Thursday: pictures

I received my official Hope College pictures today and I had choose one.  I chose the second one.

I had waited six years since my last photo and got a big email saying, "Please come!  Your picture type is outdated."  So I went after ignoring several years of them. :D

Wednesday: Lego League

Isaac and I had our first Lego League Jr. meeting today.  It went rather well; slightly chaotic, but also somewhat controlled.

We are going to build a greenhouse on the moon and so the students need to figure out what is needed in order for the greenhouse to work and build a greenhouse.

Monday: labor day

We went to the truck parade this morning.  I really like hearing all the horns.  My favorite was the CAT truck, who had belted on toy CAT equipment to the bed of the truck.  It was barely rainy, but we went in the car once the parade started since it would be loud.

We also had a small surprise for the boys...we were watching the LEGO movie.  The whole thing.  With popcorn for dinner.  Apparently this surprise was much cooler than I realized, because both boys thought it was a super awesome exciting surprise!

Saturday: today

The day went rather well today.  After a few weeks ago (or last week?  It's hard to remember.) when we didn't leave the house one Saturday and the day didn't go all that well, I was determined to leave.  We had a nice, slow start to the morning and then were going to go to the library and a short walk.  Well, the dark clouds were rolling in.  We changed to a short play at the nearby playground and then to the library when it started to rain after 10 minutes. 

The rain didn't stop for several hours.  This week has been rather crazy with the number of thunderstorms that we've had...maybe about five now?  I can't remember a time with so many, but I love them.

Thursday: names

Today was the first day that I tried to remember my students' names.  This tends to be about a month long process since I see the backs of their heads twice a week, but I usually get most of them.  (One semester I had a "J" corner where all the guys' names started with J and I could never keep them straight.  There are usually one or two that don't put their name tags up or move seats that I miss too.)  Now, I won't remember their names come January, but it is helpful for the short term.

I find I remember names of students best if they are also names of friends or family.  However, today I also had an Everett and Chase and I'm afraid I'm going to remember the names because they're on Paw Patrol.

We got this picture from Isaac's teacher yesterday.

Wednesday: book and sleep over

Joshua had a sleep over with Cheryl last night.  He said he went to bed really late and that he had some fun and some not fun.  It was fun playing with Cheryl and not fun when he wasn't playing with her. :)  He also got a bunch of craft stuff that he was very excited about.

I also got my first blog book.  I've wanted to have the blog in print for a while and this was the first year that I tried (it was the fewest entries).  I was happy about how it turned out.  I'll probably continue to make them, but realistically it might be a while.

Tuesday: first day of school

It was raining this morning.  We got some pictures when the rain had paused.

Right after the pictures it started to downpour.  Ben just happened to be leaving at the same time and agreed to take Isaac so that Isaac could be dropped off much closer to the door.  It...was probably a bad plan.  Apparently it was barely raining by the time they got to the school and the parking lot was pure chaos.  Ben made it through though, and even managed to snap the picture I asked him to take. :D

Isaac said he had a good day.  I felt like I has having a hard time getting a reading on him, but I don't know if I was putting my feelings on him or if it was a good day but kind of boring because it is all the beginning of the year stuff.

Yesterday I couldn't believe I had a first grader, but today what really hit me is that my youngest is in the preschool room now.  I feel like once Isaac got into preschool he got a ton older.  I got a full report from him when the day was done...we 'played, cleaned up, watched an ice cream show, made a craft, washed our hands, had a snack, played, cleaned up, had lunch, took a nap, then Ms. Colleen was there, played, washed my hand, sat down, I got veggie straws, you picked me up!"  He also told me about some of the kids (there or not there) as we passed their pictures on the way out.

It was also my first day of school, and as first days always go, it was busy.  There was some extra stuff to do and things weren't quite as prepared as I would have liked.  (Prepared enough, just not super awesome prepared.)  I also did a ton of talking.  Besides that though, everything seemed to go ok.  ...including the super boring lesson that makes up the first day of the excel class.