First Day of MDO for MW

Last Tuesday it was Micah's turn to go to "school."
To say he was a little excited is an understatement. Just watch the video clip below to see.


IMG 3813 from Michele Keethler on Vimeo.

This kid is so full of life, it is contagious. He has been begging and begging to go to school for a year now. I was never one for Mom's Day Out and Lo certainly never went, but he wants to go. I tried to talk him out of it, but there was no changing his mind. Every morning he asks if it is MDO day.

I will say it is kind of nice to have 4 hours to get things done or just let the voices in my head talk to one another without being constantly interrupted by a need to be fed, wiped, helped, dressed and so on.

He was so excited to pick out his lunch box and he loves that they go swimming every time. I am glad he loves it and I am glad it is flexible. If it stops being fun or life gets in the way then we stop for a month or two and start back up later.

I am a strong believer in just letting kids be kids. I don't do pre-K, simply because they have their whole lives to be in school, so why start at 3. MDO seems like a happy medium. Only one day/week full of mostly fun and play with just a bit of learning tossed in = perfection.

Here is his chalkboard print. I love that he wants to be a Helicopter Driver. :)

FREEDOM!!

I am going to miss my little buddy though. I am trying to soak up this last year with just him at home all day. I miss Lo, but she had my full attention for two years pre MW and now it's his turn to get all my focus.

The things he says to me. For the record I wasn't sad and didn't cry because it was only one day.

He is incapable of taking a normal picture.

His first craft an Apple for the letter A.

This was from my time hop this past week. I was sort of feeling like a mom failure because MW has zero interest in writing and learning letters. Last year I tried and tried but gave up making him trace letters, one year later he comes running out of his room exclaiming MOM! Look I wrote my name all by myself. {albeit out of order, but hey that is a start!!} I was reminded that not all is lost he will and can learn.

So what did mommy do while MW was gone?

Painted the fireplace. AH!

BEFORE

AFTER

I thought about doing a vlog about this, but maybe when it's all done.

I have been slowly redecorating the living room over the last 6 months. And I have been dying to paint that fireplace for.ev.er. Chad was not on board. And well, something that permenate I needed him to be on board. So I did lots and lots and lots of pintrest-ing and researching on this. I finally wore Chad down with my incessant talk about it. He caved. He really just wanted me to shut up about it. Whatever I will take it. 

Except. Then I couldn't pull the trigger. 

So of course I continued to go on and on about it and lost countless hours of sleep over it.

Finally on the day of MDO I just went for it. I was so freakin nervous. I was having heart palpitations the entire time. 

I kept stepping back thinking dear Lord what am I doing?!!? But there was no turning back. I finished and texted a photo to Chad he said it looked good. I of course then shared the photo to Facebook because where else do you get validation from? HA!

I didn't love it at first. I didn't hate it. But I most certainly wasn't sure I did the right thing.

It took about 24 hours for me to fall in love with it. I think simply because it was such a stark contrast to the original, but now I am so happy I did it. I love it. The room no longer seems like a tomb. 

So there you go what I did on MDO.

Oh, Back To School--Back to School {2015-2016}

Another year is upon us.
Today we thanked God for a fresh start each day and for this new year.
It is rough sending her off. She and MW have been inseperable these last few days. She is just such a joy to have around, so it feels like something is missing this morning.

I cried this morning after I dropped her off, just because of the change. I love watching her grow up, but it doesn't make it easy.  Next year I probably will be a hot mess as MW will head off to school. I am not going to think about that at all.

Here she is our big FIRST GRADER. I pray she is a light for Jesus and a friend to everyone.

Meet the Teacher Night

When we went school shopping we knew she needed a new backpack; however they were all $30 and seemed cheap and poor quality. If I am going to spend $$ on backpack it better last the year +. So I showed her all the Pottery Barn backpacks, she liked them, but then daddy found this pink North Face one and there was no turning back. This backpack will last her until 5th grade at least. HA!

It's nice knowing daddy is right down the hall if she needs something or to keep an eye on her, you know whatever. :) It's comforting. They have quite the special bond because of it.

