120th Day of School

In first grade the kids are expected to know numbers to 120.  In order to celebrate their learning on the 120th day of school they dressed up as someone over 100.  This is the best we could come up with for William.  His hair is parted and gelled.  He is using a golf club, covered in brown construction paper, for a cane.  He is wearing jeans pulled up high with a button down shirt tucked in.  It was kind of a pain, but it was pretty stinkin cute!

Payne Stewart

I think every 4th grader in the state researches and presents on a famous person from Missouri.  Max chose Payne Stewart, you know, since they both play golf :)

I was thrilled he picked a golfer - I figured it would be a no brianer to dress up in khakis and a golf shirt.  Brian laughed at me and showed me pictures of Payne.  I should have known it wouldn't be that easy!

In the end a trip to the thrift shop and some sewing on my end turned into a pretty great costume.  Max looked the part!

He also presented all about Payne to audience members in a open house style event at school.  Nonno, Grandma, Grandpa, Mom, and Dad all came to learn from Max.  We were blown a way by the fabulous presentation he gave.  He did amazing!!

Jack's Valentine's Day Party

Our very last preschool party ever. . . the thought almost makes me tear up.  I was able to join Jack and his classmates as they celebrated the holiday. His teachers had lots of fun activities out and Jack loved them all!

Playdough with ten frames

 

Valentine Bingo

This smartboard game was his very favorite.  The kids used a koosh - or their finger - to hit a heart.  Once they did they were given a question about something they had been talking about in class.  Jack answered every question - more than once!   His enthusiasm was adorable!!

 

 

 It was so fun to party with my littlest man!  I cant' believe the next party I attend for him will be a kindergarten party!!

Chess Class

With our membership to the chess club we get free classes.  William has been wanting to go to a class to learn how the pieces move, so Sunday afternoon we headed to the club.  Brian took Max to the more advanced class, so I don't have any pictures of him.  Nonna and I stayed upstairs with the little boys.  I was terrified of how Jack would do during the class.  I had assumed I would need to take him to the other room and try to entertain him while William went to class.   That was't the case at all!

Jack marched in and sat in a chair right next to his big brother.  He sat and listened to the teacher and gave his full attention.  He spoke up at appropriate time and even raised his hand to show how the knight could move.  I was so thrilled!  Unknown social situations can be tough for Jack and it was so heartwarming to see him do so well!

William did great too.  He was an old pro and answered all kinds of questions - then made funny hand motions to show how excited he was that he was correct.

We wrapped up the outing with ice cream.  The boys love for their Nonna melts my heart every time I see something like this.  We are so lucky!

Field Trip Time!

I love being able to go to field trips with my boys!  William had a field trip to the Magic House last week and I was able to join his class.

 They have been talking about government, so they stayed downstairs and got to participate in a mock trial.

After the trial he got to play judge and try out the super cool gavel.


 They explored the oval office - William felt very important on that phone!  

 

They even got to learn all about voting.  They were given several potential laws and each kiddo had a device to log their vote.  He thought voting was pretty cool.

In the end they got to climb the beanstalk.  William made it to the top in record time!  It is so fun for me to be able to join in on activities like this.  Being a stay at home mom is tough - some days is really tough - but there are so many amazing perks!

So Proud!

William has been working really hard on his handwriting.  He was so proud of that grown up looking g!  He made me take his picture and send it to his teacher.  Too stinkin cute!

Sea Perch Submarine Building

One of Max's teachers asked if he could participate in the Sea Perch program.  It is designed to get kids interested in engineering fields.  Max and his group worked together to build a submarine during the first session.  Next time they will wire their sub and eventually write code to get their sub to complete an underwater obstacle course in a competition with other teams.

He and his teammates had to do a lot of measuring and drilling.  Max loved the drilling part.

They were all so proud when they finished building their sub!

They started working on the wiring and we will finish it up on Saturday.  He is having a great time and learning a lot!