As I have been blogging these past few months, I have decided that my blog serves 2 main purposes for me (though if I had to sit & really think about it, I am sure that there are actually many more purposes). Anyhow, the first main purpose is a creative one - a way for me to use a little creativity - share the pictures I take & write about things that I think about or that are important to me. I have loved this aspect of my blog. I have really enjoyed using the written word as a way to express myself creatively & in the past, I never imagined this would be something I would enjoy. So overall, this is probably my favorite part of having a blog.
The second main purpose if to create a record of my family. This is the practical part of the blog & that is what this post is all about. I have already created some posts about school events over the past few months, and if you are a regular reader, you know all about our Mother's Day Teas & Katie's 3rd grade field trip, & Madi's CIMI field trip. Well, I got to thinking that I have quite a few pictures of events that have occurred all throughout this past school year & I wanted to put them together in one post for a record of the year. Feel free to abandon reading this post at any time as I know it will be quite long. So here is a little picture review of a few of the things the girls have done in school this year.
First day of school - August 2006
pictured first is Madi, then Katie, then Lacey
Obviously this is always an exciting day & the girls always want to have a new outfit to wear & their hair done "just so". I love the excitement of a new year and the anticipation of the learning adventures that await my children.
pictured first is Madi, then Katie, then Lacey
Obviously this is always an exciting day & the girls always want to have a new outfit to wear & their hair done "just so". I love the excitement of a new year and the anticipation of the learning adventures that await my children.
International Children's Day - October 2006
This is a great annual event where the children dress from countries all over the world. They spend the entire day visiting every continent (each classroom is transformed into a different continent for the day). The kids get to go from room to room sampling foods, listing to music, and creating things that represent countries from all over the world. This past year the girls all wore authentic Maasi clothing brought back from Africa by our friends Rod & Lesli when they went to Kenya last fall. Determining what we are going to wear for International Children's Day is usually as challenging as determining what we are going to wear for Halloween. There is always opportunity for lots of parent volunteers at International Children's Day, and this is an event that I try to never miss.
This is a great annual event where the children dress from countries all over the world. They spend the entire day visiting every continent (each classroom is transformed into a different continent for the day). The kids get to go from room to room sampling foods, listing to music, and creating things that represent countries from all over the world. This past year the girls all wore authentic Maasi clothing brought back from Africa by our friends Rod & Lesli when they went to Kenya last fall. Determining what we are going to wear for International Children's Day is usually as challenging as determining what we are going to wear for Halloween. There is always opportunity for lots of parent volunteers at International Children's Day, and this is an event that I try to never miss.
Birthday celebrations - October, November, December 2006
Katie's is first, then Madi, then Lacey
Our school's tradition for celebrating birthdays is one that always makes the mother's cry and makes each child feel special as well as literally the center of attention on their day. Each classroom has their own little "spin" on the birthday celebration, but the message and focus on the child is always the same. Each celebration begins with the students in the classroom forming a circle around the birthday child. The child usually holds a globe & a candle is placed in the center of the circle, symbolizing the sun. The child walks around the candle for each year that she has been alive. In between each rotation, she stops walking & I get to share something about that year of my daughter's life with the class. (For example - before Lacey turned one she went on her first airplane ride to Canada, she learned how to walk, and she had lots & lots of hair!) Of course, there's always pictures to share with everyone as well. Some of the classrooms sing a song between rotations or they recite the months of the year between rotations. Lacey's teacher always reads a wonderful book called On the Day You Were Born before the birthday circle begins. In Katie's classroom, all the students are given the opportunity to say something about Katie or give her a birthday wish at the end of her birthday circle. In Madi's classroom the students list the top "11" reasons we love Madi. (When she turned 10, it was the top 10 things, etc.)
Katie's is first, then Madi, then Lacey
Our school's tradition for celebrating birthdays is one that always makes the mother's cry and makes each child feel special as well as literally the center of attention on their day. Each classroom has their own little "spin" on the birthday celebration, but the message and focus on the child is always the same. Each celebration begins with the students in the classroom forming a circle around the birthday child. The child usually holds a globe & a candle is placed in the center of the circle, symbolizing the sun. The child walks around the candle for each year that she has been alive. In between each rotation, she stops walking & I get to share something about that year of my daughter's life with the class. (For example - before Lacey turned one she went on her first airplane ride to Canada, she learned how to walk, and she had lots & lots of hair!) Of course, there's always pictures to share with everyone as well. Some of the classrooms sing a song between rotations or they recite the months of the year between rotations. Lacey's teacher always reads a wonderful book called On the Day You Were Born before the birthday circle begins. In Katie's classroom, all the students are given the opportunity to say something about Katie or give her a birthday wish at the end of her birthday circle. In Madi's classroom the students list the top "11" reasons we love Madi. (When she turned 10, it was the top 10 things, etc.)
