Pics of the First Day of School

Don't they look So Happy?!

Chocolate Chip Pancakes (Our traditional pancake breakfast on the first day of school)

Zachary - first day of 7th grade

Sarah - first day of 7th grade

The twins - first day of junior high

Anthony - first day of 11th grade

Nathan - first day of kindergarten

Nicholas - first day of 3rd grade

I didn't get any pics of Amanda by herself.   She was in a bad mood, because everyone kept telling her to hurry up....she was driving the older kids to school.  Now that she has a car (that she has to share with Anthony), she wants to drive to school every day.  This is her Senior year of high school!

Off they go....

Me and Nathan (excuse the "no make up" look - I didn't want my mascara to run when I cried)

Nope, not gonna cry - no way, no how!

Outside the kindergarten classrooms

Nicholas with his teacher Mrs. Bristor

Nathan with his teacher Mrs. Ferek

Starting to get nervous...

This picture just about breaks my heart....

*Update on Nathan's first day - He came home with a big smile on his face and told us he had a great day.  He played with one of his buddies (our neighbor down the street).   I asked him if he cried and he said "just a little bit."

His teacher's assistant is another neighbor, so today when I dropped him off she was waiting at the end of the hallway.  He was happy to see her and she walked him to the classroom without a glance back at me.  But not before he asked for his 'kissing hand' - something we do when I have to work. 

I think this is going to work afterall.

After School Treats

Cupcakes

Watermelon Cookies (sugar cookies) - I wasn't thrilled with how these turned out, but the idea of them was cute.

He Still Wears Toy Story Underwear

Today was the first day of school...Mommy can't believe her little boy is old enough to go.  The morning started out fine.  He got up and was excited.  Ran off to get dressed after he ate his chocolate chip pancakes.   He came out of his room wearing his new Toy Story underwear that he picked out last week.  Asking Mommy what he was supposed to wear on his special day. 

He got dressed and smiled for pictures.  He was a happy little camper.  So excited to start a new adventure...kindergarten.  He jumped in the car and was rearing to go.  Couldn't wait to get there.  He waited patiently while Mommy took pictures of his big brother with his teacher.  And happily skipped along with her towards his new classroom.

He found his name in the coat closet.  And hung up his new Spiderman backpack (in which he kept one of his little buddies).  He sat down at the table, eager to see his old friends and make some new ones.  He asked Mommy quietly to read the book that was sitting on the table in front of him.  He nervously looked around the classroom.  He sat and watched a little girl clinging to her mother crying.  He smiled when he saw his friend from kindergarten club.

And then.....

Mommy stood up to leave and kiss and hug him goodbye and.....those little lips started to quiver as he tried hard not to cry.  He anxiously held on to his mommy's hand, not ready to say goodbye yet.  Mommy edged her way out the door, while he watched his fellow classmates.  He looked around for Mommy, not seeing her right away his lips trembled again.  He smiled nervously when he spotted her standing by the door. 

Mommy smiled (trying hard not to cry) as she waved one final goodbye to her precious little boy.  He looked scared as she started out the door.   Again, not wanting to cry in front of his new friends, his lips quivered again.  Mommy waved and blew a kiss and then walked out the door.  She peeked in the doorway one final time hoping he wasn't crying when he realized she wasn't going to stay with him.

Mommy walked towards the school door, feeling like she just left her heart behind in that kindergarten classroom.  She walked to her waiting van, now empty.  There will be no one going home with her today - on this the first day of school. 

Yummy Cupcakes

I was playing around with some ideas on cupcakes and made these strawberry ones.  Strawberry cake, strawberry flavored buttercream frosting and strawberry garnish....Yum! I used Wilton's frosting recipe and substituted the vanilla extract for strawberry extract and then used their icing colors to make it pink.  It's a little more pink than I wanted, but they still came out cute.  And they won the kid tester award...so that made them good in my book.

