Atticus's 2nd Grade Spelling Bee

Back in November, Atticus took a classroom spelling test, along with everyone else in 2nd grade and ended up being in the top 8 of 2nd grade of spellers. This led him to participate in the school spelling bee! They sent home a list of 50 words for the first spelling test, but for the spelling bee, they sent home a list of 450 words! Atticus was great at spelling the entire first half, but the second half were tough. However, we practiced every other day or so doing about 50 words at a time. Then, after basketball practice one night, he and I went to eat at Fazoli's for some one-on-one time and we spent the entire time practicing words. That, by the way, was one of my favorite evenings. I love each of my kids and Atticus really loves undivided attention. He is silly and smart and inquisitive and I just love it so much! And, that night, he not only loved trying out Fazoli's for the first time (it's now one of his favorite restaurants), but he had fun spelling the words and making me spell them. Ah - I love that memory! Anyways, the weekend before the big spelling bee, we worked really hard learning words. My hope was that he would make it a few rounds and just be proud of himself. He can be so hard on himself sometimes. And he would be competing with 3rd and 4th graders as well, so I just wanted him to feel good at the end. It doesn't help that my competitive side (that I do NOT want to force upon my children) was itching to come out because I know how smart he is and I knew he could win this thing! haha!

So, the Tuesday before Christmas break, we had a babysitter set and Vic and I were going to go watch him first thing in the morning for his spelling bee. He woke up and came to our room excited. Then, Grace came in. And threw up. And then she had diarrhea. Not trying to be gross but just keeping it real. And as soon as that happened, I realized I would not be getting to go watch Atticus at his Spelling Bee. My heart was honestly crushed. We had been practicing so much together and I had loved that practice time so much. I just wanted to watch him. But, mom duty calls sometimes. Vic told me to go and he would stay home, but that didn't' really make any sense because he would have to go to work anyways after the event. So, he kept me updated through texts and took pictures and videos. Atticus made it through 4 rounds of the spelling bee, getting out on Round 5 with the word "writhing". We had not practiced that one and the silent W got him. There were 10 kids in that round and only 6 left after it, so Atticus told us he was 7th place. I'll take that! And, he was the LAST 2nd grader standing. His other words were street, abnormal, something else, and perish (and this was one that he kept spelling wrong until the very end of our study times and I was so excited he got it in the bee!). The videos are precious because I am his mom and of course they are precious. Here are a couple of his rounds!
https://youtu.be/unimRawBhRs

https://youtu.be/bhLzn1OvGUY

Also, he was proud of himself and the cutest speller I ever saw! And he already hopes he gets to do it again next year! He wants to go to Houston and then Washington, DC for the bigger spelling bees. Haha!

Decades Day

These two had Decades Day at School! Atticus did not want to dress up, until the night before and thankfully we could pull together an outfit for a boy from the 40's. And Grace was the cutest 50's girl you ever did see! When I asked them what their favorite part from their day was (where they learn all about their decade during their school work all day), they told me:

Atticus: learning about WW2
Grace: eating ice cream during snack (aka Root Beer Floats minus the root beer for Grace)

Book Character Dress-Up Day

Pebble Creek Elementary has Book Character Dress-Up Day and Parade each fall. This year, Grace went as Emily Elizabeth from the Clifford books and Atticus went as a baseball player in My First Book of Baseball. They were too cute and so "themselves" when they walked in the parade. The parents line up in the gym and hallway at school to watch each class walk through with their books and costumes. Grace came in, totally shy and not smiling, until she heard and saw me and some other moms calling her name! Then, Atticus came in acting silly! It was cute. They were both very proud of their costumes.

School Conversations

On the first day of school, I picked up these two cuties in the car line and we headed home. We sat in the kitchen and heard all about their day.