Winter programs - December 2006
Every year the kids perform some Christmas & Hanukkah songs & even songs about a few other December "holidays". I think Lacey's class sang a song about Ramadan this past year. Unfortunately, I can't remember the songs my kids performed, but I know that I had a great time listening to them sing. (This is a good example of why it is good to write about things when they are fresh in your mind, because the details leave, all too quickly, I'm afraid!)
Here is Little Miss Lace - as cute as can be - performing with a class that is not her own! I am just now remembering a little drama that unfolded with Lacey's winter performance that was traumatic for me, though she was just fine! Early in the month, the school sent out a schedule of the classroom performances & I promptly put mine on my refrigerator. We received several identical (so I thought) fliers to remind us of the performance as it approached and I efficiently threw out each of those "identical" fliers. As it turned out, there was a change in the performance times for each classroom that was communicated on the "identical" fliers I threw out. My friend, Kim, who works at the school, called me a few minutes before Lacey's performance to find out where I was. I was at home - thinking I still had 30 minutes to spare! I was so upset! I NEVER miss these things & now, I was going to miss Lacey's performance. Yes - I shed a few tears! Lucky for me, Kim grabbed Lacey after her class performed & told her that she would need to perform with another class because they really needed her help & expertise. You are amazing Kim! Sometimes it definitely pays to have friends in "high" places. So - I got to hear Lacey sing - just not with her own class - but that was OK!
Every year the kids perform some Christmas & Hanukkah songs & even songs about a few other December "holidays". I think Lacey's class sang a song about Ramadan this past year. Unfortunately, I can't remember the songs my kids performed, but I know that I had a great time listening to them sing. (This is a good example of why it is good to write about things when they are fresh in your mind, because the details leave, all too quickly, I'm afraid!)
Here is Little Miss Lace - as cute as can be - performing with a class that is not her own! I am just now remembering a little drama that unfolded with Lacey's winter performance that was traumatic for me, though she was just fine! Early in the month, the school sent out a schedule of the classroom performances & I promptly put mine on my refrigerator. We received several identical (so I thought) fliers to remind us of the performance as it approached and I efficiently threw out each of those "identical" fliers. As it turned out, there was a change in the performance times for each classroom that was communicated on the "identical" fliers I threw out. My friend, Kim, who works at the school, called me a few minutes before Lacey's performance to find out where I was. I was at home - thinking I still had 30 minutes to spare! I was so upset! I NEVER miss these things & now, I was going to miss Lacey's performance. Yes - I shed a few tears! Lucky for me, Kim grabbed Lacey after her class performed & told her that she would need to perform with another class because they really needed her help & expertise. You are amazing Kim! Sometimes it definitely pays to have friends in "high" places. So - I got to hear Lacey sing - just not with her own class - but that was OK!
This is Katie's class - Katie is in the row 2nd from the bottom - the 4th child from the right. She is wearing a white hat.
Madi is right in the center of this photo - middle row - middle kid!
Lacey is showing off a project she made in class - February 2007
All the children in Lacey's class made these giant hearts which were suspended from the ceiling in their classroom. Each child wrote a special wish on his or her heart. Lacey's wish says "I wish my family will love me forever." I think her wish just might come true!
All the children in Lacey's class made these giant hearts which were suspended from the ceiling in their classroom. Each child wrote a special wish on his or her heart. Lacey's wish says "I wish my family will love me forever." I think her wish just might come true!
Elementary parent-child night - February 2007
Parent-child night is a lot like an open house where the children share work they have been doing. Sometimes there is a small performance for the parents. This year all the 3rd graders in the school put on a performance about science and the solar system for all the parents with children going into the elementary program. This is a picture of Katie delivering her lines.
Parent-child night is a lot like an open house where the children share work they have been doing. Sometimes there is a small performance for the parents. This year all the 3rd graders in the school put on a performance about science and the solar system for all the parents with children going into the elementary program. This is a picture of Katie delivering her lines.
Katie shares work in her classroom
Madi performs in a little Lewis & Clark play - her class studied all about Lewis & Clark & their many expeditions during the first part of the school year. I gained a whole new appreciation for Lewis & Clark as the children taught their parents about these amazing men.
Katie - busy busy busy - doing her homework. She has one of those callouses on her finger from holding a pencil so much. Didn't we all have one of those during this time of our lives? I know I did!
