School Start ~ Fall 2013

We had a fab summer.  After swim team and our beach trip to Destin, we hung pretty steady in Austin.  Some random camps here and there, lots of pool and playtime.  The children all did a week long overnight camp at T Bar M Sports camp.  Two out of  three want to go back next year.  Sweet Campbell was just too young. She got homesick and doesn't want to go back. She told me that maybe after 4th grade she would consider it again.

The green postcards arrived last Wednesday with the teaching assignments for this school year. The children had been hanging out the front window of the house all day in anticipation of the mailman.  Excitement in the air. I was on a work phone call when the mailman arrived. I had told the kids that I couldn't talk with them while on the phone.  Of course, about 10 minutes into the call, all three kids coming walking in waving their postcards. I told the person on the phone that I had to take care of something and I would return the call in 5 minutes.

Jackpot! Teacher jackpot! No need for Vegas. Everyone was very happy about their teachers.

Today the kids went back to school. Here is the obligatory first day of school picture.

All three were excited to get to school today.  I had been invited to a couple of breakfast get togethers, but instead I stayed in my pj's and work, work, worked.  I've been somewhat neglectful of work and our business is so technology driven these days that I have a lot of questions from professors on how to get the students registered to use said technology.

I was excited to pick up the children from school, but before I did, I went and bought some blank crowns at Michael's.  I spray painted the crowns and bejeweled them with glitter and a few sequins. I put each child's name on their crown and the grade they started today in front and center. 

Everyone came out happy and babbling about all sorts of things about their day. 

Tonight we celebrated the first day of school with spaghetti for dinner and cherry pie for dessert.  We also drank our milk from wine glasses. We are fancy that way. 

Here's to another great year at Spicewood Elementary.

Invitational Swimming

Today was our divisional swim meet.

Before the meet, Conleigh was close to making Invitationals in butterfly.

.4 of a second away.

She wanted it badly.

Yesterday she was kind of in a zone all day. Didn't want to play with anyone...really mellow.

Today was absolutely terrific.

It was just beautiful.

She was seeded third in the event at the meet today.

That was a complete bother to her last night. She was so upset. 

I think her brain had already decided she was seeded 1st. She had won 1st last week and is definitely #1 on our team.

The girl brought it big.  She totally won the event AND qualified for 

the big meet at UT tomorrow.

She is so excited! So am I.

I was so caught up with Conleigh's performance that I missed that Alex also 

qualified for invitationals tomorrow in 25 butterfly. He takes it more in stride like, 

"yes, of course I made it."

Conleigh isn't as competitive and this is one of the first times 

Peter & I have seen her really want to win. 

Tomorrow we head to the UT Natatorium to see their name on the big screen.

Go Sharks!

Go Hardins!

Mom Proud

At the recent school carnival, there was an auction for 'teacher time.' Teacher time is an opportunity for a child and one friend to spend special one - on - one time with their teacher one day after school.

I bid on teacher time for each child. I figured it was a good way to raise money for the school and for the kids to have a good time having ice cream sundaes with their teachers.  I was outbid on every single one.

To my delight, the winner in each of my children's classes chose my kid to be their friend.  I am so thankful that my children are good friends to all classmates. I have to say that two of the three were a surprise to me.  Alex enjoyed his Sundae time last week and Conleigh and Campbell will be going today and tomorrow after school for ice cream and kite flying (I have a feeling that part will be cancelled because it sure looks like rain is on the way).

I am blessed beyond measure.

garage door trauma and cute people...

Instead of showing the glass window in the garage that Peter broke playing basketball this week, 

and instead of showing the new huge dent in the garage door that I did 

the very next day by running into said door with the golf cart,

I'll show you these precious pictures...

Campbell has been wanting to make a pumpkin pie. Thursday after school, we fulfilled that wish.

  

Today was the foam party for 2nd grade boys. It was open for siblings as well. 

What a foamy fun time the children had.

Sadie and Campbell

Bishop, Alex and Matthew.

sudsa fun

Alex and his cottontail

Crazy egg hunt!

