First Day of School 2011

Back to school is always bittersweet for me, while I am usually ready to surrender the demons to the school authorities, I also miss the freedom summer brings.  It was also made very evident how helpful the kids were with Savannah when they were home all day.

Zach started 2nd grade this year. He has an amazing teacher, Mr. Burnett, who has a lot of experience dealing with kids who struggle in one way or another.  We thought Zach may need extra help both academically and behaviorally, but it turns out that he is doing exceptionally well in both areas. His teacher continues to assure me that Zach behaves wonderfully in class.  Zach tends to be wild and crazy at home, so one day I asked why he is so good at school, but a wild man at home. His response, "I hold it all in at school, so I have to let it all out at home!"

I guess I'd rather him be really good at school and crazy at home than the other way around.

Lydia started 4th grade this year.  She has the same teacher Abbie (Abby has decided to spell her name with an ie this year) had last year, Mrs. Johnson, whom we love.  Mrs. Johnson noticed right away the difference in personality between Abbie and Lydia.  She noted how Lydia is more sensitive than Abbie, in fact she said, "If someone was bothering Abbie, she would tell them to shove it, but you can tell Lydia gets upset."

It is funny how these are the things I love most about each of them and they are so different. Lydia's sensitivity and Abbie's self-confidence (a nicer way of saying selfishness).

Abbie with glasses  

 Abbie without glasses

Abbie is in 5th grade this year.  She is in a 5th/6th grade class.  We were really apprehensive about this at first, but Abbie has made some new friends who are 6th graders because of this, and so far it is working well.  I often thought Abbie would do better a grade level up, since she is usually the oldest in her class.  She has Mrs. Brown as a teacher and I love how organized and structured she is.  I think that is the only way a split class can be successful.

Getting on the bus. I love that the bus stop is right in front of our house.



Austin is a 9th grader at Sand Ridge Jr. High.  He is a smart student.  I would like to say he is a good student, but the headaches of missing assignments prevents me from saying that.  He almost always receives 100% on all turned in assignments and tests, but somehow he misses an assignment here and there.  He always seems to pull off honor roll grades in the end, so I am grateful and proud of him for that.  He is a really good kid and makes good choices most of the time.