Our First Kindergarten Homework Project (X2)

The kids received their first project at open house. I totally procrastinated it over the weekend, vowing to spend the last few days of summer, not yet thinking about school. Denial perhaps? So, we stayed in my classroom after school and got to work. They needed to complete a blank cut out image and turn it into themselves. "What do you want to teach your classmates about yourself?" The kids already knew what they wanted to do.

Little Miss A wanted to let her class know that she is going to be trying cheer this year. She also wanted to draw her purple cast to tell her friends that she broke her arm. (Referring to the right arm fracture just before she turned 18 months old...not at all recent, but this is her assignment.) She told me what she wanted it to look like and I sketched it out. She colored and decorated the rest then found the materials she wanted to use for the hair, eyes (with lashes of course) and pom poms. I put hot glue where she wanted it and she put everything in place.

Mr. D wanted to share with his class how excited he is about soccer this year. Like Little Miss A, Mr. D told me what he wanted it to look like and I sketched it out for him as well. When I asked why he wanted to the number 26 on the jersey, he said "Cuz it's the best number!" He colored and decorated on his own. Selecting beads for cleats and dotting a big white pom pom with black specks all over it to look like a soccer ball. So he could show himself kicking a soccer ball. "I'm the best kicker, that's why." He found the biggest set of googlie eyes that I had and said he needed the biggest ones since his eyes are big. I love it. :)

What a fun project! I loved hearing the kids plan it all out and brainstorm materials. Next time I just won't wait until the night before it's due to get them started. (Sheesh, what have I been teaching my own students all these years?)

The First Day of Kindergarten!!!!

Morning wake up was a breeze!!! Let's pray this a trend that continues throughout the year. :) We walked to school as a family, taking pictures all the way. I swear this one wasn't posed. They were seriously holding hands as we walked up the hill, talking the whole way. Too cute!

We all walked Little Miss A to her class first simply because her classroom is right before his. Mrs. H is super sweet and A's friend T was already in the room getting ready for the day. Little Miss A's cubbie is right next to T's so they put their things away together, then headed off to their seats that were back to back and began coloring away discussing color choices with one another to complete their first Kinder picture. (Both girls completely oblivious to the 2 teary Moms looking on at their rapidly growing up daughters.)

Then it was off to Mr. D's class. D walked in, put his things in his cubbie and set out to find his seat. He quickly realized it was at a table where 2 girls were already sitting...no boys. Little Man started to pout. I knew exactly what was going on and began to explain that the 3 empty seats at the table were all for other little boys, but they just hadn't gotten to school yet. Ms. A is amazing, totally picked up on the situation and was jumping in to help. :)

Fortunately, I was one of many on duty to help with Kindergarten lunch for the first day of school!! :) The kids were so cute as they walked into the cafeteria. Of course they had eaten breakfast and lunch in here everyday last school year, but walking in with one teacher and 19 other kids is so totally different. Last year their class and the 3 teachers barely took up half of a huge table, now these little kinder kids are squeezing together to make room for all the other friends in class. I spent quite a bit of time helping their tables specifically, but did make the rounds. Every time I went to another class table however, Mr. D was calling across the cafeteria for me. Uh oh! Glad this was just a first day of school job, so he can learn some independence at the lunch table. I think it was more about me spending time helping other kids, he doesn't share me very well. Not that I would ever complain about that. :)

Asking the kids about their day:

Little Miss A said she liked music the most. "Mr. S was so silly...when he cried, we laughed." It was part of the song they were singing, and I'd already heard about it from him at the brief faculty meeting after school, but it was fun to hear her version. :)

Mr. D was so excited that his class was earning candy. "When the cherry goes on top of the ice cream, we get candy!" Most likely a class wide behavior incentive, which obviously is already working on Mr. D. :)

We are so lucky to have such great teachers for the kids' first day of SCHOOL. (The start of the next 17 years!) Beyond elated at the success of the first day, we met Daddy at our neighborhood steakhouse for dinner to celebrate. It's going to be an awesome year!

'Twas the Night Before Kindergarten

Today has been a total Kinder prep day! We've packed our backpacks and lunch boxes, picked our outfits for the week, mastered our alarm clocks, reviewed schedules and chore charts and began winding down for the evening. With jammies on and teeth brushed and flossed, we packed into the game room for our evening stories. I pulled a few new ones I've been sitting on for a while...The Kissing Hand and 'Twas the Night Before Kindergarten. With weeks of preparation leading up to this, I have been totally fine. Then I read a few stories and was a total and complete mess. Reading while sobbing is a gift I have not mastered, I could hardly speak. Even as I type this, I can barely see the computer screen through my tears!!! I am so not ready for my "babies" to grow up!! What happened? Where did the time go? Can I time travel to the past and relive those precious moments of infancy, the care free days of toddlerhood? They are both so excited for big kid school, but this is suddenly all happening way too fast for me!!!!!

