Hello Summer!

We wasted no time with First Grade ending to getting on the road to start our summer vacation!  Jackson had a great year in First Grade with Mrs. Chapman :)

We picked Jackson up just a smidge early from school on the last day and headed for Evanston!  We were in a bit of a hurry to get there, because Larry, Michelle, and Madelyn were already there for a wedding!  We wanted to hang out with them as much as possible over the weekend while they were in town.

 Larry and me in our matching "Gilmore Girls" tshirts under the Northwestern Arch :)

We got to babysit Madelyn while Larry and Michelle went to the wedding they were in town for, walk around Northwestern's pretty campus (and grab some caches while we were there), eat at Herm's and some other fun spots, visit the Custer Street fair with the three cousins which was always one of my favorite things to do to start summer, play at the playground and celebrate Father's Day with three AWESOME dads!!! 

April in 1st Grade and Pre School

Today started a special Spirit Week leading up to a pep rally on Friday to kick off SOL testing. This weekend was bananas, so I didn't have time to prepare anything for "Dress Like a Scientist" Day. I didn't say anything about it, but the first thing he said when he came through the door after school was, "Today was Dress Like a Scientist Day!" I looked at him and smiled apologetically, but before I could even apologize, he said, "It's ok! A paleontologist is a scientist, and I'm dressed like one because they were short pants with pockets and t-shirts because they're usually in places where it's hot!" He was so pleased with himself, and that made this mama's heart happy

Jackson looks WAY happier about Mis-Match Day than I was... LOL

Our favorite day was Friday: Dress Like a Book Character Day!

Jackson dressed as Flat Jackson!

We have had our friend, Flat Jonah, with us for a while, so it was perfect to pose with him too!

Teddy Bear Day at preschool!

Snack time with our bears!  So glad I got to work this day :)

The first week of May is Teacher Appreciation Week!  The organizers of the fun week came up with a super awesome idea to decorate the classroom doors to match the theme of "Thanks for helping us grow!"  I had some really awesome helpers come decorate the First Grade doors!

Our kiddo helpers!  The teachers LOVED their doors and the whole week :)  It's been a busy and fun start to Spring...

Pattie Field Day!!!

WOWZERS!  This was our second Field Day at Pattie, and it was SO FUN!!!  Last year, the Kindergarten and First Grade students had their events set up at Little Pattie, but this year, all of the students completed the activities at Big Pattie.  That was super fun in itself for the younger kids :)  There was some great signage to help point volunteers in the right direction!  I didn't sign-up to volunteer for this one since I had Graham with me...I wasn't sure how much I'd be able to focus and direct children...

A very helpful map of what event was where

Trying to wait patiently for all five First Grades to line up to begin the Fun Run!

Fun Running!

Each student had a tag hanging from their neck with 20 spots ready for hole-punching--after completing each station, the kiddos got a punch on the corresponding number.  They were allowed to go in any order they pleased, so this helped them keep track of what events they already had tried.  SO FUN!

Jackson and his buddy David all ready to go!  They hit up the Popsicle station pretty early ;)

The Hamster Wheel--rolling around in huge cardboard boxes!

Sack Race

Obstacle Course

Working on a puzzle of sorts with washers and screws

Bottle Toss

I think this was my favorite cooperative activity: the boys each had a piece of gutter, and there was one ball.  They took turns one going in front of the other as they slowly moved the ball from gutter to gutter

Flipping Chickens

Tire Pull

This was such a fun afternoon!  Again, we lucked out with a beautiful day!  I continue to be so thankful the staff plans Pattie's Field Day for a bit earlier in the Spring.  Lots of schools wait until the last week or two of school, and it is just SO hot by then!  Mrs. Wagner and Mr. Houston, the awesome P.E. teachers, really hosted an impressive day :)

Pattie Ice Cream Social!

Ice Cream and Books are two of my favorite things!!!  Naturally, one of my favorite events at Pattie is the Ice Cream Social that coincides with the Book Fair!  Teresa and I organized this event in the Fall, and even though it went really great, we were anxious to try a few things differently in the Spring...

We were especially proud of how we revolutionized the ice cream scooping and toppings areas.  In the Fall, there was one long row of ice cream and then toppings.  The line got really backed up several times because of how much longer it takes to choose and serve toppings.  This time, the ice cream scoopers were at the yellow and pink table in the front, but then the line split on either side of those tables and we had TWO sides of toppings going!  The helpers stood in the middle (inside) of the back tables and those needing toppings went on either of the outsides.  It went SO much better!

Toppings all divvied up and ready to go!  

Decorations :)

Lots of room for families to enjoy their treats!

Two ice cream and book loving friends :)

These two were such good sports!  They came on the early side for their treats and hung out until it was time for them to take Jackson to soccer practice!

We had SUCH a beautiful Spring day!  Josh mentioned a cache to me that was along this paved trail, so I loaded up the boys and a scooter and a motorcycle to go find it!

The journey to the cache was really fun, and Jackson was a rockstar finding it right away so I didn't have to climb up the rocky area ;)

Good teamwork!

Scootering and motorcycling back to the car

This cache just happened to be near a wonderful ice cream spot: The Frostie Moose!  What a perfect excuse for a treat!