Wanna take a peek inside my baking cabinet...this is just one of them (I have another one that holds sugar, chocolate chips, marshmallows, nuts, etc.)...This one houses my spices, sprinkles for cupcakes and cookies, icing tips and bags, cupcake liners and more baking supplies.

It's a little blurry, but yes, that second shelf is almost all sprinkles, color mists and icing colors.  And on the bottom to the left is all the cupcake liners...about 15 or so different kinds.  Yep, I'm an addict - I'm already eyeing some cute fall colored liners and sprinkles at the crack candy/cake supply store.

Thought This Was Funny.....

Poem to MOM

My son came home from school one day,

With a smirk upon his face.

He decided he was smart enough,

To put me in my place..

'Guess what I learned in Civics Two,

that's taught by Mr. Wright?

It's all about the laws today,

The 'Children's Bill of Rights.'

It says I need not clean my room,

Don't have to cut my hair

No one can tell me what to think,

Or speak, or what to wear.

I have freedom from religion,

And regardless what you say,

I don't have to bow my head,

And I sure don't have to pray.

I can wear earrings if I want,

And pierce my tongue & nose.

I can read & watch just what I like,

Get tattoos from head to toe.

And if you ever spank me,

I'll charge you with a crime.

I'll back up all my charges,

With the marks on my behind.

Don't you ever touch me,

My body's only for my use,

Not for your hugs and kisses,

that's just more child abuse.

Don't preach about your morals,

Like your Mama did to you.

That's nothing more than mind control,

And it's illegal too!

Mom, I have these children's rights,

So you can't influence me,

Or I'll call Children's Services Division,

Better known as C.S.D.'

Mom's Reply and Thoughts

Of course my first instinct was

To toss him out the door.

But the chance to teach him a lesson

Made me think a little more.

I mulled it over carefully,

I couldn't let this go.

A smile crept upon my face,

he's messing with a pro.

Next day I took him shopping

At the local Goodwill Store.

I told him, 'Pick out all you want,

there's shirts & pants galore..

I've called and checked with C.S.D ...

Who said they didn't care

If I bought you K-Mart shoes

Instead of those Nike Airs.

I've canceled that appointment

To take your driver's test.

The C..S.D. Is unconcerned

So I'll decide what's best. '

I said 'No time to stop and eat,

Or pick up stuff to munch.

And tomorrow you can start to learn

To make your own sack lunch.

Just save the raging appetite,

And wait till dinner time.

We're having liver and onions,

A favorite dish of mine.'

He asked 'Can I please rent a movie,

To watch on my VCR?'

'Sorry, but I sold your TV,

For new tires on my car.

I also rented out your room,

You'll take the couch instead.

The C .S.D. Requires

Just a roof over your head.

Your clothing won't be trendy now,

I'll choose what we eat.

That allowance that you used to get,

Will buy me something neat.

I'm selling off your jet ski,

Dirt-bike & roller blades.

Check out the 'Parents Bill of Rights',

It's in effect today!

Hey hot shot, are you crying,

Why are you on your knees?

Are you asking God to help you out,

Instead of C.S.D..?'

MOM (Mean Old Mother)

LOL....LOVE this!

I'm In The Spotlight Today...

....The Welcome Wednesday Spotlight, that is! How cool to be chosen as a featured blogger on Take It From Me's weekly blog hop!!  For all those newbies coming to my blog...I'm a stay at home mom of SIX kids ranging in age from 17 - 5.  My blog is about my life...and all the crazy things that make it complete.  You can check out my recipes, kids crafts or read more about me and my family by clicking on the page tabs at the top of the blog.  Hope you'll stick around and keep on reading all about my family's adventures!

And if you'd like you can also "like" my fan page on Facebook or follow me on Networked Blogs....I'll return the follow there as well. 


Here's all the details of the blog hop.......