Elementary Soc Hop - February 2007
Our school Soc Hop is another fun tradition. The girls & I had a great time boogie(ing) (how DO you spell that?) & hula hooping the night away. Brad wasn't feeling well that night so he stayed home w/ Ben. Since it's an annual event, a year ago I decided to invest in poodle skirts.
Our school Soc Hop is another fun tradition. The girls & I had a great time boogie(ing) (how DO you spell that?) & hula hooping the night away. Brad wasn't feeling well that night so he stayed home w/ Ben. Since it's an annual event, a year ago I decided to invest in poodle skirts.
Dr. Seuss Day - March 2007
Madi's classroom "family day" field trip to Redrock - March 2007
I remember that Ben was an absolute angel on this little day trip. He sat in the baby bjorn & did not make a sound all afternoon!
I remember that Ben was an absolute angel on this little day trip. He sat in the baby bjorn & did not make a sound all afternoon!
Lacey's field trip to the Natural History Museum - April 2007
Lacey is on the left. I loved going on this field trip with Lacey. I promised her that I would come on at least one of her field trips & was so glad that I could fulfill my promise!
3rd Grade Field trip - May 2007
This is Katie & her buddy Meredith in a hot air balloon high over the San Diego Wild Animal Park. This was one of the highlights of the trip for Katie.
This is Katie & her buddy Meredith in a hot air balloon high over the San Diego Wild Animal Park. This was one of the highlights of the trip for Katie.
Katie's end-of year play - about Freedom - May 2007
Lacey's end-of-year program - all about the earth - May 2007
Lacey's favorite song - in which she dressed as a lion - was called "Old Mother Nature" - sang to the tune of Old MacDonald - "Old Mother Nature had a world - "E - A - R - T - H". And on this earth there were jungle animals - "E - A - R - T - H." You get the picture. They also sang & did sign language to my all-time-favorite school song called "Listen". It's a sentimental song that brings emotion to this mom as I remembered Madi singing that same song when she was Lacey's age! How this can be is somewhat of a mystery to me. I don't remember Madi going from a little 5-year-old to a great, big kid! Here's a sample of the lyrics - "Listen, can you hear the sound? Heart's beating all the world around. Black and white, red and tan, it's the sound of the family of man." I tried to find it online so you could go to a link & hear the song, but no such luck. If I run across it, I will post it later!
Lacey's favorite song - in which she dressed as a lion - was called "Old Mother Nature" - sang to the tune of Old MacDonald - "Old Mother Nature had a world - "E - A - R - T - H". And on this earth there were jungle animals - "E - A - R - T - H." You get the picture. They also sang & did sign language to my all-time-favorite school song called "Listen". It's a sentimental song that brings emotion to this mom as I remembered Madi singing that same song when she was Lacey's age! How this can be is somewhat of a mystery to me. I don't remember Madi going from a little 5-year-old to a great, big kid! Here's a sample of the lyrics - "Listen, can you hear the sound? Heart's beating all the world around. Black and white, red and tan, it's the sound of the family of man." I tried to find it online so you could go to a link & hear the song, but no such luck. If I run across it, I will post it later!
Madi's West Side Story - end of year play - June 2007
Crazy hair day - June 2007 - the last week of school
Crazy hair, but far from a crazy school!
Crazy hair, but far from a crazy school!
5 comments:
This is a GREAT post! Like you, I love the creativity and self-expression of blogging. If someone would have told me a few months ago that I would be a blogger, I would have told them they were crazy.
I love the Top 11 Reasons We Love Madi - what a great way to make a kid feel special. I think I may try that next year. The candle, story, picture birthday sounds really fun.
You do a great job helping your kids dress up for theme days. Those poodle skirts are perfect.
I think I want to work at this school, and I want kids with moms like you!
I like using my blog as a way to record our family's history as well. Your girls are going to appreciate this post, everyone will! I think it's great that you took the time to record their school year.
Great post LaRae. It is so great how involved your school gets the parents! Your girls are going to benefit so much from such a wide variety of activities it is great! The girls looked so great on Dr. Seuss day...love it! I can't believe how they celbrate the birthdays...I think we are going to do that in our home! Thanks for sharing the year in revieww....fun to see the girls progress through out the year. You look like such a stylin mom in the redrock pic!
ps I have tagged you so go to my site for details!!!
I really like this post also. This is good idea to recap the year. I think I will try to do the same. I really like the fact that the blog is such a good record! It looks like the girls had a fabulous year:)
This was a fun retrospective of your school year. It made me tired just thinking of all the things your kids did during ths school year - just wait until Ben starts school and you have 4 kids of different ages going in 4 different directions! Take your vitamins...
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