lot about what we wanted to do this summer and Hayden, your big request was SCIENCE! So, I’ve planned some pretty cool science experiments/projects and we are having a blast!

This week, we went to the Monday movie, sewed and played in a table fort, acted out the story of Lazarus, went to the water park, built a solar oven and cooked marshmallows in it, went to the train park, wrote in shaving cream, had swim lessons each night, swam at Nana and Papa’s and ended the week with a stay-cation at a fun hotel for Dad’s birthday! We played some games and had other funny moments, too! It was an amazing week!

I’m having so much fun with you doing all of these activities! The house is messy, but I don’t even care!

Love you,
Mama

Table Fort:

Lazarus, come out!

Waterpark Wednesday:

Solar Oven:

Train Park:

Writing in Shaving Cream:

Swim Lessons: (O and B, you are in the same class this session!)

Stay-cation for Dad’s birthday:

Other Fun!

Playing Life:

Sneaking chocolate milk while Mom is folding laundry:

Using the mustache straw:

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Dear Hayden,

This morning we dropped you off for the last day of first grade. This has been such an incredible year of growth for you.

You had THE BEST teacher this year. Mrs. DeStefano is one of the most dedicated, talented and naturally gifted teachers I’ve ever come to know… and I have known a LOT of teachers, both professionally and personally. She knew each of the students in your class individually and completely. She loved you, Hayden. She knew what you needed and she made sure you had it. Although you came into first grade reading above grade level, she made sure that you made progress this year. She encouraged you to speak up for yourself and coached you in some situations, which made you extremely successful. Your second teacher, Miss Coccia was amazing, too. It was her first year of teaching and together, she and Mrs. DeStefano were a fantastic team!

This year, you studied ancient Egypt, Mexico, the solar system and The Boston Tea Party, among many other topics. Mrs. DeStefano “taxed” you to use your cubbie several days to teach you what it must have felt like for the colonists to be taxed without representation. The room moms and I coordinated celebrations for the end of the Egyptian and solar system units. Your teachers arranged for 4 large telescopes to be delivered to the school at night for you to star gaze through one night in January. You dressed up as Charlotte for the read-a-thon. You took a field trip to the theatre to see Frog and Toad (a book that you read this year) performed live. You sang in two all-school concerts and joined the Passport Club, which you loved. You completed your first poster project and presentation (about sea lions) in May. On a random day in February, you cut your own bangs during a pronoun cut and paste activity! 🙂 Overall, you were very happy in school this year.

Outside of school, we had the first grade trunk-or-treat as well as a huge gingerbread party at Jack’s house. We had a Valentine party at the park at the end of the street and a few play dates with school friends! You also got your first set of stitches this year — on your chin. Your Daisy troop formed this year, too, which was such a life-enriching experience for you. You have developed a heart for service, too, as you were specifically impacted by both Project Linus and Feed My Starving Children this year. I say it all the time, and I’ll say it here, too — you are the best big sister in the world… you even decided to write the Spanish words for things all over our house with dry erase markers so that your brothers could learn Spanish, too. You also got your first “real” bible this year and have begun to read it. You were amazed at how specific the directions for the ark were for Noah… you are not one for being told exactly what to do. 😉

I’m most amazed, though, at the maturity that developed in you this year. You are thinking of things in such a dynamic and complex way, Hayden. It makes it easier to be your mom in a lot of ways, and harder to be your mom in other ways — but no matter what, I’m so glad I am. You are so very special and you mean the world to me.

Love you,
Mom

PS- You don’t know this, but while you are at school this morning, we are having a GIGANTIC water slide placed in our back yard! We’ve invited some of your friends from school (and Alex!) to come play this afternoon! It’s going to be a blast!!!

Last Day of First Grade:

A Few Pics from the Water Slide Surprise!

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Dear Owen,

Today you are four and a half! You are quite a guy! You have he most amazing smile and laugh! Your preferred activity is Mario Galaxy… although when that is not available you love board games!

I can’t believe we’ll be celebrating your fifth birthday in 6 quick months! You are a dashing little fellow!

Love you,
Mama

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Dear Hayden,

Tonight you had your first piano recital since switching over to Miss Denise’s Master Musician program. It was an amazing recital. You played She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain and Call of the Horn. You played both pieces absolutely beautifully! The recital was a “Tribute to America” and all of the students played exceptionally well!

After all of the musicians play their pieces, Miss Denise hands out several awards including “Musician of the Month” awards for each month. You were awarded the Musician of the Month award for the month of April! Awesome!

You invited Elijah and Alli to come to your recital and they both gladly accepted your invitation! It was so neat to see such special friends of yours give you their support.

Switching teachers was a bit of a shift for you. Miss Denise has high expectations for practice and for performance, but you rose to the challenge and you have grown SO MUCH as a musician this spring. We are so proud of you!

Love you,
Mama

PS- One more thing — Your dad wore a white shirt and tie to the recital. The tie even had American flags on it! I thought there would be other dads dressed up, but your dad was the only one. I asked him afterward if he felt uncomfortable because he was overdressed — and his reply reminded me why I love him so much and why I think he is the best dad in the world. He replied, “I don’t really care what the other dads were wearing. I dressed up nicely for my daughter… for her to know how important and amazing I think all the work she put into this performance is.” Wow. What a guy! YOU ARE LOVED.

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Dear Owen,

Today was the last day of your second year of preschool! Miss Sue had a GIGANTIC water slide for your buddies and you all had a fantastic time!

You had an amazing year because your class came back and you picked right up where you left off! You will all be together again next year, too. You explored lots of different topics with Miss Sue. She planned a space provocation just for you! Your class also lost a pet this year — Crabby-Crab. Miss Sue helped you bury Crabby-Crab and hold a very reverent funeral in his absence. She’s a great teacher for you! You learned to read and to write your name as well as do lots of math in your head!

You will be returning to Miss Sue in the fall for your final year of preschool. It is going to be a blast!

Love you,
Mama

In Loving Memory of Crabby-Crab

Learning from Miss Sue

Water Day!

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Dear H, O and B,

We’ve had a busy and fun spring. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the things we’ve been up to!

Love you,
Mama

A February swim at Grandma and Jiddoh’s:

Ice Skating for Elijah’s Birthday:

Water Park Fun:

Owen – Family Night:

Other random favorite pictures:

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