A few weeks ago I was starting to worry that having them on campus last year would take some of that excitement/anticipation/newness away, but I am actually beginning to think that it helped them realize with even more certainty how much more amazing and "official" Kindergarten will be. I know they are ready and they are both in great hands, but I'll still be peeking in on "my babies" throughout the day. (Another HUGE perk!!!!)

With a big day tomorrow and all the joys of learning that await them, the Caswell Kids fell asleep in no time flat. (These pictures are five minutes after we tucked them in bed.)

Sweet dreams precious punkins!!!! I can't wait to hear all about your first day of school adventures!!! I love you so much!!!!!!!!

Concert in the Park

Our neighborhood had it's 3rd annual Concert in the Park. With live music, lots of food, vendors, fun and games, it was a must!!! We caught up with friends we haven't seen in forever and wore the kids out dancing in the dark with glow sticks. :) With all my efforts the past few weeks to try to get the kids into a back to school sleep cycle, we threw all our cares to the wind and stayed out late. The kids didn't get to bed until 11. Hopefully that doesn't completely knock us out of whack for Monday morning. :)

Bat Fest

All summer Little Miss A has been asking for a toe ring. She and I got one together at the Austin annual Bat Fest. :) We made an afternoon of the event and browsed and ate, enjoyed live music and people watched. What a fun end of summer treat. (Although truth be told, we both love our toe rings so much I wish we would have begun the summer with them so we could have enjoyed them longer. Little Miss A has to wear sneakers everyday to school, so the toe ring may not last long for her.)

Soccer Kick Off

To start the soccer season, the association holds "soccer practice" before assigning teams. It's basically an assessment of each individual player's skills to provide all teams with an equal balance of ability. Mr. D had so much fun and really did pretty good having not played since he was 3. It's going to be a fun season full of exciting Saturday mornings!!! :)

Kinder Camp

D & A
A & T

Kinder Camp was wonderful!! Little Miss A and Mr. D are in separate classes this year. YEA!!! :) The kids are both in the classes I picked for them. (That's a HUGE perk of being a teacher on campus with the BEST administrative staff EVER!!!) We are so fortunate to have each of them in class with really good friends. The kids stayed with their teaches and classmates to do some super fun activities and crafts while the parents met in the MPR for an information session. (I heard more about cookie decorating than anything else from both of them, so that was definitely the highlight.)

We are so excited about the new school year. Although I must admit, having homework assignments (X2) before the school year has even officially begun was a big dose of reality of what's to come in the future with twins.

I'm happy to report that there were no tears by the kids or me...come Monday, that may be a different story.

Bye Bye Baby

Well, Little Miss A's baby tooth #2 is officially gone. My sweet baby girl is becoming more and more grown up by the second. The dentist informed me when we went in for exams this week that her top two teeth are loose as well. *GASP!* My first thought was "Please hold on to those babies until we've had our school pictures in a month or so." The dentist said she would most likely still have them by then, but that they will probably be missing by Christmas. My darling daughter already has a mounting Christmas list in her desk drawer, I think she may be asking for her "2 front teeth" in addition to what she already has on her list! YIKES!!!

End of Summer Fun...Six Flags

We went with some church friends (both fellow teachers) to our favorite local theme park to celebrate our final weekend of summer. With so many trips logged to the park already, Little Miss A and Mr. D roamed the park like they owned the place regardless of how EXTREMELY crowded it was. A, D & J looked like a blond and bronzed triplet set as they explored the park together. With a flash pass in hand, we skipped the lines and utilized the option to re-ride, a fact the kids relished completely!!! Even with a completely packed park, we rode EVERYTHING we could at least once and even got to sneak away for a couple "big kid" rides as well. :)

Mr. D was so happy to get to ride his own spinning contraption without being told to slow down. Yes, Aunt K just like his Mommy, he loves to go fast. Fortunately, he hasn't made his sister get sick...yet. :)

What a fun way to end an amazing summer. It's so hard to really believe it's over...for me anyway. The kids still have another week, so I'm going to try my best to make the most of the afternoons they have left before Kindergarten reality begins.

Swim Test

With a morning of presentations to give our new staff members, a friend offered to take the kids for me so the Little Miss A and Mr. D didn't have to sit and wait in my classroom. Ms. A took her triplets and A & D to the pool for some serious fun! A & D BOTH passed the swim test required to use the water slides, a feat they had failed to accomplish when we went a while back. They were so excited!!! What a fun morning!!! Thank you soooo much Ms. A!!!!! :)

His and Hers?

