first day of school 2012

The first day of school comes very bright and early this year for us. And to tell the truth, it was not so bright when I had to get up to get moving. Did not like it one bit. Nope not at all. I would like my summer sleeping schedule back please.

Kira was a bit nervous that day but we tried to keep things light and fun. It took us about five tries to get this photo. She kept making silly smile faces. Yup... she is that tall!! She grew a half inch from July to August! Crazy bean sprout.

All set for sixth grade. Love her new LL Bean backpack! And it was packed FULL for the first day.

An hour after dropping my baby girl at the Junior/ Senior High School, I got to drop off my baby boy for his first day of first grade!! He was so excited!!

He wanted to get in the van so bad and didn't want to wait for pictures.

Last one before heading in the gym to wait for the bell. First grade looks good on him!!

End of the day for Kira and her BFF! These two never take a bad picture.

All in all we survived. Alex is totally loving his new class and teacher. Kira is adjusting to life as a sixth grader. She is loving the fact she has different kids in her classes and not stuck with the 'difficult' ones for the whole year. The best thing so far... she wants to eat food in the cafeteria! They have a fresh sandwich option. That will save me a boatload of time in the mornings.

May the morning light be sunny and bright... but not too early for you!

last day of school!

After a not so long school year, we finally arrived at the last day of school. Not sure why this one passed so quickly, but it did. It could have been for the lack of snow days that we had. And for that I am NOT complaining. Or it could have been because next year will bring MUCH change to our household and I am not sure I am ready for it.

First off, my little lady will be heading to the Junior/ Senior high school to be in the 6th grade. Not sure if I have mentioned that I am not that pleased with her having to go to this school and I so wish that this town could have made the correct decision in 2005/ 06 to build a new school. Instead feet have been dragged for so long that even if a new school building is voted on and approved, neither one of my children would be going to it. Tis the joys of small town politics and backward thinking. 

I am scared for her but trying to keep a positive outlook on things so hopefully she doesn't pick up on my protective mommy feelings. I'm scared that she will see and hear things that I really don't want her to know at the tender age of 11. I am sorry that the school cannot offer her adequate choices in curriculum to keep her stimulated and learning at the same level that the elementary school has. I am sad that her junior high experiences will be played out in such a cramped and uninviting arena.

Sure a building does not make an education and I have heard such wonderful things about the sixth grade staff; however, I would think it would surely help the education process if teachers didn't have to share rooms/ spaces, windows could be opened and not labeled with signs that say "very broken. Do not open", hallways were wider than a shopping aisle of your local Rite Aid (or whatever drug store you have in your neck of the woods), if the music room was not next to the library, if the library had a larger book collection, if the technology that you and I take for granted would be available for the students (when school is in session it is a strong possibility that you will be kicked off the server because there are so many trying to get on) and if a parent walking through the building could smile picturing their child walking the halls instead of going home and crying hysterically because she felt like she had failed her child for having to send her to this building in the fall. (it was not a good parent orientation for me)

So where does that leave us with Kira's education? Well if the money tree in the backyard would start blooming, we could send her to a private school in the area or there is always the homeschooling option. Neither of which is an option for us. So come August I will drop my sweet baby girl on the door step of the Newmarket Junior/ Senior High School and be miserable and pray she remains the same Kira. Moving out of New Hampshire is also an option that is looking better every day.

Back to the second change that will be coming in August... my little peanut will be heading to first grade for a FULL DAY!! oh my. I am not sure what I am going to do with myself with those hours he will not be here. I will have to eat my lunch alone and miss my guy. Time sure flies.

Here are my happy kiddos on the morning of the last day of school. Looking oh so happy that it ends. sigh  

And here is one of Kira with her BFF Michaela. Such beautiful girls and happy they are friends. Kira was able to take home the paper chain that was in her classroom. oh how exciting for us, I think.

As to how I shall be spending my "free" time... thinking that the housework will get done without tripping over kids (always helpful) and there will be volunteering in my future as I love hanging out at the elementary school and I may be doing a bit of card selling. With all the cards I made this year, I have heard many times that I should sell them and even had a mom offer to host a party for me to get sales and get my name out. I'm thinking it would be fun.

New chapters. Lots to think about. Wishing I could slow down time for a bit. I'll have to enjoy the summer with the kiddos and make lots of fun memories.

heritage festival weekend

It was that time of year again... Heritage Festival weekend in Newmarket. There are vendors and foods and demonstrations and freebies and lots of fun. Unfortunately, for the past two years it has rained and we didn't feel like dragging the kids through all this outdoor stuff in the rain. I know we are very silly parents. This year... no rain. Super humid but no rain.