Things Grace told us:

• The second she got in the car, she told me that she and Ellie K. had the same backpack! The funniest part of this is that in Kindergarten, Atticus and Greer first bonded because they both had PB Star Wars backpacks too!
• Also, she immediately told me that "A kid in my class took the Lord's name in vain." This is a big NO NO for us, so she knew it was bad!
• At home, she told us she saw both Abigail and Brynn.
• She went to computers and learned that her computer teacher has 2 cats and they are so weird because they eat oranges!
• She went to PE where they played Noodle Tag.
• She got an entire book of coloring sheets and she really wanted to bring them home, but she couldn't.
• She was so excited to tell us that she could bring books from home to read ANY DAY. She cannot wait to learn to read.
• She also told us she played The Floor is Lava on the playground with Luc's Ellie. (Side note: because we have two Ellie's, who also have two older brothers that are Atticus's friends, she tends to call them "Luc's Ellie" or "Greer's Ellie".
• She saw Atticus at school, but he didn't see her.
• Her favorite thing of the day was coloring and being at the Crab Table (her room is beach themed).
• She saw someone else with "ambliance" shoes (shoes that light-up, ha!)

So, the first day was really fun to hear about. Here are a few highlights we've heard about in Grace's world these last 3 weeks:

• She got to go to Art Class and loved it. She came home the first week of school with pictures she drew of apple trees and was so proud.
• One day, she got into the car and told us her class had to miss recess because even though her table, the Crab Table, was quiet, apparently, the other tables were not. But, she assured me over and over (even though I believed her in the beginning) that her table was quiet. She does NOT want to be in trouble! ha!
• She tells me constantly that she has SO MANY friends. I reminded her it was more important to just be a good friend than to worry too much about having lots of friends. 
• She, along with 2 other girls, who had the best behavior, when walking in a line, got picked to feed the class pet, a bunny. She gave the bunny broccoli.
• On her first "lap day" (where they just run laps during recess), she fell down on the track. She said she just laid there until the "doctor" came to get her. She said she could not walk. I wondered if she was being a little dramatic, but I can't see her tell the coach that she refused to walk, so we finally thought maybe the nurse just comes to the playground since the Kindergartners may not know where to go yet. Who knows? But, she kept saying "doctor" instead of "school nurse" and Atticus could not get past this. He corrected her every time. Thankfully, she was fine and just ended up with a band aid for her scraped knee.
•  One day, they talked about how many letters they had in their name. She was SO proud to tell me that only she and Mrs. McGarr had 5 letters in their names (Becky is her teacher's name).
• They have thought of words that start with letters A thru E. She has come home on those days telling me that she told her class Atticus and Everly started with those letters. AND her teacher included them on their board. I was so proud she spoke up in class!
• This past week, she was starting to come down with a little something and was cranky and tired and she told me she could not go to school the next day, a Friday. She loves school, so I don't think she was trying to get out of it; especially when she cried and cried and told me "Today is a bad day but tomorrow I get a tray (at lunch) and get to go to the library so it will be a good day. (side note: lots of tears and wailing during this conversation). But, it's just a hard life!!! You woke me up so early and I had just gone to sleep. Why do you have to wake me up so early?" So, clearly her exhaustion was really allowing her thoughts to make sense. But, my favorite part was "it's a hard life!". Really, Grace? :)
• Just this past Friday, I let the kids get pizza in the lunch line. I have sent their lunches everyday so far, and even made them every night before bed! (way to go me!). And since Grace is so picky, I do not expect her to want to go through the lunch line much, but she was SO excited to "get a tray".  However, when I picked her up that day, while she liked her lunch, the funniest thing she said was that "the room where you get your trays smells like plastic". I know the exact smells he is talking about, so I just laughed!
• Other fun things she has talked about are: learning the National Anthem and "even if you don't know the words, you can just stand with your hand on your heart"; she loves her class promises (be a good friend, follow directions, keep hands to herself, and listen) and her morning song called Good Morning Neighbor ("Hello Neighbor, what do you say? It's going to be a happy day; greet your neighbor, boogie on down, jump, jump, jump, jump, all around.") She said everyone hops for that last part, but she just does her ballerina moves. :) 
• Also, in Kindergarten, they do "King or Queen of the Day" and she has been waiting and waiting to have her name drawn for Queen of the Day. This means that they tell the class about themselves (by a bag of things they had to bring to school), wear a crown, get to be the line leader all day, and the whole class draws pictures of them. She has come home each day with information about whoever is King or Queen each day. She just can't wait to be the Queen! And, I am just so surprised because being the center of attention is NOT what Grace usually wants to be.
• One last thing - one day, when GG was still here, she was talking about school and told GG that she doesn't really talk at school so she just has to do her talking at home. I totally believe that because she never stops talking at home, but in preschool she was very quiet and while she is having fun in Kindergarten, I expect that she is still nice and quiet. I am curious to find out more when I see her teacher for the 6 week teacher meeting.
• I just love all of these little things and know how fast the year goes! So, I'll jot down when I think about it!

