The Kassel Family Project Life 365

It was Back to School Night at Ridgeway Elementary for Units B and C.  It was great to see the various classrooms.  Laura was very excited to show us around and introduce us to all her teachers.  Laura made a poster about herself that is definitely going in her memory box.

Also, we got to look at Laura’s writing portfolio.  Her very first story is about Newman and I think it just might be the funniest thing she has ever written!  For those who can’t read Second Grader, it says, “My cat is lazy and she doesn’t like kids.  It’s very hard to pet her if you are a child.  So run 100 miles if you’re a child.”

Andy and I got a good laugh out of this because it describes Newman perfectly.  Good times!

John wanted me to take his picture this morning wearing his new backpack.  He said, “I’m a big boy now, Mom!  I have a special backpack like Laura.”  He showed off the backpack to Katie and Mady at the bus stop and even stopped to show his bus driver the new backpack as he got on the bus to leave for school.  I wonder how many people he showed it to at school.  🙂

Today, John received a backpack from St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church at a ceremony that recognizes the Kindergartners and the next step in their education. The Kindergartners are introduced to the congregation and a small ceremony ending with a blessing is done during the early church service.  John was very excited to receive his new backpack and held it through most of the church service.  He is most excited about the water bottle holder on the side and he cannot wait to pack it for school tomorrow.  Thanks St. Andrew’s!

The project for Kids’ Workshop at Home Depot this morning was a Football Ring Toss Game.  It was an easy project, but fun as always.  John is getting so good at building his projects.  Andy is having to help less and less.  As you can tell, he was excited to be able to play his finished game.

Laura is getting close to the point where she could build the projects on her own (if only her hands were slightly bigger!).  She can’t quite hold the project and use a hammer at the same time.  While watching her work on her project, it occurred to me that she must have *at least* thirty pins from the different projects.

I know the day is approaching when these workshops will not be fun for the kids anymore, but I hope that day takes quite a while to get here.  It is so great watching the kids build with Andy and I know that all three of them love it.

It was John’s first Munch and Read today!  He was excited to see me and we had a great time.  We ate snacks and read books from the “silly” tub with “The Underpants Zoo” being his favorite.  He gave me a big hug at the end and told me that he wants me to come again next month.  Love Munch and Read with the kids!

It is that time again!  Another school picture day.  Laura practiced fun smiles so that she can avoid the weird smile she did last year.  She decided that if she giggles right before the picture, she will have the “perfect” smile.  Now, she just needs to remember to brush her hair before she has her picture taken…

It is John’s *first* school picture!  Here’s to hoping that he smiles big!

And if their school pictures look terrible, I always have these pre-pictures, right?!?

I came home from work to a VERY grumpy John.  About 30 minutes later, I found the kids in Andy’s recliner…

Laura gave me the “smile” and said, “I’m not asleep Mom.  John just can’t handle school yet.”  I had to remind her that *she* used to get that tired when she first started school too.  She was not amused at that and turned that “smile” into the “scowl.”

Are you wondering why John is so tired?  I found this on the kitchen counter…

He had to write an *entire* book (approximately eight pages) about himself!  This one goes in his memory box.  Someday down the road, he’ll laugh about the fact that he has magenta-colored eyes and orange hair.  I wonder if he really will be a policeman, since that is what he said he wants to be when he grows up.