1st Grade!

Evangeline had first grade orientation on Monday.  Tuesday my big girl started first grade.  Before we left for school Tuesday morning she said, "I'm not sure about this", but she ended up having a great day.  I knew she would.  I love that I get to drive her to school, walk her down the hall and see her throughout the day in her school element.  All of us first grade teachers took our classes outside for recess the first day.  Evangeline couldn't get enough mom hugs and kept bringing me rocks she found to put in my pocket.  She loved that I was outside at her recess.  I'm going to enjoy this time of Evangeline still thinking I'm the greatest thing since sliced bread.  Having her at my school and in my grade is so extremely special to me.  Today the first full day.  She's been full of anticipation.  She is looking forward to PE and wondering who she will sit by at lunch. 

 

Here are a few first day of first grade pictures.   

 

She loves Mrs. Crumrin and said that her first day is easier because she already knew her.  Mrs. Crumrin's twins, Cooper and Caroline, have been her good friends ever since we moved back to Marshall.  They went to preschool together and they also go to our church.  I know it's going to be a good year! 

And Just Like That...Summer's Over

This last week of summer vacation has been a busy one.  I've been trying to prepare my classroom in the blazing heat.  Our school is finally getting with the times and getting central air conditioning.  This is great except for the fact that they took out our window unit and the chiller is still not up and running, which means there is absolutely NO air movement at all.  Stagnant hot air.  It's positively horrible in there.  Not to mention with all of the renovations they've added this summer, we had to box our rooms up.  To say I've had a ton of work to do in there would be an understatement.  Peggy watched Evangeline one day and night last week, which made a huge difference.  I feel that my room, for the most part, is ready to go along with my plan book. I have an awesome maternity sub, thank goodness.  Kelly Lindley will hold down the fort for me while I'm gone, I have no doubt. 

 

In other news, I've been trying to do a few fun things with Evangeline to take the summer out in style.  We went to Toys "R" Us the other day with her birthday gift cards.  She always loves going around her birthday.  The store clerks give her a balloon, a crown and announce her name over the speaker.  She loves this.  Her strategy this year was to wander the isles, checking out everything before making her selection....she's growing up.  When she saw the Spa Orbeez Luzury Foot Spa, however, it was all she wrote.  There was nothing in the whole of Toys "R" Us that could top this little number.   She's been wanting to make a foot spa for a long time now.  She was inspired by her Fancy Nancy Ooh La La It's Beauty Day book, where Fancy Nancy treats her mom to a home made spa.  It was a bit of a bummer when we found out the Orbeez (which I believe to be the things found in disposable diapers) had to sit in water over night before they could be used.  She was up and ready for that spa first thing in the morning.  She wanted me to pull out her little pink chair so she could soak her feet while watching some morning cartoons.  She sat in it for an hour before I finally had to pry her out to get ready for the day.  Her toes were little raisins, but my goodness was she in her happy place!

 

Last Thursday we went to Paris to visit Kyle.  We went to lunch and then Evangeline and I had some errands to run.  One of our stops was the fabric store.  Evangeline saw this fabric with the Eifel Tower and got so excited about it.  She told me that she "yearns to go to Paris someday", another influence of the lovely Fancy Nancy.  She wanted this fabric so badly.  I caved and told her that we could make something if she would help me....well, that really pleased her.  We sat down together and made this pillow case on Friday.  She was such a good little helper and so eager to get it done.  She was disappointed when we had to take a break to go to practice for a play she is going to be in at the church.  We finished it right when we got home.  It's so much fun to do little crafty projects together.  

My Sunday School class held a baby shower for me a few Sundays ago.  It was very special. 

 

And check out this adorable wreath Wayne and Karen got us from a United Way auction.  It's too cute. 

 

Kyle and I went out to dinner and to see the movie Mr. Holmes last night.  Mom took Evangeline out to dinner and to see Sean the Sheep.  It was nice to have a weekend, but I'm certainly ready to bring on the baby!  This feeling of anticipation, knowing that the stork could arrive at any moment, is driving me nuts!  Tomorrow is my first day back and parent orientation.  The next day is Evangeline's first day of school and my first day with students.  There are so many variables to plan for and be prepared for this week.  I really would like to make it through Evangeline's first day of school, but the choice sure isn't mine!

Evangeline's Birthday Party

Here's a grocery list Evangeline wrote down for me as we scuttled around getting ready for her party.  She was just so excited and so eager to help.  It lists, "flowers, ice cream, tea, ice, lemonade".

 

We kept it small and simple this year.  Evangeline wanted flowers and garden-type stuff for her party decorations.  She wanted to wear the outfit Colleen made her for her birthday because she said it looks like a big girl/grown up outfit. 

 

These are the pretty flowers sent to her from Papa and Karen.  She was very excited to receive them and doubly excited for the two balloons attached! 

 

Well, you would think a garden party wouldn't be too hard to pull off in the summer, but my poor flowers look horrible and the deer ate the blossoms off all the flowers that were still hanging on.  I had to outsource my flowers from Peggy.  Thankfully she has a yard full of Black-Eyed Susan's.

 

Evangeline made little daisy chain's for the girls with a foam sticker kit my mom gave her a few weeks back.  She was so excited to give them to her cousins.  She worked so hard on them.  The girls loved them.  

 

 

She received some lovely gifts...lots of art supplies including an easel, bead kits, paper, colored pencils, etc.  She spent the whole day after her party on her easel and making things with the beads.  She also received Easy-Bake Oven refills, a chief hat and apron, school clothes, a canopy for her bed and a beautiful Tiana dress from the Princess and the Frog.  Good thing we purged her room and craft closet a few weeks back! 

 

After the presents we did some face painting and a piñata.  

 

 

 

Daddy ended up having to help out a little....

 

Oh, there were lots of exciting little things in the piñata...

 

 

Evangeline made several of her own decorations this year.  

 

 

Grandma Jody is in a rehabilitation center in Terre Haute recovering from a broken hip and could not share Evangeline's party with her this year.  We went to TH later that evening to celebrate with her.   (Evangeline wanted to wear something "pioneer-y" incase you were wondering what was with the get-up.)

 

  

It was a special day.