Things Atticus told us:

•  On the first day of school, Atticus had much less to say. In fact, of everything we asked him, ALL he could tell us was that they talked about rules. Rules in PE, Rules in class, Rules at lunch, Rules at CAMP, Rules, Rules Rules. He was being so funny about it - he would answer our questions seriously and with no enthusiasm as he just told us, with a defeated attitude, that they talked about rules. hahaha!
• He did tell us that Mrs. Parker was the computer teacher last year and this year she was the other PE coach. He said he and Lance (who, ironically is a 2nd grader in his class, but also Mrs. McGarr's son), drove her crazy and told her the Razorbacks were terrible (apparently, that is her favorite team).
• When I asked him what his favorite part of the day was, he said it had to be recess because that was the only thing they did besides talk about rules. 
• He also said in PE, they played the quiet game. However, I know they actually played Noodle Tag like Grace.
• He said the only other thing they did was draw a picture and his was of Sonic and ice cream.
• He said overall, it was a normal school day but just had lots of rules. 
• He said Mrs. Haas told them, "Come back tomorrow for more rules!" (of course she didn't say that!)
• And when I asked him if he likes 2nd grade, he responded "not the kind of 2nd grade where we do rules" and then he asked "are we done here or not?"
• We were so amused by this hilarious rendition of the first day versus Grace's. We knew Atticus was playing up the "only rules" thing, but it was just so funny!

A few other things throughout the last 3 weeks:

• One day, he came home from school and was clearly, in a silly (but acting serious) mood. He told us that nobody wanted to play with him on the playground, so he played with an ant. The ant was his best friend and he played with him with a stick. But, then the ant bit him and he had to drop a rock on it's head and it died. He acted totally serious.
• However, later, this story made Grace laugh when a couple of weeks down the road, she said she didn't really have anyone to play with on the playground one day (this was also her "life is hard" day) and he reminded her to just play with an ant because they will be your best friend until they bite you and you have to drop a rock on their head. Such an encouraging big brother! She laughed and laughed.
• One day, he came home and told me he learned in a book that in Vietnam, you can order up a live, beating heart from a snake, from a restaurant! Gross! But, later I looked it up and he was right - that's a real thing they do in Vietnam.
• He also has two top loose teeth and he told me that he went to school and had 4th graders punch him just to see if they would fall out. But, they didn't.  Oh Atticus! Something tells me that just isn't true.
• His favorite subject is ELA (English Language Arts)
• He loves to tell me when someone talks about his sisters. Mrs. McGuire will ask him about Hazel and I think it's so sweet. He told me he talks to the other kids about his little sisters too.
• One day, Grace was so excited, because Atticus saw her in the hallway and gave her a big hug. I mean - she was so proud. And I was so proud of Atticus for showing her love this way. I tell him all the time, but she looks up to him so much.
• Also, in the mornings, I am proud of him because he walks with her into school. They changed some rules about Morning Assembly, so I have been just dropping them off in the car line. She looks so tiny walking side by side with him, but I love that he doesn't just up and run ahead of her. Oh I love him so much! 

I bet there will be many school funnies to come!

