Jamestown Open House

Today we had the open house at the kids' school.  Emmy and Aoife got to see their new teachers and Declan got to see his Montessori teacher - although he has the same teacher as last year.  Emmy is going to be in 5th grade this year and has Ms. Monfasani and Aoife is in 3rd with Ms. Manchester and Ms. Pike.  Declan will be doing his Montessori Kindergarten year with David which will be followed up by traditional Kindergarten next year.

It is hard to believe how fast three years here in Virginia has gone. Everyone is getting so big so quickly.  I have to say that I am a little sad for the summer to end this year.  It's been tough balancing work and having the kids home.  I didn't get as much work done as I should have and I didn't get to do as much fun stuff with the kids as I would have liked to.  I guess I just have to get used to the reality of never really being as good as I'd like at any one thing. After all - it is much better to have all of these wonderful things - even if nothing is perfect!
Open house 2014
Open House 2015 
Open House 2016

Aoife and her teachers:

 Emmy and her teacher:

 Declan and his teacher:

 Playing on the playground:

First Day of School 2015

 So today was a big day!!!  The first day of school and the first time in 3 years that the kids weren't starting in a new school.  They were so excited that they would know people in their classes and that they would have friends in other classes that they would see at recess!  Oh the things that most people take for granted!!!
Aidan is in 5th grade this year and that means that he gets to be a bus patrol.  It's a very sought after 5th grade job and he even went to a week of police camp to get ready.  He is also very happy with his new teacher and with the kids in his class.  He has a new mix of kids and it will be great to give him an opportunity to become closer with some other people!
Emmy is in 3rd grade and has a great teacher as well. She is lucky to have some friends from her class last year, friends from church and friends from lacrosse in her new class.  She loves that they will be studying Spanish this year and that art and music have been increased to three times a week!
Aoife is in 1st grade and so far the most awesome thing is that she gets to take three books out of the library at a time instead of just two - like in Kindergarten!  She seems to love her teacher and is having fun with new friends.  She loves to see her Kindergarten friends on the playground but seems busy making new friends in class as well.
I think that this year is going to be great.  They deserve it - they've put up with a lot already.  Having a little stability for a few years will be so good for them!

First Day 2014
First Day 2013
First Day 2012
First Day 2011
First Day 2010 
First Day 2009

Here are some pictures of them coming off of the bus - all smiles and hugs for Declan!!

School Orientation!

 It has been sooooooo hard to wait for today!  The kids had no idea who their teachers would be or who would be in their classes until we got to school this afternoon for orientation.  We have had some anxious kids around the house for the past few days and this morning was no exception!  Luckily everything turned out fantastic - or so it seems!  Everyone's teachers seem soooooo great and everyone has a good friend (or a few good friends in Emmy's case) in their class.  Both Aidan and Aoife have enough kids from other classes that it should give them some good opportunities to meet more kids.  Emmy has a bunch of girls from other classes but she already knows most of them from either church or lacrosse.  I'm really happy for them - this is the first time in 3 years that they have spent more than one year in a school.  To actually know lots of kids before school even starts seems like such a luxury!!  Emmy hasn't known kids on the first day since she was in Kindergarten, Aoife has NEVER known anyone on the first day and it's been since 2nd grade for Aidan - pretty much no one can really remember feeling comfortable at school on the first day.  Makes me so happy that they are confident and really looking forward to Tuesday!!!

Aidan and his 5th grade teacher:

 Emmy found her locker!

 Emmy and her 3rd Grade teacher

 Aoife and her 1st grade teacher

Declan's First Day of Preschool

 Today was Declan's first day of school at St. Charles Borromeo Preschool and he LOVED it!!  He was so excited last night that he could barely get to sleep and today he woke up ready to go.  He ate a few bites of French Toast and some yogurt and wanted to get his backpack and get in the car.  What a sweet little boy!  He's been waiting forever to go to school.  He's watched the big kids go to school for his whole life and he finally got to go and play on the playground, paint, sing songs, read book and have his own cubby.  This is one happy camper and he can't wait to go back on Friday!!

He seems so much older than the others when they started school - I guess he is about 6 months older and that does make a big difference at this age!  Here are Aidan, Emmy and Aoife's first day of preschool!

Declan's Preschool Orientation

The day that we have been waiting for ALL SUMMER has finally arrived!  Declan visited his classroom and met his teacher and some of his classmates today.  This may actually have been the best day in Declan's life so far, although I'll bet that in 2 days he'll have the best day of his life again when he actually gets to stay at school without me! 
He is so ready for school and I'm so excited for him!  He needs friends his age - we have a few from Stroller Strong but Declan is a guy who wants a pack of friends.  He is happiest in a big crowd - I guess that's what you get for being the youngest of four!!  We cannot WAIT until Wednesday when he has his actual first day!!

Getting Ready for School!

 Today I took the girls for back to school haircuts and a surprise pedicure!  They were sooooo excited!  I have never seen such wide smiles - and for the entire hour that we sat in the pedicure chair!  They are so sweet and adorable.  I am so glad that we get to do such fun girlie stuff together!!