Just plain silly, but too fun not to share...

I must admit, Little Miss A still looks really girlie in little boy jammies and Mr. D is just as boyish as ever sporting little girl jammies!!! :)

Oh Deer!

When Daddy was leaving for work, he spotted (along with all the other neighbors) a deer roaming the cul-de-sac checking out every one's yards and even peeking into the houses along the way. I went in the house and told the kids about our visitor letting them know they needed to be really quiet so we didn't scare him away. I guess the "pep talk" wasn't really necessary since the deer eventually just waltzed right up to the kids as if asking "please, pet me." Looking back I guess I should have been more cautious, but I have never seen a deer as tame as this one was.

The entire 15 minute visit on our front porch/yard our beloved pooch Spencer is barking away at his unwanted guest. The deer simply walked over to the window peered inside and kept "visiting" with Little Miss A and Mr. D

What a fun way to start the day!!! We are definitely going to be on the look out for our new friend. :)

Tuesday Trip #8

My final Tuesday Trip with the kids was spent at one of our favorite water spots...Hamilton Pool. After a nice hike down to the pool, we found the perfect spot to settle in for the day.

We had so much fun, none of us wanted to leave. I have so enjoy my Tuesday trips with the kids. What a wonderful summer tradition. (The three of us have thoroughly looked forward to Tuesdays!!) I think we're going to have to continue our adventures through the school year with a monthly Saturday Spree or something like that. :)

I Finally Found my Little Fish!!!!!

After a fun venture to the pool yesterday, I'm happy to report, my little swimmers are back!!!!!!! :) They were slightly MIA towards the beginning of summer. After half of year of swim lessons last year, TOTALLY out and out swimming, we began the summer with two kids that LOVED the water, yet wouldn't really venture into deeper areas of the pool. I wish I had taken them to the pool more often this summer so we would have gotten back to this point sooner, but man we had a lot of non-pool related activities on our summer list this year.

Anyway, we met our neighborhood moms at the pool at 10 and didn't leave until 4!!! The kids were rock stars. Cannonballs, diving, flips, handstands, you name it...they did it. :) It was so nice to be at the pool and not "worry" about them. I was still constantly surveying the area to make sure I knew where the were and watch to make sure they (Mr. D) were on their best behavior, but the drowning concern that has plagued my past was no where in my head.

On a totally separate note, we finally "really" got to play with the other twins in the neighborhood. Last month, a family moved into a house behind the greenbelt from us that has 5 year old boy girl twins!!!! What are the odds, right? Let me just say that our sons and our daughters are more twins with their same gender counterpart friends than they are with one another!!!! They all got along so well, it was kind of scary! :) As we were leaving the pool, we had a trail of blondies all in a line, boys with boys, girls with girls. Crack me up!!! What a fun day!

Tooth Fairy Treasures

Little Miss A awoke to a pillow covered with fairy dust and a $5 bill inside her tooth fairy pillow pocket. Needless-to-say, she was ecstatic and immediately began to ponder how to spend it. That's my girl. :) Holy crow, when I was growing up it was a quarter. Apparently, that's the 30 year inflation rate! WOW:)

Tooth Fairy Time!!!

While bouncing today, Little Miss A's most wobbly tooth got INCREDIBLY loose!! At lunch I noticed it flopping around, which I have to admit, kind of freaked me out. She could push it ALL the way forward, but couldn't push it back in the least.

This is the last picture (just before Daddy provided a little tooth pulling assistance tonight) of my baby girl with ALL of her baby teeth. (Does she look a little frightened, or is it just me?)

Two tugs and voila!!! A total transformation! She looks so much older to me, I can't even stand it. Even as I type this I am tearing up, my baby is growing up WAY too stinkin' fast!!!!!! :(

Little Miss A was so excited to break out her tooth fairy pillow!!!! Yes, the one that traveled with us on vacation just in case. :)

We can't wait to see what the tooth fairy brings her!! :)

Pizza Pie!

My little chefs were in the kitchen tonight whipping up personal pizzas. They truly did everything (with minimal direction from me) from making the dough to forming their individual crusts and then of course adding their favorite toppings. Although I think more olives ended up in their tummies than on top of the pizzas. ;)

Hmmm, what other dinners can they make? I think it's time to start experimenting! :)

Tuesday Trip #7

Our trip today took us bouncing which seems so odd because this is something we seriously used to do ALL the time and we haven't been now in years. The kids have been begging me for some time to go and today was the day! :) They were having so much fun we stayed almost the whole day. I'm worn out and I wasn't even bouncing!!

And They're Off...

The waiting is finally over,

the training wheels are off!!!

We are still in full practice mode, but the kids are both super excited and doing pretty good thus far. :)

'