Back to School

Well there was a fun-filled summer that I totally didn't blog about, but I'll catch up on that later. Now all three girls are in school! Lexi and Zara started 2nd grade and Ariana started Montessori preschool. So far they are all enjoying.

Art Birthday Party

The twins decided on an art party for their seventh birthday. We invited their friends and created several art stations in our backyard and topped it off with a double sized ice cream cake. It was a blast!

The art stations were canvas painting, coloring bookmarks, decorating fabric totes, candy necklaces and glitter tattoos. As it always goes in our backyard, the kids ended up running in the trees and playing tag in the lawn by the end of the party.

First Grade!

Last night it hit me that first grade is kind of big time now. Kindergarten was full-day at the same school, but they still get the hand-holding. We went to the BBQ at the school last night to meet the teachers and drop off supplies. The reality of the twins being in different classes for the first time ever started sinking in. I know it will be great for them to have their own little world in their classrooms independent of each other, but it still makes me sad. The girls have been waiting for school to start again and were very excited this morning to go to school. Another hour to go and I get to go pick them up and hear all about the first day! 

Six Year-Old Interviews

Zara:

Zara 6 yr video from Natalie on Vimeo.

Lexi:

Lexi's 6 yo Interview from Natalie on Vimeo.

Nature Camp

Zara and Lexi went to nature day camp at the Yakima Arboretum last week. It was their first time and they had SO much fun. Every day they came home absolutely filthy and wet with sand in every crevice. After the first couple of days of sand pouring out of their clothes all over the house, I started making them undress in the garage and take a shower before they touched anything inside. This week of nature camp was focused on art so the girls made all sorts of art out of natural materials, caught butterflies and tadpoles, painted themselves with berries, went on exploration hikes, had picnic lunches and played lots of funny games. They are already begging to go back. 

Zara in the back, buried in sand

Zara

Kinder Grad

To be honest, I didn't even realize that Kinder graduation was a thing. They are just moving up a grade at the same school, right? I still don't entirely get it. As it turned out, the girls had their birthday celebration the same day as graduation. It was over 100 degrees outside and the kids were just coming in from recess outside so the ice cream cups, cookies and mini water bottles were a hit. 

Some parents brought flowers and balloons to graduation. I say, you are going to have to accomplish a bit more for that, ha ha. I taught the girls to sing "schooooools out for summer!" So that's even better, right? 

Zara

Lexi with her friend Olivia

Superhero/Princess Race

Lexi and Zara ran their first race this weekend. It was a 1 mile race and the theme was dress-up like your favorite princess or superhero. Lexi chose an Elsa costume and Zara chose American Girl. The run went well and they both finished. Lexi was fast and finished in around 15 minutes. Zara was a little slower because her costume was itching, but we caught up with one of her friends from school towards the end and that perked her up to finish strong in 20 minutes.

First day of Kinder

Today was the first day of kindergarten for Zara and Lexi. They were so excited. We drive by their school every day and they ask, "when can we go to school?" every day. They had orientation last week so we had already met their teacher and been to their classroom. This morning we all walked down the street to school and dropped them off in their class. They waved bye and that was that. It wasn't a big deal to them after going to preschool for over two years. 

This week is a warm-up "transition" with the kindergartners going just in the morning to learn the ropes before school officially starts for all grades next week. The school has over 500 kids and 4 kindergarten classes. We chose to have the girls in the same class this year, but will likely split them up next year

When we picked them up they were full of stories about breakfast, racoon books, rockets and filled me in on all the school procedures. Zara declared it "the best day ever" and Lexi said, "I didn't like it, I loved it."