Alex has now decided he wants a foam party for his birthday.

Growing Up

Stats on my EIGHT year old.

51 1/2 inches tall

64 pounds

Super sweet to his mama...

...and the feeling is mutual.

Birthday Bash

We celebrated Alex's birthday on Friday at the skating rink.

He invited a lot of friends including these cute girls.

Some kids were pro's and others hadn't skated before.

I think a fun time was had by all.

Zach, Grant, Cooper, Luke, Alex, Nash, Matthew and Hayden

Lifelong friends

At home that evening, Alex opened his gifts. Let's just say he is set on the Lego scene for the next couple of months.  He also got a new Aggie shirt. He was so sweet and thankful for his gifts.

On Saturday, his actual birth day, he played an early soccer game and then hit the road with dad for an overnight Scout trip on the USS Lexington in Corpus Christi. I hear there was a Haunted House onboard, and that the racks were not comfy. I bet he is sleeping soundly this evening.

Happy 8th Birthday to my special boy Alex. I love you!  - Mommy

Brave Boy

Alex has endured the turning of the expander. Now he has endured the pulling of five teeth!  I couldn't believe how brave he was. Usually he is one to hold my hand tight, but they gave him enough sedation that he was barely holding my hand.  First, he got some oral meds, then we watied about an hour for that to kick in. Next gel was put all over his gums and then the shots!  The dentist was great. She didn't mention the word shot and he never knew he'd gotten major shots in his mouth.

Before

After

His teeth look like shark teeth. They were his canine's. Usually these teeth come out when I kid is 10'ish, but his were holding back the new teeth on either side of his front biggies.  I watched the Dr. take them out. Wowza! She said she was surprised I stood there watching. I'm just thankful that Alex was not in any pain.  As the numbness wore off, the boy was not happy!!

We stopped for ice cream and popscicles on the way home, and the day went off without a hitch.

The tooth fairy hit quite a few hitches though.  To put it simply, the tooth fairy should have taken the teeth. She made the unwise decision to leave the 'cool' looking teeth for Alex to keep. She said they were too heavy.  Alex didn't buy it at all. It was not pretty.

What will you be when you grow up?

I'm still trying to answer that question. I really don't know, and I'm 44!  But today, during Education: Go Get It week, my kids easily knew what they want to be when they grow up.   Today we sent a cheerleader to school....

a soccer player....

and a French architect...

I wish I could figure out the answer to this question.

Triathalon Results

She is the champion!

Look who won the Rookie division for girls age 5 & 6 at the Colin's Hope Tri this weekend!

Campbell came in first place out of 25 girls in her group. As our friend said, "she had the eye of the tiger" when she came out of the pool and headed for her bike.  I agree, when she hit the run, she was looking pretty serious. She finished in 6 minutes, 23 seconds. 2nd place was one second after that, and third place was 1 more second after that.  She was so excited to win. She took her trophy to school today.

#10. Ready for the start!

Helmet on and ready to take that Princess bike for a quick spin!

Sprinting to the finish line!

Best Day Ever!!

Alex was in the Juniors group. This year was his third year to attend

Colin's Hope.

Alex and his pre-school buddy Marko. Marko won the rookie division last year and this year his brother, Alek won for the boys Rookie 5&6 year old boys.

Big Smiles bright and early on a Sunday morning.

The weather was iffy all morning and by the time they were ready for Alex's group, it was drizzling with the downpour on the horizon.  They cancelled the cycling part of the race which disappointed Alex. He loves to ride his bike and was really looking forward to that.  Then, as the boys (all 90 of them) were huddled under an awning for way too long, some boys started pushing and shoving. Alex got uncomfortable and decided to call it a day. He didn't participate after all.

Before we went to the car, Alex found the Storm Troopers for a quck photo op.

Only in Austin, a car that is all grass. 
Hey Cupcake!  was also there, so we obliged the kids with a Michael Jackson and a double chocolate before we beat the down pour!

Teacher Drama

Oh boy!

Another school year starts tomorrow.

