First Day of Preschool

Grace and Henry both had their first day of preschool yesterday, Grace in the 3 year old class and Henry in the 2 year old class.  This is Henry's first experience with any preschool or day care, etc. so I wasn't sure how he would do.  He still cries most of the time when we drop him off at church nursery, but for school, he was excited to be just like his big brother and sister.  For the 2's they have "gradual entry" so they only go for a couple hours the first couple days, and don't eat lunch there like they normally will.  But he was so broken hearted, balling his eyes out, to not be able to take his lunch like Grace on the first day, that I just ended up packing his lunch box and sending it with him, telling his teacher I realize they aren't eating lunch today but can he please carry lunch box in the classroom and set  it on the shelf like he saw his sister do...she happily agreed, and that was it, he had a great start!  He walked right in the classroom , without hesitation, or even a goodbye to me :-( , and never had a single tear!  When I picked him up he came running to me, super excited, telling me he had "snack AND went on the playground!"  Grace, for her part, had a fabulous first day as well.  She loves school and has been waiting all summer long for it to start back up!  She was beaming with excitement when I picked her up, she had so much fun at school.  Her teacher again said she likes to be a helper in the classroom.  She was super sweet with Henry (as you can see in the above pic) encouraging him and telling him how great school is.  No doubt, she had a huge influence on his great start to school.

In front of school, getting ready to enter for the first day.

First Day of Kindergarten

Nicholas started kindergarten this week at Queen of Angels Catholic School!!!!!  What an exciting week!   We feel so blessed to have him attending such a great school and thrilled that he is LOVING school these first few days!  May God bless you this year Nicholas...may you thrive in every possible way at school!  We are so proud of you, our big school kid!

Getting ready to enter school on the first day

Hanging his bag in his cubby

Ready to for a great day

One of his teachers welcoming him

Friends welcoming him

Happy Birthday Nicholas!!!

This year, for Nicholas' 6th birthday, we took him and his friend Nick to Legoland Atlanta for the first time.  They had a blast!  We spent all morning there riding the rides, viewing the impressive Lego displays, building Lego cars and racing them down ramps, climbing in the Lego maze,  practicing Ninja moves in the Ninjaga laser tunnel, and watching a Lego movie.  We went out to lunch, complete with a milkshake, and then went home for a little family party.  For his birthday dinner, Nicholas requested a "snack dinner that includes goldfish, pepperjack cheese and crackers, red, yellow and orange peppers, carrot sticks,  and Mom's spinach salad."  I made a Lego cake and Shawn made homemade mint chocolate chip ice cream for dessert.  What a great day to celebrate a wonderful son!!!!

Here we are learning how Legos are made

Nicholas and Nick riding the castle ride

The city of Atlanta was built out of Legos...very impressive!

The magician ride

Trying out the cars they built on the race ramp

Henry (never to be left out) even raced his little car

Vroom.... on the Lego motorcycle

Climbing in the maze

Building with giant Legos

Preparing to ride and crash into a Lego tower

Boom....

Henry loved this Lego giraffe

Building the perfect race car

Watching the 4D Lego movie

Pretty cool :-)

A new scooter for his birthday

A Lego Space Shuttle!!!!

What a great Lego birthday!

Nicholas turns 6 Years Old!

Dear Nicholas,

Wow, we cannot believe you are 6 years old already!  In the past year we have thoroughly enjoyed watching to grow and mature tremendously!  Not only have you grown a lot taller, but you've matured in your relationships with friends, your siblings and have become quite a little gentleman. (you continue to remind me very much of your Daddy in so many ways!)  You have become a very strong reader, and you've developed a deep interest in both faith/religion and science.  You continue to ask many questions daily and tell us how much you love to learn.  Some of your favorite things to do include building with any blocks but especially Legos, reading Bible stories with Daddy, playing "stunt ball" ( a game you invented) with Grace and Henry, and digging in the sandbox or dirt.  You also really enjoy coloring, drawing, arts and crafts, and riding your scooter.  This year you've learned how to swim well, tie your shoe, and shower yourself.  You still play well on your own, but you now prefer to play with friends, especially Grace, your best friend.  As your parents, we could not be more proud of you!  We love you from the bottom of our hearts now, and forever!  Happy birthday sweetheart!

Love,

Mommy and Daddy



HERE ARE A LIST OF NICHOLAS' FAVORITES AT AGE 6:

Favorite Color - green

Favorite stuffed animal - Patch (stuffed dog he's had from birth)

Favorite food - mint chocolate chip ice cream

Favorite movie or show - Jake and the Neverland Pirates

Favorite clothes to wear - blue UnderArmor shirt with black shorts

Favorite game - I Spy

Favorite snack - fruit nut mix

Favorite animal - dog

Favorite song - Happy Song

Favorite book - Dick and Jane

Closest Friends - Nick, Joey, Michael, Kyle, Caroline E., Caroline S., Mary

Favorite drink - soda

Favorite thing to do outside - play "store" in our playhouse

Favorite thing to do at the park - go down slides

Favorite thing to do inside - build with Legos

Favorite place to go - gymnastics

Favorite fruit - plums

Favorite vegetable - yellow, orange and red peppers, and carrots

What I want to be when I grow up - Astronaut

Summer Fun

 This summer has been full of lots of fun.  From pool parties and park playdates to backyard bubbles and puppet shows, we have kept busy.  Here's a few random photos of some of the things the kids have been up to this summer.

All three love bubble time

We saw two of the Roswell Puppet Series shows this year: The Gingerbread Man, and The Tales of Peter Rabbit.

We visited the spray ground a few times this summer for a fun way to break the heat.

Here's a photo of one of the kids' many dress up playtimes....Grace the princess, Nicholas the Knight, and Henry...well, he dressed himself and was so proud...I just had to take a picture!

Here's the the close up of his outfit... a red riding hood dress that is on backwards and without 1 arm in the sleeve,  a crown on backwards, a wand in one hand and a Star Wars light saber in another...LOL!

Grace and I went to a Off Broadway Kids production of Mulan Jr. that the daughters of our good friends, the Nicolosi's, were in.

Playdate with friends at the spray ground

I overheard Grace ask Nicholas to read to her and he got a few of his easier readers out and read all 3 books to her...it was sooo sweet!

Playground fun

We picked fresh blueberries....4 whole lbs worth!

They all caught on quickly, even Henry, on only picking the ripe ones.

Henry also caught only quickly that he could eat about as much as he picked....our own "Little Sal."

MMMM...