1st grade Wrap-up

Another school year has come to a close, and Naomi has now completed the 1st grade. Naomi had a wonderful year in 1st grade. She loved her teacher Mrs. Bray. It is shame that she is retiring because Kaylee will not have the opportunity to have her. Naomi did her very best in the 1st grade spelling bee but got so nervous after every round she finally sat down mid-way through the spelling bee. However, she is determined to get further next year. At her 1st grade awards ceremony, she received certificates for Homework Hero (she did her homework every day), Outstanding Citizenship Award (she never got a mark on her behavior card), Academic Acheivement (straight A's on her 1st grade report card), and 1st place class spelling bee champion. As you can tell, Naomi truly excelled this year. She is reading on a 4th/5th grade reading level and is still excited about learning. The only thing we are trying to work on with her is that it is okay to not get a 100 on her assignments. (Yes, I know the apple does not fall far from the tree!!! )

Naomi and Mrs. Bray
Naomi at her awards ceremony (I tried to take a picture of her getting her awards but she walked away too fast!!!)

Introducing Bumper

This is a very long overdue post. Here is the story of how Bumper came to our family. All the girls wanted for Christmas this year was a dog!!! Actually, Kaylee also wanted an Ariel salon but did not get it for some very good reasons!! Since we spent Christmas in Illinois with my parents, Santa's helpers went to work finding the perfect dog for us in Illinois. Santa did an awesome job and rescued Bumper from an animal shelter in Southern Illinois. Bumper was a little under the weather and was not ready to be put under the tree for Christmas morning. So instead, Santa put a box under the tree with lots of dog toys, leashes, etc and a personalized card from Bumper to the girls. We actually got to pick him up on Naomi's birthday which is New Year's. Santa's Elves truly found the perfect dog for us. Bumper is a well mannered 3 year old miniature schnauzer, which is the only dog I would even consider having in our home. Since Bumper is older, he was already house trained. He is extremely patient with the girls. The girls absolutely adore him, and he loves them too. In fact, he usually sleeps in one of the girl's beds at night. He even gets quite upset if he gets locked out of the girls' room. David and Bumper have become best buddies. Bumper likes to lay with David on the couch. And yes if David falls asleep on the couch Bumper will choose David over the girls to sleep with. The only flaw that Bumper has according to the girls is that he does not fetch. ;o)

The girls and Bumper the first night

Bumper laying on David's feet (his favorite spot to sleep!)

Bumper after getting groomed

Bumper in one of his many shirts the girls have for him

Spring Dance Recital

Tonight was the girls Spring Dance Recital. They both had a ballet routine and a tap routine. They both did terrific. They really enjoyed dance this year and can't wait for fall so they can dance again. One of my students actually came and recorded the recital for us. So grandparents be on the lookout of a DVD of the girls recital in the mail.

The girls in their ballet costumes
The girls in their tap costumes (if you can't tell Kaylee is a cat)

Naomi

Kaylee

The girls and Ms. Heidi

Field Day 2011

Today Naomi had field day at her school. Since it was in the afternoon, I was able to go over and walk around with her. I really enjoyed spending time with Naomi. Here are a few pictures of Naomi doing various field day events.

Sack race
Hurdles

Golf

Stomp (?) race

One of the many things I don't like about teaching...

...is moving classrooms. After being in the same room for 7 years, my school has decided to relocate my classroom to be near the other teacher that is teaching Aquatics. Normally I enjoy moving because you can weed out things that you no longer use. However, moving a classroom is a totally different story. I am not looking forward to moving 20 fish tanks ranging between 30g- 5g. And then of course is my big monster tank of 150g. I tried to explain my hesitation with the principal but it was a no go. Well, there goes my dream of actually checking out early this year. I will definitely be spending the week after school gets out moving my classroom. I was offered the help of the custodians. If I boxed, they would move. However, knowing the history of breakage with the custodians. I don't trust them with my tanks!!

Our Little Speller Bee

Yesterday, Naomi's class had a spelling bee. Naomi placed 1st in her class. We are so proud of her. She is such a terrific speller. Every spelling test this year, she has got a 100. Next week some time, her and two of her classmates will compete in a 1st grade spelling bee. Stay tuned for the results!!

Easter 2011

Better late than never. We really enjoyed Easter as a family this year. It was even more special since David was home this year. (Last year he was still in the hospital.) The girls enjoyed dying eggs with Daddy. I think we had more pink than any other color. The girls loved their Easter baskets and had fun finding the eggs. I bought them matching dresses this year but realized that I don't have a picture of the two of them and their dresses. I will have to take one and post it later. Oh by the way, the NO SPILL egg dying kit does not work. It makes a huge mess. We learned the hard way with it. Next year we are going back to the cheap kits and using our own cups!! Another thing I learned is: Kaylee egg hunts at lightning speed, next year I need to use the flipcam instead!!

David and the girls
Naomi dying an egg

Kaylee and David attempting to dye an egg using the No Spill cup

The girls and their baskets

Naomi with her eggs

Kaylee looking for an egg

Letters to the Tooth Fairy

Back in the beginning of March, Naomi lost her top two front teeth a week apart from each other. Naomi was so excited to lose these teeth. But I think she was more excited to write a letter to her tooth fairy. When she lost her first one, she wrote a letter to her tooth fairy asking her some questions. For instance what was her name and was she Naomi's personal tooth fairy. In case you were wondering, Naomi's tooth fairy's name is Merry, and she is Naomi's personal fairy but she will visit Kaylee when she starts losing her teeth. Once she lost her second one, she had some harder questions for the fairy. For instance how big she was, etc. Naomi is so excited that her tooth fairy writes back to her. She can't wait to lose another tooth. She is planning on making her tooth fairy clothes to leave the next time. I just love this child.

After she lost the first one

Dress-up

A week ago, Kaylee asked what my wedding dress looked like and wanted to see it. Once she saw it, she wanted to try it on for a minute. Her are some pictures of Kaylee wearing my wedding dress and veil. (Oh and my sister Arielle's too!)

Budding Photographer

A few weeks ago, I was downloading pictures from the camera and was wondering why it was taking so long to load. When it finally pulled up, I noticed there were close to 300 pictures on my camera. This was a shock because I never keep that many pictures on the camera. It turns out that Kaylee had taken the camera and took over 200 pictures. Some of them were actually pretty good. So her gifts for her birthday from David and I was a kid's digital camera from Fisher Price. She absolutely loves the camera. She has already taken over 100 pictures. Below are some of Kaylee's pictures from my camera.

Kaylee and her new camera (I took this one)
Our dog Bumper

David's shoes

A zuzu pet purse

My polar bear carousel