Conleigh was over the moon last week when the postcards came informing each child who their teacher would be. She had hoped, and hoped for Ms. Bell.  She doesn't really have a reason to share as to why she wants her, but lo' and behold, the heavens sent her her wish!  

She was doing cartwheels in the yard and screaming she was so excited!

Alex, on the other hand, had no clue who his teacher was and said, "I'm over this, " when I tried to explain who she was. However, when we came inside and I told him his bestie is not in his class, he lost it...just a cryin' like crazy.

Campbell was playing at a friends house and isn't worried at all. I told her we could go and see who is in her class, and she said, "oh, I'll just see who is in there on the first day of school."  Peter and I are a little nervous because she got a fresh-off-the-college-graduation-stage teacher. Campbell needs a lot of help in reading and we didn't really want her to have a new teacher. We were reassured that it would be fine through email communication with the principal.

And, the only request I made for Conleigh was that she have the full-time art teacher who everyone loves. She has only had her one time in four years. Well, she didn't get her. I cannot believe it!

Alex doesn't really have any of his close friends in his class. That is okay. He needs to focus on learning but I think I underestimate how he deals with change. The kid has another cold sore. I wonder if it is anxiety related? He will do fine and is totally adaptable and friendly with all classmates.

We got haircuts for everyone yesterday, and they all know what they are wearing on the first day. I love these kids and am excited to see what this school year brings.

** Update **  Campbell's teacher sent home a ~Do not open until Sunday night~ note for the children. We opened it this evening before bedtime and it had *sweet dream confetti* with a nice note about sleeping well so she could have a great day tomorrow and that the teacher is going to do it as well. Campbell completely bought in and is sleeping with confetti under her pillow. Poin: new teacher!

Last Camp of Summer

 Conleigh and Alex went to theatre camp at a church mid-August. They worked six hours each day for five days and the musical on Sunday morning was terrific!

The show was called, The Old Testament Fast Forward

 Conleigh landed the role of stage manager. It was cute. She got to introduce the show and then kept coming on and asking the audience to change the program because things were running long. It was all part of the show, but she had a fun and funny part.

Alex was in the general chorus and also a lion on Noah's ark. They attended with their besties Emma and Hayden. 

I was thorougly impressed with the program and I hope they'll want to go again next summer.

Hayden & Alex

After the show, a little sibling happy photo.

 It was so great to have my parents come from Houston. Krissy also brought Juliet for the show.

Conleigh and her God mother, Krissy Wilson (and baby Juliet).

All the Hardins love Krissy!

Campbell wasn't old enough to be in the show, but as you can see, she likes to be center stage!

Last day of school! Hip Hip Hooray!

 Hip Hip Hooray! It is summer.  

Spicewood ended the year with a fantastic field day.  Back in the fall, our school won the Rally for Recess contest.  Five schools around the country won a new $20K playground, AND an $8K field day.  There were bubbles, and slides, face painting and bungee jumping, and a DJ with great music! Dannon snacks and sno-cones. I seriously think it is a kid party that cannot be topped!


The younger grades had 2.5 hours in the morning and the older grades had the equivalent  in the afternoon. It was the best last day of school evaaa!


Some of the parents joked that the kindergartners are going to be disappointed next year when they are making foam door tags on the last day of school. :)

Campbell & her bestie Jessica

Alex & his buddy Ren

Love this picture of my bubbly girl!

Laughing that 3rd grade is over!! Yay!

Conleigh and her third grade teacher.

I think I made Mrs. Corbett really laugh because I went into their class when they were eating lunch. Mrs. Corbett said to me, "it sounds like you all will be travelling quite a bit this summer." I said well we'll be going to Florida and hopefully Idaho.

She said, "Conleigh said you are wanting to go to Washington DC." I said, I have never said that in my life.  She laughed and laughed. Then later outside at the party, I asked to take their picture. I held up the camera and said, "say Washington DC."

Again she laughed and said, "you are terrible!" Conleigh wanted to know why I said that. Little does she know... 

After farewells and adios', hugs and goodbyes, we took off in the golf cart to the after school par-tay!