A bunch of firsts

This last week was a bunch of FIRSTS in the Nielsen household. 

First, first, Jersey's started school on Monday becoming a big 3rd grader. Is it weird that I remember 3rd grade and the things I did in 3rd grade? She has a great teacher who is actually my neighbor's SIL. So I'm excited about she will do. 

Jersey on the first day of school

walking to school with friends

Jersey and her BFF Krystal

A other first was that Phoenix got to meet his teacher on Monday for first grade! Weird that my baby is in first grade. He was a bit shy but I know that he will be fine once he gets into a routine with the whole school thing. 

There is my happy boy!

Another first Phoenix was that on Tuesday he started school. When we got to the playground and waiting for which his line he should be in, he hung onto my legs for awhile. I started to worry that he was going to start crying, but he didn't I did though. No tears but my heart was starting to hurt that he getting so big. That he is in school all day.

Phoenix on his first day of school

Something else that was a major first for our family was that I changed my schedule. For 10 years Mike and I have worked oppisite shifts. When we were first married, he worked at night and I worked during the day because of our school schedule. Then when we had children we switched and Mike worked in the day and I worked at night. 9 YEARS!!! I haven't been home for homework, bedtime, or dinner time. Since Phoenix was going to be at school all day I didn't see the point to be home all day and miss the kids at night. Luckly I work for a good company where all my supervisors have played this game while they had little children at home so that they could also be a mother. 

I know that Mike and I will have some adjustment to deal with since we haven't ever been home at the same time and a new routine will have to be set up. So far so good. I have been happy to have our schedules be the same. Jersey has been begging for Family Home Evening so it will be nice that we can start that as a family. 

He is mad that I want another picture

Here is to a new and happy school year!

It's that time of year again

I know I should be happy and joyous that a new school has come. But I'm not. I miss my kids. The noise the " I love yous" the hugs. The "I'm bored". I am selfish and I want my kids to be around me. I want to see them everyday for the WHOLE DAY. I like vegging out with them and going to the pool, lake and watching them interact with their friends.
When they are in school I miss all of that. I miss seeing them. Hearing them play, read and make up stories.
Monday Jersey started a new school year as a second grader. I walked her to school. She was so excited. I could tell she was a bit nervous since this year we changed tracks. We are on A track. I'm curious to see if I will like this track. I like that next year we will have a bit more summer than just three weeks.

Phoenix starts school on Tuesday! We met his teacher this last week, were he had some Kindergarten testing. He did a very good job in answering all the questions. I am taking Tuesday off as a mental health day because my house is going to be real quiet with everyone gone. Why do children have to grow up? I am starting to get more nervous for Phoenix because he has been more whiny. I'm sure it's because he has been tired but I'm chalking it up to he isn't ready to go. He still needs his mom.
Lots of people I have talked to say they were excited when there last one went off to school. Yes, maybe I will be but I don't see my kids either like a lot of people. Mornings and weekends are when we make the most of our time together. I know it will be hard but in the end, it's worth it.

Young Love

Today on the way to drop my children off to Mike's mom, Jersey was describing her class picture to me. She was telling me all about the kids and talking about two of the children that are no longer in her class. She was asking why they would still put them in her picture.
Then she starting talking about "going out" (SHOCKED) I ask her to repeat.
J: you know mom "going out"!
R: What does "going out" mean...(sounding like my mom)
J: "going out" means when you like a boy and you hang out and do stuff like play with toys and sit together.
R: hmm?
J: Drew and Mckenna are "going out" but they broke up
R: What? They broke up?
R: What does "broke up" mean?
J: Well Sadie told me that it's when you don't play with that person anymore. But Drew and Mckenna still do play with each other so I don't know if they are "broke up" that is just what I heard.
R: So do you like any boys in your class?
J: Boys are weird, mom!
When did this happen that we talk about "going out" in Kindergarten. I remember all the talk in first grade but in Kindergarten. I'm still in shock.
Finally when we get to Grandma's work Jersey shows the picture to her and retells the story. Liz proceeds to say "So Jersey who is your boyfriend?" (me, slapping my hand to my forehead, Jersey embarrassed to answer.) Thanks, Liz.
Can I lock her up for the next 18 years of her life? I don't know how I'm going to handle this school business or growing up for that matter.

Report card time

On Wednesday, I had a parent teacher conference with Jersey's teacher. Or like they call it at the school a SEP. I volunteer in her class and since I couldn't go after school we had the conference during P.E.
I thought it was funny because the teacher was telling me how, Jersey is so great and then she starts to tell me how she is really sensitive and she will cry if she doesn't get her way. The teacher asked if this was normal and I had to say "yes". I don't think that I spoil my child but apparently if your child cries in school for not getting the right pencil that SHE wants something isn't right. We try to work with Jersey on this, asking her to use her words and explain the feelings that she is having. It's rare that I will give in to the nonsense of a temper tantrum. Jersey does like to run off to her room and cry about when she doesn't get her way and it so happens that she does that school. While she is off track these next four weeks, this sharing thing, is something that we will be working on. I remind her all the time "Sharing is caring" and "it's o.k. if you don't get your way" I will just have to say this more often.
So in the behavior portion of the report card she got "E's" on everything, except shares well with others. She also had high marks on her language arts and I was really proud of her, for her writing. She did however get a 2 for shapes apparently she doesn't recognize a rectangle and can't draw a triangle. Hopefully that will be mastered in the next four weeks as well. Other than that she is doing great and she loves school.

Drawings of Jersey

On Wednesday Jersey was QUEEN of the DAY! Her teacher told nice things about her to the class. Then all the kids in the class drew a picture of her. The slide show below are a few of my favorites that her friends made.
Also on Wednesday I started volunteering in her classroom. It was cute to have her be so excited that I was there.
I'm also the room mom for her class so if anyone has any ideas on how to have a cool Halloween party for cheap please post a comment. I have a few ideas but I'm looking for some more.

Jersey's first day of school

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

What to do?

this is what the year-round track looks like

On Friday I received in the mail the 2008-2009 school track schedule. Here in UT if aren't aware they have year-round school. It's kind of nutty because most kids aren't on the same track so when the kids are off track it's hard to have friends.

Well Mike and I have been thinking about Jersey track and what we want her to be on. Plus we want to do what the rest of the family is doing because if we want to get together when the kids are off track it would be hard if I'm shuttling Jersey to school. Then I also most importantly need Jersey to be in morning Kindergarten not because I think it would be great to get my child up early just that the afternoon is to late for me because I have to be to work about the same time school gets out. If we did afternoon, would have to go to someones house until Grandma could come and get her.

I can't believe the time has come to start thinking about school and what we are going to do about it. Jersey is excited to go to the BIG school. Depending on the track for school she gets she could be starting school as soon as August 5Th. WOW!!!! Then we begin a lifetime of school.

First Day of Pre-school

Yesterday was Jersey's first day of school. She was so excited, so was I. A few hours with just Phoenix is pretty nice. She had a good time. She came home telling me all the stories that her teacher read, the play-doh she played with and what they ate for snack. She must have played really hard because she was in bed by 7:45pm. She slept through the night. That is unheard of in our house. She is usually our night owl. Instead of her being up late it was Phoenix who wouldn't go to bed.

I can't wait to see the great things she does in school.

I know she will be great.

Jersey with some of her friends