First Day, Hooray!!

(WARNING: As obvious, this is a SUPER long entry. I just want to record all the little details. ;))

My first little mister is growing up too fast! Noah had his first day of Kindergarten yesterday. When we first got to the school he was being a little grumpy with me, I figure due to the really late night before or his nerves, but he quickly mellowed out and was very sweet. I stayed with him until he was ready for me to leave, which was good for mommy's heart that he didn't want me to rush out of there. When I went to pick him up he was all smiles! When I asked him about how it went he said it was fun, that he played with "girls and boys" during recess but he could only remember the name of one of them, Finn Naperski (who is in our ward and it probably stuck out because I've been talking about him being in the same class), he said they "learned" and when I asked about what he said, "Rule number one" but he couldn't remember what the actual rule was, HaHa. (Luckily for me, the teacher sent home two little papers with rule #1 and rule #2 on them, which are listening and being kind to others..so mom was able to figure out it was, listening.)

He is in afternoon Kindergarten at Spanish Oaks Elementary. His teacher is Miss Mellor. She has been teaching for 19 years, and I have heard great things about her from friends/neighbors. After the open house when I asked Noah what he thought about her he said, "She's the nicest person in the whole world!" I'm so glad he felt that way, and I hope he continues to love her, that will help him be excited about learning and school. The kindergarten classes theme is "Kinder-Garden," and everything is decorated so cute in flowers and cartoon-looking bugs.

When the children first got to the classroom his teacher had some "jobs" they had to do. Each job was done at a station, and they were given a paper to tell them what order to do them that included pictures that matched the picture on the sign at the station so they could find them since most aren't reading yet. The first station they turned in their homework they had gotten when we went to assessment testing. The second station was hanging up their backpacks. Next, was getting their height and weight and recording it on a paper (the paper said "Time Capsule" at the top, so I assume that's what they're doing with them). Noah was 42-1/2 inches tall and weighed 40 pounds. Then they put their birthday candle on the birthday month cake. After that was an attendance chart where they were supposed to turn their ladybug tag over and put it back in the chart. The very last was find their seat and color a picture of flowers and a bee.

For their homework they had a large paper that was folded over and their name was written on the outside of it. They were to find things (pictures, stickers, clipart, wrappers, etc.) that told something about them that started with each letter of their name and then put it on the inside under that letter (each letter was cut into its own flap). We worked on it together, and I looked up clipart online to print off, he chose what image he wanted and then glued them on himself. Here is what Noah chose for each of his letters:
N= A picture of a box of Noodles because he likes to eat noodles. A picture of a Nickel because he likes to earn money. A smiley face for Nice because he is nice. A picture of an orange Necktie because he is always wanting to wear a tie to church, and his tie is orange.
O= Picture of an Orange because he likes to eat oranges. An Ostrich because someone by his Grandma and Grandpa Benson's house has an ostrich and the boys always beg us to drive that way to get there so they can see it. A picture of two little boys in a tent for Outside because he loves playing outside.
A= Apple, he LOVES apples and applesauce. Automobile, he says because I told him to choose it HaHa, but he likes to play with cars, so I thought it would be a good one. Athlete because he likes to play sports.
H= An image of the movie "Happy Feet" because he loves to watch that movie (and I have to add that when he watches that, afterward he dances all over doing a "Happy Feet" dance; trying to tap dance ;)). A Hat because likes to wear hats. A picture of a Hot dog because he likes them (and he insisted that I had to find one that had *just* ketchup on it because that's how he likes it.)

His second homework assignment was an "About Me" page that I was supposed to help him fill out and then he was to make a collage on the back of it of things that describe him. I wish I would have written down all the questions and answers, but I will try to remember what was on there, some of it was just parent information and if he had any allergies or any special needs, but some of it was also asking about Noah. It also asked for parent names and occupations, and if we had any special talents we would be willing to share with the class, I couldn't think of any HaHa, and it asked for sibling names and ages. Here are some more of the general ideas of the questions for Noah and the answers (that I remember anyway -may not be verbatim but close enough):
Favorite color: He said, "Every color I see."
Favorite food: Strawberries.
Favorite thing to do: Spend time with family.

The day before school he and I went on a little date for him to pick out a new outfit. It is usually not the norm for a little kid, especially a boy, to like shopping or clothes, but Noah has always liked it. We went to Old Navy and he picked out a pair of dark blue jeans and a gray and navy T-shirt that was "really comfortable!" He wore the shirt and a pair of shorts for the first day of school (still too hot for pants!). He also got to wear his new shoes that are his "super fast running shoes" that we went and picked out when we were on an outing as a family on a Saturday. He looked so handsome and grown up!

Mom did well and didn't cry but was very close to it, especially as I walked back to the van alone, and even now I'm tearing up thinking about it. The night before we were talking about his first day and he must have noticed me tearing up because he asked, "Are you going to cry?" I had to leave the room before I just burst into tears, and I told him that "Yes, I probably will." It is a bittersweet feeling for sure!

Dad gave him a Father's blessing on Sunday before he headed back to Elko for work (he works out of town during the week), and I had to peek during it and Noah was smiling ear to ear the entire time. I know it made him feel special. Stephen always gives fantastic blessings, and this one was no different.

All in all it was a great day, and I'm so glad he had a fantastic first day!!


...Still can't believe he's in "big" school now and that we are starting that chapter of our lives!