Her Teacher. She seems so great already. I think Lo is going to love being in her class! Can't be worse than last year with 3 different teachers! Whoa. That was crazy. I am happy as long as she has one teacher that is committed to them.

Unloading our book sack.

TODAY: August 13, 2015 FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
I feel the same way little buddy!

Our annual Back to School photos...crazy how things have changed over the years.

HOME ALONE!!!!

Last year I promised to be on top of things and not get the glossy print...well, screwed that up again. Oh, well. It's the thought that counts.

Taking her lunch to school! Whoa. That is going to be weird to only make lunch for one kid. HA!

Is she 6 or 16?! Stop being so pretty already. :)

BYE Daddy!!!

Good-Bye Buddy I will miss you. These two. 

My Heart.

First Day of School {Pt deux}

August 18th marked the official start of school. In part one you went for just 2 hours and mostly did testing, screening and a school tour. Today however was the first real day with all the Kindergartners and going each day.
Our First day of school outfit.

Finding our cubbie.

Relaxin with some 'dough. MW wishing he could stay and have some.

So proud of our big girl. There were no tears from any of us. Matter of fact she was ready for us to hit it.

MW just wandered around asking if it was his turn to go.

Bro really misses his sass. For the first week and half he was on me like white on rice. I felt like I had a newborn again.  I guess I just never realized between all their sibling "fights" that deep inside she was his best pal. They do everything together. So now it's my turn to be his playmate. We have had fun and now a month later he is really back to doing his own thing and loves not having anyone tell him what he should be doing, thinking, saying, feeling and eating. {God love her but she is BOSS-Y!}

This photo says it all.

Now to help daddy get to his classroom...

So far she is loving Kindergarten. She has never been in a school setting before, but she is catching on quickly. She has had all greens {ready to learn} on her calendar. I have loved seeing her writing improve in such a short time and she is also learning sight words. She even is sort of disappointed when the weekend comes and she can't go. I am sure one day that will change, but for now I am glad she loves it so much and has a passion to learn.

First Day of School {Pt.1}

The time for kindergarten has come. I am in denial. Where did the last 5 years go?!

Leighton has been super excited for Kindergarten, she even made a countdown chain.

Here she is on Meet the Teacher Night.

This was a nice opportunity to meet her teacher, obviously, and drop off her "so heavy" backpack.

Her cubbie!! Ah, she has a cubbie. And I may be overly excited about all these things. I have a school kid now. 

 A classroom hunt.
It took her awhile to find her name on the table. She would walk around see and "L" and stop "reading." I am excited to see what she learns and how quickly. First stop reading her own name. HA!

 Unloading of the loot.

 Today {August 13th 2014}
First quasi day of school.
Today was a stagger start and pre-screen day for some of the kindergartners.
SO EXCITED!! Is it time yet?!

 Daddy running behind as usual. HA!

 I told her now that school is here she must set her alarm, get up, get dressed, make her bed, eat breakfast, brush teeth and get around to go. This morning I was pleasantly surprised to walk in her room and see her room picked up and bed made without reminding her 200x!

I love those chalkboard things, but I don't have artsy handwriting. What I DO have is photoshop and that I am good at. Unfortunately the photo print was glossy. Next year I will do better. ;)

{blocking out the teacher and school name for privacy}

 Some days {and I know I am bias} I think about looking into child modeling. She just has this sparkle. May it never dim!

 Her BFF across the street both embarking on Kindergarten--just in different schools.

 Showing off her stuff.

 When we pulled in. Uber excited...

Daddy forgot his lunch on his first day...so we walked it down, but it made for a good photo op.

 Classroom!

 3 hours went quick and she was full of stories to tell. Showing me her work.

 2013

someone was a tad upset this morning. He really wants to go to school and instead is stuck at home with stinky mommy. I am looking forward though to having some special mommy son time. Now it's his turn get special one on one time like Lo got for 2 years.

Here's to a wonderful school year. I pray she will be a light to all those around her.