first day of second grade

Today was Koby's first day of second grade. He woke up slightly nervous, but ready for the day ahead. He found a special surprise in his backpack this morning...an grey owl Webkin (he is very intersted in birds right now).








When I picked him up from school this afternoon, the first thing he said was, "Today was AWESOME!" He said the best thing about second grade is that you don't have to do a lot of work (let's see what he say's in a couple of months!) When I asked him about what he did today, I got the following:

1. I ate lunch with Paul
2. I did some Math with our second grade calendar that we have to do everyday
3. I read a book
4. We got all our supplies organized
5. Went to Music and found out Paul is taller than Mrs. DeYoung (the teacher)
6. Oh, and I don't have a crush anymore. At recess Abby broke up with me.

Wait a minute, rewind.... "What? Abby broke up with you? What does that mean?"

"It means she broke up with me"

(I am almost laughing out loud at this point) "What exactly did she say?"

"She walked up to me at recess and said 'I broke up with you' and then she walked away"

"What did you say when she said that?"

"I told her, 'Thank you!'"

I guess that crush was just so first grade. Remember, this is second grade now!

then and now

Time passes quickly. Things change. Our children grow. And often we don't realize all the changes that are taking place right before our eyes. This past weekend as I watched Koby and Ky play soccer with their cousins Kali and Taylor, I captured one such moment.

I wanted to get a group picture of the now 14, 7 and 4 year old. Thankfully they all obliged. As I gathered them together under our front trees I remembered that I had done this once before. So I snapped the shot and later went to investigate my photo archives. Sure enough. There it was. A moment in time 3 years ago with then 11, 3 and 1 year old cousins.



june 2007




july 2010

kilt klassic and fun run

Yesterday we participated in the 5K run and Fun Run in Caledonia. My nephew Taylor and I ran the 5K run. Taylor ran the race in just over 21 minutes, finishing first in his age division and won a gold medal. I finished in 25:03 and took second in my age division, bringing home a silver medal!










Koby also participated in the running festivities by doing the Fun Run for the very first time. He ran the 75m, 100m, and 200m sprints, taking first place in ALL THREE races!








He was whipped after those events, but we encouraged him to try the mile run (despite the fact that he has never just ran a mile). Taylor offered to run it with Koby, despite having just finished his 5K run, to help him pace himself and to encourage him along the way. Koby got a side cramp into the second of four laps, but pushed through it and finished his first mile run! We were so proud of him!

last day of first grade

Today is Koby's last day of first grade. Wow! This has been such an amazing year. He was blessed with a wonderful teacher, Mrs. VanderLaan, and had a great group of classmates.

I really think that first grade is a year of tremendous growth. Koby has become an excellent reader, not only decoding the words on the page, but reading with fluency and expression, which is not always an easy thing at this age. He became a very good speller, acing almost every pretest and being allowed to choose bonus words each week as a result. Math is a favorite. It's natural, it's easy and it's fun for him. Not many kiddos can say that! Art and Gym were also amongst his favorites this year (and the numerous cardboard creations under his bed can attest to that!) He made new friends and hung on to some old ones as well. He is a leader among peers. He is kind and compassionate and a hard worker. He is determined. He makes us proud!




August 11, 2009 - first day of first grade




June 15, 2010 - last day of first grade

field day

Koby's class managed to get in a few field day events before the rain this morning. Here are some pics from the day.

a simple question. a simple answer.

Dinner time is always an interesting time. Between reviewing the basics each night:
1. fold you hands to pray and don't start eating until we pray
2. use a napkin, not your shirt
3. sit at the table until we have all finished eating

to listening to our seven year old explain why each and every day manages to become "the worst day of my life", our dinners are never dull.

Tonight was no exception. As I sat back and listened to why today was, yet again, "the worst day of my life", or as I watched my napkin being absconded from my lap because Koby had already thrown his away and needed a new one (apparently going to get a new one for himself would have been asking WAY too much!), or listening to Ky complain of a belly ache and his inability to eat his dinner (until Dad excused him with the understanding that no dinner means no snack. Upon which Ky quickly returned to slurp down his noodles), I thought to myself, if I were being given grade on my parenting skills based this, I would definitely fail!

Yet it is in our darkest moments that we are often given a glimmer of hope. A moment. A moment that can make all the crud just disappear. Tonight was one of those moments. It began with a simple question and ended with a simple answer.

As we read through the devotional at the table, it prompted me to ask the boys, "Who sees and hears everything we say and do?" To which Ky responded without a moments hesitation, "Jesus and Obama!"

I love my kids! Moments like this help me to forget all that other stuff and just laugh!

so long chipmunks!

Today was Ky's last day as a Chipmunk, last day of 3-year old preschool, and last day at KCDC.



first day of Preschool 9.8.09



last day of Preschool 6.2.10

He has grown a lot this year. He can write many of his ABC's, count to 100, and add and subtract basic facts. He loves to sing and loves to build. He loved being asked to be a helper at school so he could make a special stop by Aunt Shel's classroom for a quick "hello" or to try and get some candy from her. He made some new friends, went of some special field trips, and for the most part, enjoyed his time at school. He is looking forward to starting a new Preschool next year, but for now is excited to just have a little time off.



Samuel, Kyle and Ky