First Day of School

Here is the first day of First Grade for Kate and the first day of Kindergarten for Jack!  I sort of thought I'd be emotional, but I never cried when either of them left.  I think it's because I'm excited for them and the new adventures they'll have.  How can I be sad about that???  In fact, my kids have never cried when I left them at preschool or with family or babysitters.  Part of me is a little sad when they don't care if I stay or go, but the majority of me is super impressed at their ability to cope with new things.  I know that they feel safe and secure in their surroundings, otherwise they wouldn't be able to do that.  That ability has really made them thrive in school and learning.  Kate is in the Gifted and Talented program this year and I received a phone call from Jack's teacher informing me that he has been singled out for his reading ability and will be in a group by himself because he's so far ahead of the others.  I couldn't be more proud of them!  I don't care if they're ahead of the crowd or not.  What I care about is whether or not they're happy.  I see the utter joy and excitement when they are recognized for their good behavior and skills in areas that the others are just learning.  If that makes them happy, then I'm happy too!

(Some of these pictures look kind of weird...we had a disposable camera that needed to be used up.  Unfortunately in doing so, it nearly destroyed our memories!  This was my best attempt at salvaging them.)

Jack was just a little excited!

The big first grader is eager to show of her expertise in elementary school routines to the younger kids!  Only a few days before, Kate asked Jack if "it was hard being little"...LOL  They're only 21 months apart!

Kate, Jack and the neighbor girl, Sydney eagerly await for the bus.

They can see the bus at the next stop...how exciting!!!

Jack can barely contain himself!

Oh thank goodness!  It's finally here!

Sydney gets a kiss from her mom and my kids never even looked back at me! LOL 

They're going...going...

Gone!  

Great job getting on the bus for the first time Jack!  Thanks for helping him find his way at school Kate!  You're a great big sister.

On the return trip home, Jack did a classic move by leaving his backpack on the bus!  The following day he forgot his sweatshirt at school.  I have a feeling this boy will cost me a LOT this year!!!

Disney World

We had such a blast at Disney World!  We made a lot of memories despite Tropical Storm Fey!  We can't wait to go back!

Random Pictures of Our Trip

Such tourist these two!

Ain't she sweet???

To the moon!

Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!

Hard at work building legos.

Where's Waldo...I mean the Boersma's???  I always thought we had an uncanny resemblance to Lego people.

This is Jack's next project...he'll be done when he's 50!

Ohhhhh...Daddy's not feeling so well here.  He got a case of the shakes midway through our trip, but insisted on joining the family everyday.  What a trooper!

Tropical Storm Fey

Hang on kids, Mom needs to grab a picture before you blow away!

They get their style from their mother.

She's still smiling even though we could wring her out like a wet sock!

They're so goofy...no pun intended!!!

Princesses and Characters and Kiddos...oh my!!!

Josh didn't think that Jack would be interested in the Princess dinner or getting his picture taken with any of them.  Turns out he was probably more excited than Kate to cozy up with these babes!!!  What a dude.

Cinderella's Castle

Oh, and what-do-you-know, there's Cinderella!

Before we left to Disney, the kids said that the Playhouse Disney characters were "too babyish" for them.  I had to disagree since I still catch them watching the TV entranced watching Yo Gaba Gaba and Teletubbies!  I decided to stick with my decision to go there...

...once Jack joined the Conga line...

...and Kate started her "Elaine Benes" moves (Seinfeld reference), I knew I made the right choice!

It turns out that Disney can be not only FUN, but educational too!!  Josh learned the difference between Chip & Dale.  He never realized that they have two different noses!  I told him Chip is a "normal" chipmunk and therefore has a small, normal, black nose.  Dale on the other hand is goofy (no pun intended) and has an oversize red nose...unfortunately, Dale does not get the same publicity or notoriety that Rudolph gets.  What's up with that?!

It wasn't clear whether Josh or Jack was more impressed with this Jasmine's...***cough...cough...wink...wink*** ..."set up"!  "Can we get a drool cloth over here!!!"  Boys will be boys...(sigh).

Kate lost her second tooth at Disney.  It turns out that Tinkerbell is the tooth fairy there and left her a pair of Minnie Mouse ears and $1...I guess dreams really do come true!

 And Jack just wouldn't be Jack without picking on Daddy!