The Ruler entered the school talent show for the second year in a row. She taught her friend Jacy one of the dances she learned in her hip hop class at Paco Dance Academy. They made some changes to the choreography, practiced every day at recess and after even met up to practice after school one day and well...they pretty much killed it!

Or was it the dragon?

Tonight we hit the school carnival. And we all know my peeps never miss their chance to cheese it up for the camera.

Today was International Walk to School Day. We joined lots of students, parents and teachers on a gorgeous morning to walk from City Hall to the school.

This was a monumental occasion for me. I love to walk home from school but I rise early enough to walk TO school only once a year. It was fun and all but, Juan Valdez himself couldn't grow enough coffee to get me to do that on a regular basis.

They're officially first and second graders and I'm officially in denial.

Poor Lucee was in tears after school. One of her friends is moving today. I was hugging on her, asked if she wanted to listen to some music and told her that music sometimes helps me feel better. She said, "Mommy, I think The Ting Tings will help me feel better."

All of a sudden letter sounds are really starting to click with The Lu. She's become quite the little spelling machine. Today she brought home a paper with rhyming pictures so and we sat down to try to spell each of the words.

She's really on a roll.

Vest.
Nest.
Bell.
Shell.
Mop.
Top.
Shit.

Shit???

I truly hope our girls know just how lucky they are. Their daddy made
the Watch D.O.G.S. Wall of Fame at school for his participation this
year.

Growing up I could only dream of having a dad like theirs. He loves
them whole-heartedly and unconditionally and would do anything for
them. Anything.

Thank you, Chris for being more than I ever dreamed of.

The Lu came home with a school project this week. She had a print out of a turkey and she needed to disguise it as another animal or character so it would receive a Thanksgiving pardon.

When Roo said that someone in her kindergarten class disguised their turkey as Barack Obama Lu had the idea to disguise hers as the school principal.

We're hoping for a kindergarten pardon. If not, we'll have to ask for leniency in sentencing.

To this day I still remember my very first teacher. Her name was Mrs. Apple and all the kids in my class thought it was funny to take her oranges. Yeah, we were cool. Or not. But twenty eight years later I still remember Mrs. Apple and can honestly say I still consider her to be one of my favorite teachers.

We've been so blessed with the teachers our girls have had. Miss Cheri was Lucee's Pre-K teacher and I have a very strong feeling she will always be one of Lu's favorites. It's a scary thing to hand your child over to someone else in an environment you don't control, but each day we felt like Lu came home a better person than she was when we dropped her off. Not just smarter, but a better person. She bonded with Miss Cheri and blossomed under her care and we will always be grateful for her and her gift for teaching.

At the end of the school year each of the kids received a clipboard decorated with ribbons and photos from the school year. On the back of each board Miss Cheri wrote what she believed was each child's Christian character trait and this is what she wrote about our Lu.

"Lucee's Christian character trait is friendliness. Even when her friends repeatedly pester her with questions, Lucee responds with kindness. Proverbs 17:17 says, 'A friend loves at all times' and Lucee truly does."

Miss Cheri not only taught Lucee, but she truly knew her and cared for her. Now before I start to cry here's the picture we snapped on the last day of school. And yes, I cried like a baby. A big, ridiculous, sappy baby.

I love seeing my kids make friends and learn how to be a friend. It didn't take long for Lula and Bryson to buddy up at preschool. We had a playdate at Bryson's house and I think it's safe to say the kids had a blast. How funny are they???

For once in my life, I'm almost speechless. This came home in Roo's backpack today.



It says: My mom is super nis (nice) and pide (pretty) to. My mom is loveabla (loveable) and she will tace (take) me to the cornabl (carnival) she wil love me forevr. I love you mom.

Rilee, I am so overwhelmed by the love in your heart. You are more sensitive and thoughtful than most adults I know. I'm so proud of who you are and I'm so lucky to be your mommy. You fill my days with smiles and my heart with joy. I love you, too.

xoxox,
Mom

It's Wacky Wednesday at school and my girl Lula got herself all whacked out. (Not that this is any different from how she dresses every other day of the week....)

Roo's homework for the day was to write a list of three things that are cold. After writing the word "snow" she turned to me for help and I suggested she think of things that might be found in our refrigerator.

ROO: Mom, can you help me spell beer?

ME: I would if I knew what that was, sweetie. Go ask your Daddy.

We picked The Lu up from her first day of preschool and Roo had a few questions for her.

ROO: How many girls are in your class?

LU: Five.

ROO: How many boys are in your class?

LU: Five.

ROO: Are any of the boys nice enough that you might marry one of them?

LU: Sam is nice, but I'll probably marry Garrett Bull.

The girls spent the night at Grandma and Grandpa's tonight. I called to say goodnight and while I was on the phone with Grandma the following conversation took place.

GRANDMA: So, did you guys end up going to Paul's graduation?

ME: No. Rilee had her end of the season soccer party that day.

GRANDMA: Well, that graduation wouldn't have been any fun for the girls anyway.

ROO (in background): And my little graduation was NOT. FUN. EITHER.

GRANDMA: Why not, Roo?

ROO: Because I had to pee.

(I totally forgot to blog that fifteen minutes into her Pre-K graduation Roo began the world's best pee pee dance. She made it through two and a half songs, all the while attempting hand signals and mouthing to me in the crowd to tell me that she had to pee. I crouched down and headed up the aisle to ask Miss Cindy if there was a break in the ceremony anytime soon when she told me there were two more songs that would be followed by a little break. I silently asked Roo if she could hold it, to which she mouthed a giant YES. Less than twenty seconds later she came darting off the stage. The whites of her eyes were practically yellow. Poor kid had to go so bad. We raced to the bathroom only missing the last half of that song and a few seconds of the next. We've never flushed and washed so fast in all our lives. She raced back up the aisle, joined her friends, gave me a BIG ol' wink and a nod and got right back to singing with her friends. That's my girl. When you gotta go...you gotta go!)

Rilee to her teacher on the first day back from Spring Break: "Miss Cindy, being a teacher must be really hard. You need to take a break. I'll teach the class."

It's a tough job, but somebody's gotta do it.

I was sorting through the huge mound of papers, paintings and drawings the girls have brought home since they started school in September when I found this.

The first note from Roo's first teacher. This came a few weeks before she started school.


And the most recent note she got. This kid loves school, but what I think she loves most about it is actually Miss Cindy herself.