First grade & Pre-k 3...

Both of my children have had some serious haircuts since these pictures were taken.  Alex looks much older, which makes me sad.  Sigh.

So, Sam started 1st grade a few weeks ago.  It's a big change, but he seems to have acclimated well so far.  His kindergarten program only lasted until 12:30.  Now he stays until 2:45 with all the "big kids." The first few days he kept asking if he was staying for lunch.  

Baby, you're staying for lunch for the next 12 years.  Sorry.  

This year, his behavior program involves starting off on the color green and moving up and down throughout the day when you follow directions or break a rule.  At the end of the week, you cash in your points for pennies which can be put towards different prizes and treats.  So far we've made it to purple a few times (the second highest color.)  We have yet to hit pink (the highest). His teacher called the first week of school just to check in and see if we had any questions.  I started to talk about how Sam is usually a little hesitant in classroom situations and that sometimes he had to be pulled out of his shell.  

Um.....

Apparently not anymore.  She laughed and said, "Actually, Sam is one of my chattier boys.  Do you ever see him talk to himself?"

Why, yes.  Yes, he does.  All the time.  

How things change.  Now I know why he hasn't hit pink, yet.  If he keeps talking the way he does, he may never get there.  

Picking him up in the afternoon is always an adventure.  I never know if he's going to be spilling over with all that happened that day or if he's going to just stare out the window because he's so tired.  I have finally convinced him that he's okay using the crosswalk with all the other children, which is pretty funny.  It took him a few weeks before he was comfortable with that.  

And Alex...

He started his little program (that I cannot reiterate how much we love)  a few weeks ago.  He's only going 3 days a week, which is the perfect amount, I think.  He wasn't super pumped to get out of the car when I dropped him off--he cried--but his teacher very sweetly sent me a text later to tell me that the minute he got into the classroom he quit crying.  They are so good to him.  

It's so much fun to pick him up because he is positively thrilled to see me.  He comes out yelling, "Mama, Mama!  I love you!"  Melt my heart.  

 And I course I had to make him a first day of school outfit.