Back to School

 I can't believe the summer is gone!  Matthew is officially a kindergartener and life will never be the same.  Here is his backpack and all his school supplies.  The backpack is big on him, but his dad gave it to him and that's that.  They went together to get the name sewn up for it.

 Tuesday was Back to School Night.  I had to work it and sign up kids for Afterschool.  Here is the angry photo.  We've had to take angry and silly photos since San Diego!

 And the normal photo.

 Entering his kindergarten room. 

 Meeting Mrs. Tiffany, his teacher.  He will have an excellent year in her room.  She's a wonderful teacher.

 His name on the window.

 And here is his seat.  He's in the back because he's tall!  And no, he didn't think this photo was neccessary.

 When we went in to his room at Back to School night, his teacher gave us a bag of "Ready Confetti."  It had a cute poem with it about how it's magic confetti and would help him get a good nights sleep.

 He loved it!  He shared enough for everyone in the house to have 1 or 2 pieces under their pillows too.

 First day of kindergarten.  He was so excited to get there.

I didn't realize that Matthew couldn't go in the room, so he got to put his bag away with me there and then he had to go sit in the hall.  I felt horrible he had to sit there for 15 mins, but today he wanted to ride with Mamaw to school, so he could be the first there sitting in the hall.  He was disappointed that Dax beat him.  Boys, who knows what they will enjoy, at least of a little while. 

I love this drawing he did yesterday!  He met a new friend named Joshua.  He announced he was his best friend.  Phil told him to slow the roll on deciding best friends and Matthew said Joshua asked if he could be his best friend, so he said sure and now he is.  We'll see in a month.


I may not have mentioned this before but my Mom retired at the end of school last year.  While I was on vacation in California, she was asked to come back and teach Title 1.  She agreed, as her heart belongs to Title 1.  There has been none of the stress and late hours of the last two years in 2nd grade.

My school year has not started as tranquilly as Matthew and Mom's, but it's been ok.  There has been alot of loose ends and questions that are starting to be tied up.  I will be working in the middle school this year for an hour.  I'm surprised I didn't turn white yesterday when I found out, it was not a welcome discovery.  But I'm sure that it will go much better then I'm scared it will.  I'll gain some experience and maybe come to like working with that age group as well.  For sure all grades will come to know me this year.  It has been fun to have so many kids greeting me and hugs from quite a few.

June recap

 Game 2...

 3rd baseman this game.

 It was horribly windy, poor guy came in with dirt in his eyes.

 5th birthday cake.

 It was homemade red velvet cake.  Not a huge hit, just the homemade seven minute frosting, yum yum!

 One of his favorite gifts was a rope.  He wants to be a real cowboy.

 So he's been roping an old vacuum.  "Gotta rope this steer."

 "Ok, I'll put it over."

 "Take it down."

 "Tie them up, done!"

 Game 3...on our 5th birthday...

 2nd baseman and let me tell you, being next to a girl was not a good idea.  It was show off time.  She was equally disgusted and admiring.

 He took time out to smile on 1st base for the photo, and I didn't ask him too!  I wish I could have got the ham-i-ness on video.  Lots of his friends were on the other team so it was social hour the whole game.  He got saluted by one friend and patted on the head by another.

 We rode on his preschool's float in the parade.  It was fun!

 All the kids with the workers before the parade.

 The Monday before this he hurt himself at t-ball practice.  The day after the parade, he decided to scale the stairs wall and vault over the railing, being a superhero.  This reinjuried the injury and he had to take him to get checked out.  Pulled his hip muscle down into the leg.  He had to miss Game 4 and be very careful in what he did.  It was a long week for all.

 We wrapped up in bubblewrap.

 He decided that Mamaw had to make him a cape.

 Game 5...enter the 100 degree heat.

 Was pitcher again.  He does a great job in that position.

 This month we've had 3 barred owls take over the yard every evening.

 They've been fun to watch and listen too, but it's a little worrisome that they will want to eat Hershey.

 Game 6 was this Wed evening.  It was still 100 degrees at 6:30 pm.  We pulled out all the stops.  He wore a neck cooler and a wet wash cloth under his baseball cap.

This game he played 1st base and tried to intimidate the players and had them touch his neckcooler.  Sigh.  This is also the game where he went for a ball following the baseline and crashed into the runner.  They hit hard enough to both fly backwards and fall down.  (Matthew's hat was knocked off.)  Matthew's cheek and eye ran into the runner's helmet.  The helmet won.  Matthew's checkbone was blackened and his eyebrow swelled up and bruised.  But after having his face washed, rewetted gear and a hug he went back out for inning 2. 

Bowling Birthday

 In 2 more days my little guy will turn 5.  5!  I can't believe it!  Anyway, Saturday we decided to have his birthday party.  A bowling party in another town.  Man it sure confuses a little guy to celebrate early!  The last couple days it's been am I five now?  Here he is with his cake.  He LOVED it.  I saw him dragging parents over to admire it with him. 

Next photos are of the set up, since Phil had to miss the party.

 Almost every kid, if not all but Matthew, had never been bowling, so they were really, really excited. 

 Later the parents got in the act and bowled too.  Halfway through we broke for cake and lemonade.
It was so much fun!

 It makes me giggle everytime we get these 2 together.  Matthew continues to jolly green giant over Alex.  One day Alex will outgrow him I'm guessing.

Oh those boys!