First Day of School 2018!

The 2018 school year for Atticus and Grace began with their Meet the Teacher / Parent Orientation nights the week before school started. Atticus thought this was no big deal, of course, and we found out his home room teacher was Mrs. Haas, but he would go to Mrs. McGuire for English Language Arts every day for two hours. So, he really has two academic teachers. It was a good night because Greer was also in his class!

Grace's Meet the Teacher was the following night and she was much more timid. Each night, all of the kids went into a room to watch a movie, for about 30 minutes. This let the parents go to Parent Orientation in the cafeteria. Grace did not want me to leave her and I hated leaving that room knowing she was a little scared. But, after orientation, we went down to the Kindergarten hallway and found out her teacher would be Mrs. McGarr. Right away, I felt like Mrs. McGarr was the perfect match for Grace. She got right down on her level and talked to her and was so excited and animated and even though Grace was glued to us and wouldn't talk, I was feeling so good about her teacher. After we walked in the door, we checked out things all around the room and Grace was much happier when we left. It's a big transition to go into Kindergarten, so I was prepared for Grace to be hesitant. I was just really praying that the first day would go well and she wouldn't have any tears.

 This was the reading corner - Grace really liked it!

 Here she is spinning around - so clearly, she perked up before we left.

 And here is Grace with Mrs. McGarr. Notice that her puppy had to go with us on this night also. 

As the week went on, Grace was nothing but excited for her big day. Atticus was half excited/half not excited to start school again. He loves school, but he didn't want summer (and playing with legos 24/7 to end). The night before, we read some back to school books and put the Ready Confetti (that her teacher gave her) under her pillow and they went right to sleep! School began the next day, August 21.

 The kids said goodbye to GG and Hazel (Everly was sleeping).

 

 I love cute backpacks. Grace picked ballerinas and Atticus picked MLB mascots this year.

 

 

 Atticus was an easy drop-off. We didn't even walk in the room with him. Next, we walked Grace in and she hesitated at the door, but we quickly started distracted her with putting her backpack away and getting her sat at her table. She was happy and smiling and it really helped that she immediately had colors and a coloring sheet (her favorite). We walked out the door and looked back and she was happily coloring with no tears or even watching us leave. Whew!

 Our third year of school drop-offs in the books!

 Sadly, this was also Vic's first day back to work after two weeks off with us for Hazel's arrival. So, off I sent them all! I was excited to hear about everyone's first day!

Letters To Santa, Santa's Wonderland, Other Memories

We had lots of fun in December; here are few other things we did!

 

 Baked Christmas cookies!

 Had dinner in Downtown Bryan and watched the Lighted Christmas Parade!

Had a fun visit from the Pilarczyks (Chris, Lindsey, Peyton and Piper)!

 Grace's dictated letter to Santa. And it includes Everly a well.

 And Atticus also wrote his letter.

 We hit up Santa's Wonderland!

It really is an impressive light setup!

 We ate s'mores there too!

 And we rode on the train! Grace wanted to do this little train so much and we waited in line for 30 minutes for it. She was so excited, but so sad when the 8 minute ride was over. Poor Grace!

 We hit up our neighborhood Christmas party, looking cute!

 And Atticus had the BEST time at school in December. They had a kindness elf (which meant Atticus wrote me the sweetest little notes every day!), dress up days (grinch, pajama, santa, rudolph), and lots of fun at his party!

 Even Vic dresses festive, thanks to GG's annual Christmas pajama present!

 And we made lots of cookies for Santa!

Reading with Daddy! This was actually an SEC mascot book that Dionis and Glenn sent Atticus; it was the PERFECT book for him! They got it when they were in Georgia visiting their son, Drew, who attends Georgia.

 Daddy makes great hot chocolate!

 Vic took the big kids one night to Central Park to look at lights!

THis winter was so much colder than in the past. Steve and Janice bought the kids carhart jackets last year I was so sad they didn't get to wear them much. But, this year, they really got good use out of them!
It was a great month!!