Mikayla's Official School Portrait

Mikayla's official school portrait for her second year of preschool.  The sad thing for me is how often she asks when she will get to go to kindergarten, or when she will get to go to Alyssa's school.  Its going to be hard on this mom next year.  But these girls sure do love each other and want to be together, so who can complain?  I'm so proud that this year when you ask who is smart she says, "Mikayla!" instead of always saying "Alyssa" like she has in the past.  Here's to a great school year!

1st Day of School

August 20, 2012 was Alyssa's first day of 1st Grade and boy!  was she excited!  She couldn't sleep the night before for all her anticipation.  Anyway, she looked fantastic.  Mikayla told us she was going to miss Alyssa when we dropped her off, which was really sweet.  And when I picked up Aly and asked how her day went she responded, " Best day ever!!"  and when I asked about her teacher she said, "Best teacher in the world!!"  So I think we shall have a successful year. (fingers crossed)
Odyssey Charter School, Ms. East's class:

August 28, 2012 was Mikayla's first day of Preschool.  Her second year at Lindon Elementary, Special Ed Preschool with Mrs. Jennifer Nelson and many, many aides and therapists.  Thanks for all the staff does so this little girl can keep developing strong muscles and a strong mind--she already has a very strong heart!

Ironically Christopher was able to take both of these girls to school on their first days because he was leaving on business trips and had a later flight.  And to celebrate (and not cook dinner) Mommy took us all out to Costa Vida for dinner each time.

What about Carter you ask?  He gets time at home with Mom, which he isn't sure what to do with.  The first day we dropped Mikayla off he cried and said, "Jo-Jo go bye."  But I think he's getting used to it now, although he plays so hard its not unusual to find him on the floor like this:

The Back-to-School Fairy

At our house we are really lucky to have a Back-to-School Fairy (or B2SF) to help us get ready for school.  Each night before school begins she brings a challenge, and the next night to comes to see how you did and leave a treat and a new challenge.  My kids LOVED it!  So here's what she brought:

Summer is over, and boy was it fun!

But now its time to get some things done.

I’m the Back-to-School fairy, 

Here with a rhyme

To help you be ready for back to school time

Each day I’ll visit and bring you a game

A challenge of sorts, with this as our aim

To get you all ready to go back to school,

Excited and ready for this year to be cool.

Each challenge you finish will bring a small treat

A reward for accomplishing every day’s feat

Each one will add to the ones from before

So in just one week you’ll know what’s in store

Ready, set, go!  Its time to begin

1st grade is waiting, so lets dive right in!

The first challenge has something to do

With the gift in this bag I have brought just for you

This pair of pajamas will fast have you dreaming

So when the alarm sounds tomorrow you’re beaming

I’ll come back tomorrow to see how it went

To see if you scored 100%

And she got an alarm clock and got to start getting up on time and going to bed on time.  

Day #2:

You did such a great job with challenge #1!

Before you know it these games will be done.

Are you ready to add this next task with a smile?

Its time to get up early and dress in style

Getting up early can be most unpleasant

Unless you use tonight’s moonlight present

Set this alarm clock for 7am

Then wake up on time for the day to begin.

 tonight's gift: pajamas!

Day #3:

You’re getting to bed early and waking on time

So now we can focus on afterschool time.

You’ll need a place to keep learning fun

When you’re home with mom after school’s done

Challenge #3 is to find a cozy space

And make it your smart-time homework place

Gather your crayons and scissors and glue

Don’t forget your pencils and markers too.

This place should inspire your very best work

So that doing your homework is always a perk.

gift: a pencil box, pencils, pencil sharpener, ruler, crayons, scissors, glue stick for her "homework supplies"

Day #4:

You are working so hard!  You are doing so great! 

You’ll soon be done going at this rate.

Its day #4 and I don’t mean to bore

But today is the day you establish your chores.

Every person who lives in this house

Has responsibilities, so don’t grouse.

Please help out your mom and pick those tasks

You are willing to do daily without being asked.

Then make up your chart and pick your bait

To start earning your mom-daughter date.

She got a plate of cookies and had to start doing her school-day chores

Day #5:

Books are your favorite, they always have been

So today’s challenge should be easy to win

Starting today you must always read

20 minutes each day will help you succeed

School will be easier and believe it or not

Reading books will teach you quite a lot

You can read alone or you can read with me

Just make sure you do it consistently.

gift: egg timer to time her reading each day (or a book would also be good or bookmark)

Day #6:

Tonight’s challenge is really simple enough

Before heading to bed, lay out your stuff

Make sure you have everything that you will need

So dressing tomorrow is always a breeze

Remember your clothing, your shoes and your socks,

Your hair bows and sweater, then turn on the alarm clock

In the morning you’ll be stylin’, cute as can be

You’ll head off to school, such a little beauty.

 gift: new underwear, although a first day of school outfit or hairbows, a new toothbrush or hairbrush would all be great ideas.

Day #7:

You love being healthy and creative too

So making your school lunch will be easy for you.

Pick a protein, a veggie, a fruit and a grain

To help you growth healthy and help grow your brain

These charts I have made should help a bunch

In making sure you pack a healthy lunch

Make sure that you do it the night before

So you won’t have to as you head out the door.

gift: lunch thermos because she already had a lunchbox.

Day #8: (the night before school starts)

Early to bed and early to rise, what’s more

You’re ready to study and read and do chores

You’ve packed your lunch and you’ve laid out your clothes

You’ll soon be tucked in and ready to doze.

There’s nothing more that this fairy can do,

You’ll be terrific, you’ll make it through.

And when you get home from your first long day,

Check your bed for a gift I’ll be sending your way

To applaud you for all of the work that you’ve done

So that school will be so much wonderful FUN!

Happy 1st Day of school to a fantastic girl

Who will someday be running the entire world

gift: can be anything they need for the first day of school, a backpack, notebook, candybar, new uniform jumper (as here) etc...  What Alyssa came home to was a matching dress for her American Girl Doll!

 

I also did a smaller, simpler version for Mikayla who was starting her second year of preschool and tailored it to her needs.  If you are interested I am happy to email you the poems I used for that, or you can just choose a couple of days from above.

HAPPY BACK TO SCHOOL EVERYONE!