Every year Kira has performed with the elementary school chorus. Last year and this year she has played her saxophone. Afterward we went looking for the fire truck that was supposed to be down by the waterfront. So after a bit of a walk, we made it and no fire truck. Talk about a bummed little guy! But we did happen upon an adorable llama who looks just like little llama from the Llama Llama books. Alex and I LOVE little llama. This picture is so adorable!! My little llama....

Before the concert, Alex and daddy went down to the Lamprey Health's Teddy Bear clinic where they were giving away Clifford and his pals that were donated by the local Kohl's. Alex was so excited to get Clifford. Kira had a bit of a meltdown when she thought they didn't have any more Cliffords. Amazing that at age 10 she still loves the big red guy.

Concert pictures!! There's my sweetie doing the motions for one of her songs. She loves songs that they can move around to. The lovely lady to her left is her BFF Michaela. Sweet girls.

Finally!! I was able to get pictures of Kira playing her sax during a concert!! So darn cool. Love the action.

About the fire truck... as we were heading back to pick up our magnets that the kids painted, there it was! At the end of the festival. Alex was so excited. Especially when the firemen asked if he wanted a hat and a tour of the truck! He was on cloud nine.


Kira got a feather in her hair... it's pink. Perfect for her. I need to snap a picture of it. Of course tomorrow is picture day so it will live on forever in her fifth grade picture. Great memory! I get to work at picture day too. Always a fun day to see all the kids dressed up... and some that are not.


Mom and dad are here for a couple days. They went to the Loudon NASCAR race on Sunday. Fun hanging out with them. I spent the day Sunday trying to find the house. Somehow tons of dirt and stuff has found its way into this place. I must have turned my back for a minute. I was sore that day, but the house is back together and in order. I'd like to say the same for the laundry. Seems to be taking forever to get through the zillion piles I have. Little at a time and it will be done... sorta.


Kira is the Student of the Week in her classroom this week. We found out on Friday and then promptly forgot. She reminded me as we were heading out to her Girl Scout series program meeting (at 6:30pm on Sunday) that we needed to print her pictures for her. oh yeah... knew I forgot something. I hadn't eaten all day since I was cleaning, so I made me something to eat and my parents came home. My dinner was at 9:30pm and then I started printing her pictures at around 10:15pm or so. Finally got eighteen lovely pictures of Kira, her family, interests and friends printed by 12:30am. I cheated on the last two and used two Disney pictures that were on my desk. shhhhh.... it's our secret.


I had the fun of volunteering in Alex's class today. I am loving having this standing volunteering going on. So wonderful to get into the classroom and help out and meet Alex's friends. Doesn't hurt that Alex simply LOVES his teacher. I'm pretty fond of her myself. He was telling everyone who would listen today that I was coming in. So sweet. I went out to the playground to meet up with his class and he saw me and came running. His one shoe did not though! He was almost to me when he realized his one shoe was missing. Adorable!!


Need to get back to scanning school work. Maybe tomorrow. Tonight this momma llama is taking it easy and heading to bed early. Me tired.

apple picking and a party

We had a great weekend. It was the perfect fall weekend (in my opinion) Cool at night and in the 70's during the day with lots of sun! We took the kids to DeMeritt Hill Farm to pick some apples. Last year we didn't get to go because of a very late May frost that killed off the blossoms. So the kids were super excited to go this year. Me too!!

Kira took this great picture of me and my hubby. She did very well.

Another fun tradition... finding out how tall you are each fall. I need to dig out the first year we took pictures of Kira by this sign. She was MUCH smaller then. This girl has gone on a serious growth spurt. She has grown about 3 inches this summer and her foot has gone from a size 1 to a size 4!! We totally skipped size 2 and lingered at a size 3 for about a month.

Here's my little man. He is also growing on me. All his shorts that fit just fine at the beginning of the summer have had to be adjusted since he has grown up and lost some of his tummy in the process. Sign me up for that weight loss option. I would love to be a bit taller. LOL

Heading up the hill to pick us some apples. We didn't have far to go as they were just a couple rows past that white sign at the top of the hill!

Coming back down the hill. As you can see... Kira had a special apple she carried down.

It really was a great day. The apples were plentiful. In fact I have never seen more. And the best part, they all survived Hurricane Irene!


Yesterday we went to a birthday party for Kira's BFF Michaela. It was at a new bounce house in Portsmouth called Jump On In. Totally great time. The kids had a blast. I will say so did the adults. We all went in the bouncers and had a great time. I haven't laughed that hard in awhile. 


So grateful for my family and the fun we can have. Now if I could just bottle that fun... we'd be golden!