First Day of School!

This is Abby at last Friday's meet the teacher.  We are so happy that she has Ms. Dahse, the same Kindergarten teacher that Isaac had two years ago.  We already know and love her so it was a big comfort to Abby on her first day of school.

Abby had to write her name on all her folders and belongings.  She's going by Abigail at school so it is quite an achievement to write it so many times.

Our traditional flag pole picture, this time with TWO students!  Adel and I had the chance to pray with the kids before we walked into the school today: a very special start to a great day.

Kindergartener and second grader!  Isaac said, "Mom, I think you're over-obsessing a little."  Ah, he's growing up.

Isaac got to pick his seat, so he is sitting at a table with kids from last year's class.  That's his best girl-buddy, Belle across from him.  (heart!)

Abby got settled in just fine. 

And went straight to work.  It's amazing how they just know what to do. 

And she didn't even look up as we walked out of the room.  That's when I almost lost it.  My baby is in kindergarten.  Sniff.

This is the moment of truth.  Everyone has been asking me all summer what I'm going to do when both the kids are in school.  I have stubbornly refused to plan ahead and so today came and I had very little on my agenda (yay!).  I came home and sat on the couch for an hour with a cup of coffee, staring at the ceiling, thinking, praying, and being amazed at the luxury of getting to think uninterrupted thoughts at nine in the morning.  I spent the rest of the day doing some deep cleaning in areas of our house that I have neglected for a very long time.  I will probably do the same tomorrow.  And then, I'll figure out what's next for my life now that both my kids are in school.   The day went by amazingly fast.  And then...

Here comes the bus!

Smiles.  A "Fantastic" first day of school (that was Isaac's actual word).

With bus buddy, Connor.

All smiles after the fun first day.

When they got home, they were surprised by schultutes, a German tradition for parents to give kids on the first day of school.

Our friend, Ms. Jen, gave the kids some fun surprises in their cones and I added to it and decorated to their own style (Hello Kitty for Abby and Harry Potter for Isaac).  

They had a great welcome home, opening all their new toys and treats. 

Last Week of Summer

Summer days are all about going straight from jammies, to swimsuits, and back to jammies.  We made an effort to live it up the last week before school started by using up some of our freebies and coupons we had earned.

Isaac and Abby earned a free 4D movie from the library for doing their summer reading logs.  

I got to watch them on the monitor from outside the curtain.

Then we went to the dollar store and bought silly string to surprise Daddy when he got home from work.

We left Daddy something to defend himself.

And waited what seemed like forever.

Finally, the kids got to attack.  Isaac is not in any pictures because he was too scared to get close.  But our friend Connor was brave enough for a close-up.

We used the last of our Jumping Jungle tickets for one last bounce session.

And one last trip to the YMCA fun pool (Isaac was just barely tall enough to ride down the big yellow slide this year.)

So many hours spent in jammies.

Some of my favorite moments are jammie-moments.

This summer has been busy and fun, lazy and exhausting, all at the same time.  We're all looking forward to the first week of school!

Harry Potter Party

Abby and Isaac got a head start on decorating their wands, which was good, since the kids all needed help and it would have been pretty hard to do all of them at the same time.

Then, outdoors to Professor Snape's Potions Class. 

He did five bottles, each of a different color soda.

I love the kids' reaction.

We saved the biggest bottle for last (using the most Mentos too, of course).

Isaac was the special helper this time. 

Pure awesomeness.

I'm demonstrating the pop rocks, water, and baking soda potion.  

Then the kids got to mix any combo of baking soda and vinegar.

They would mix in their own small cups and then empty them in to the big "cauldron." 

Some fun reactions.

Big cousin Luke was our guest of honor, all the way from Lubbock with sister Ellie.  Isaac had his party a week early just so Luke could attend while he was in town.  

After all the ingredients had been used up, the kids moved on to the Care of Magical Creatures class.

 Isaac picked the owl puppet for Harry's Hedwig.

  

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And I explained the care of creatures and the puzzle game they would play.

Puzzling over Creature facts.

And now, for the scavenger hunt.  The professors have already caught the thief but need the students' help in finding the hidden gold.

The first clue leads them to the bathroom.

Harry and Ron had a battle 

in this room with a troll

When you’re in this place

let’s hope you have a toilet roll

But not that bathroom.  

So they run upstairs to find the second clue and a key to the mailbox.

When accepted to Hogwarts

An owl brought the news to Harry

Find your next clue in a small box outside

Where a mailman does carry

Back down the stairs.

And out the front door.

All they way down the street to the mailbox.

And back.

Luke reads the next clue.

In the living room 

you’ll find your next lead

It’s in the place where you’d find

What Hermione likes to read

Which book would Hermione like best?  There were 5 Harry Potter books on the shelf.

Luke found the right one and read the next clue.

When going to the Griffendoor house 

The fat lady did sing

When you came to the party

What did you ring?

The doorbell!

The final clue (I love Isaac's expression here.  He is taking it very seriously.)

The Sorcerer's Stone 

could be placed on a ring 

If Isaac’s mom had such a gem

Where would she store this bling?

Hmmm...a jewelry box!  But Mom's room is shut, so where can the jewelry box be?  Isaac found it in about 2 seconds.

And they distributed the gold coins (intended to go in the goodie bags, but mostly consumed on the spot!).

Then it was time for the Feast of Wands.

And the "cake" (basilisk egg Rice Krispie treats).

Cutie waiting to blow out the candle.

It's out.

But wait, it's back on.  This was the perfect party to introduce the trick candle.

Finally digging in to those treats, Isaac goes straight for the prize in the middle.

A plastic egg inside.

Each plastic egg contains a baby basilisk.  

 Present time!

And one happy birthday boy!

At the end of the night, Isaac said, "I want to have a Harry Potter party again next year!"  Hmmm, maybe next year I'll just buy Harry Potter paper plates and we'll have free play and birthday cake.  Or maybe, after I recover from the effort of this year's party, doing it all over again will start to sound like fun.  It really was an awesome party.  Thanks Matt, for the great pictures, and Robin, for the help with set up and clean up.  Mimi, we were so glad you could be there with us for this magical party.  Happy birthday, my Harry Potter boy!