Wrappin' It Up

It's summertime and I can't believe how fast the school year flew by. Savannah has had a great year. She started a music class at the beginning of the year and I'm quite pleased with how much she learned. She had a recital a few weeks ago and she did a great job. Here she is with her teacher, Miss Melanie, and our little Mel-Bell (with such a clean face). And of course, Savannah finished up Kindergarten as well. Her class held a little Promotion Ceremony. It wasn't anything fancy, but her teacher presented her with a certificate of advancement to the 1st Grade. Jon wasn't able to come, since it was right during the middle of the day, but I was happy to have the help of my mom and 2 sisters, especially since Spencer was all over the place. We enjoyed some cake and Savannah got to leave school about 20 minutes early, which she loved. She has thoroughly enjoyed going to school and came home on the last day in tears because she didn't want it to be over and she already missed her teacher, Miss Born. Now I just need to figure out what to do with her during the day. I love having her home, but we're still trying to figure out things to keep her entertained and busy. Got to channel all of that energy into good and useful things.

Preschool

I can't believe it, but Melanie started Preschool last week! She was totally excited and was in love with her new pink tote bag that her teacher gave her. She has had lots of fun already. And her teacher continues to tell me that Melanie has just been wonderful. Her teacher even told me that she feels bad taking our money because Melanie is just that good, and she thinks that some of the other students should have to pay double. That cracked me up, but I wasn't surprised at all to find out that my little angel was being so good. Melanie really is quite the sweetheart and I haven't met anyone that she hasn't been able to melt their heart when she really wants to. I keep telling Jon that Melanie is just like me when I was little! I know that that is quite the compliment to myself!

I love you little Meli!

School Stuff

We had a very nice weekend and so it made Savannah really not want to go back to school. What do you say to your 5 year old when she's crying and saying that she doesn't want to go to school because it's boring? But she was up nice and early this morning and was ready to go, so I guess that it can't be that awful.

I did want to record some things that have already come up that I hadn't quite expected. The evening before Savannah started school, Jon told her that her teacher may not always be right and if there was ever anything that Savannah didn't know if it was right or not, then she should ask us. I was kind of like: Why are you saying this to our little kindergartner? But about the 3rd day of school, Savannah comes home and says, "Mom we read this book today and the mom said to her kids, "Get in bed" and they just went and got in bed. They didn't read scriptures or pray or anything. I think we should do that." I was totally taken back and we then had a nice little talk about how that was not going to happen. Jon later informed her that our family would always be reading scriptures and praying before bed.

Also, Savannah kissed a boy at her table about the 3rd week of school. I was again totally surprised. My guess is that her teacher didn't know about it, because nothing was ever said to Savannah that she really shouldn't be doing that. I asked her why she kissed him and she said it was because she was silly. I'm not quite sure what that means, but I did inform her that the rule of keeping her hands and feet to herself applied to her entire body, including her lips. I also told her that she probably embarrassed the poor boy, which she didn't know what embarrassed meant. But after a quick definition, she agreed that he had been embarrassed by what she had done.

And lastly, it has been a real pain trying to figure out how to pick Savannah up from school. We don't live close enough for her to walk without getting totally tired, plus it's a zillion degrees outside. And the drive-through is completely insane. I waited in the car for over 30 minutes to just pick her up from school. So we've come up with the park and pick-up method. I park and drag Melanie and Spencer out of the car, then we walk over to the parent pick-up area. I'm just really glad that the kindergartners get out 5 minutes before everyone else; it's like we get a little head start on the traffic. And another lifesaver has been that we started carpooling with a little girl that is in both her primary and school class. We are taking turns driving for the week, which the week that we have off is absolutely wonderful! But the first time that I was supposed to pick the girls up, I was a little late (I was getting Melanie and Spencer out of the car when the bell rang). But when I got up to the school, Savannah and her friend came running up to me. Savannah said, "I didn't see you, but I wanted to come and look for you, so I just told the lady that I did see you and she let us go." I told Savannah that she wasn't supposed to lie and that it was important that they wait in the school until they knew that I was there, so they could be safe.

But really, whose kid is this anyways? Lying and kissing...doesn't sound like what I did in school. I guess that I have a lot to learn. And I'm sure that we'll have plenty more fun experiences. And just so you don't all feel bad for Savannah, she does really like school and she has a good time too. I do still wish she wasn't gone for so long, but we're trying to get used to it.

School Ramblings

For those of you that have talked to me in the last week, you know that I've been a little stressed about Savannah going to all-day Kindergarten. I really would prefer for her to be in half-day, but our elementary school doesn't offer it. I do have the option in having her ride the bus to a nearby school so she can do half-day. I just don't know that I want her to not be just down the street from home. Anyways, Savannah has really enjoyed her week, but she comes home so tired. I wish that I could let her take a little nap, but she gets home so late in the day that she would stay up all night if she took a nap.

The girls had their yearly check-ups on Friday and I talked with our pediatrician a little about all-day vs. half-day, and it really made me start to wonder if I should have put her in the half-day class. After debating over the options all weekend, I think that we're just going to stick with the all-day and tough it out. I know that she loves getting to play on the playground, even though she informed me that she doesn't know how to make the swings go, and she enjoys getting to take her lunch to school. I guess that I'm just not quite ready to have her all grown up yet; I want to keep her at home as much as possible.

And for those of you that were wondering, I didn't cry when I took Savannah to school the first day. I was so happy and excited for her and just so proud of her too. But I did cry when I picked her up on her first day and I asked her how her day was and she said, "I thought Kindergarten was going to be fun, but it wasn't! It was boring!" It just made me sad to think that she had been gone all day and she didn't think that she had any fun. I know that she has had a good time though, because she keeps going on and on about the different things that she's done. She's really enjoyed PE and Music and she's even made a little friend. So I'm hoping that this second week is a little more fun for her and that I become a little happier about being back to school.