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If you want to be a part of Welcome Wednesday, just follow these 5 simple steps:

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Zucchini Pineapple Bread

Ingredients:

1 cup flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp of ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp allspice

1 egg

2/3 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/3 cup crushed pineapple, well drained

1 1/2 cups shredded zucchini

1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

1/2 cup raisins (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350*.  Spray a loaf pan with cooking spray.  Combine all the ingredients (except for nuts and raisins) and mix well.  Stir in raisins and nuts.  Pour into baking pan and bake for 60 minutes or until knife inserted comes out clean.  Makes one loaf.

Ll is for Lobster

Even though school is just around the corner, we are still working on letter recognition with Nathan.  Yesterday we learned about the letter L and made a cute lobster craft to go with it.  I saw this lobster craft on the Handprint and Footprint Art blog.  I thought it was really cute and knew we had to do it when we did the letter L.  Here's a look at Nathan's handiwork.  We got the L worksheets at First School.

For the lobster craft....the paper plate is just to pour the paint onto

Paint one foot red

Stamp the foot onto the paper

Caught RED handed - Busted!

Glue on some wiggle eyes, Draw a face and call it Done!

Mixed Emotions

This time last year, I couldn't wait for school to start.

This year, I'm hanging on to summer...I'm not sure if it's the fact that Nathan will be going to school or if it's something else. All I know is I'm enjoying this time that I have with all my kids. Sure my kids drive me nuts sometimes (I'm not perfect), but I've truly have been enjoying spending time with them. It's been a real pleasure playing with them and making crafts and just hanging out in general. 

Maybe it's the fact that time keeps slipping from my grasp.  This time next year, my oldest baby will be preparing to leave the nest by going to college.  I'm not ready for that either.  Life just keeps changing on me.  I wish I could turn back the clock or slow the time down so I could enjoy it more. 

It's weird that when they are little we just don't take the time to appreciate how precious those moments are.  We are simply in survival mode...trying to get through all those sleepless nights, those mounds of dirty diapers, those frustrating potty training/poopy accidents that drove us nuts and made us wish that we could fast forward past all those difficult parenting trials.  If only we would have realized how fleeting time is.  How much we would miss those times, yes - even the messy ones. 

It's hard to keep ourselves in check when our kids are spilling koolaid on the floor we just cleaned.  Or asking us to read the same storybook over and over again til we feel like our tongues are going to fall off.  Or give endless kisses and hugs and wiping those slobbers off our faces.  We get frustrated and just wish bedtime would hurry up and get there.  During those moments we aren't thinking about how much we wish they wouldn't grow up and leave us.  All we see is the mess and chaos. 

I have about nine more days until school starts and I intend to enjoy the moment.  Now whether or not my kids drive me to the funny farm during those days remains to be seen, but for now I'm embracing the time and hanging on to my babies as long as I can.

Countdown To School (Craft Project)

Since Nathan is starting kindergarten this year, we've been reading lots of "getting ready for" kindergarten books.  We also made a countdown calendar, which came out totally awesome! But to tell you the truth, it almost makes me nervous to look at....(((cause my baby is going to school))).  I have such mixed emotions about this, let me tell you.

Here's a look at our project.  

I took a sheet of black construction paper and cut some red construction paper to make a border around the black.  I printed out several sheets of school images for Nathan to color and cut out and then glued them to the black paper.  I got these sheets HERE. 

I also found some number print outs at DLTK.  Then I took some sheets of construction paper and cut them in half.  I glued the numbers to the middle of the construction paper.  And let the kids decorate the sheets of paper with all sorts of fun stuff.....feathers, beads and various stickers.  It was so much fun that I actually made a few myself. 

When all the glue dried, I punched holes in the tops of each of the numbered papers.  I also punched holes in the bottom of the black sheet.  I took some leftover mis-matched ribbon and tied it all together.  Now all the kids can countdown to school in a fun, cute, creative way.

Here's a list of some books we've been reading.....

- On The Way To Kindergarten by Virginia Kroll

- Kindergartenbooks - My First Time Starting School by Kate Petty, Lisa Kopper and Jim Pipe

- The Twelve Days of Kindergarten A Counting Book by Deborah Lee Rose

- Countdown to Kindergarten by Alison McGhee

- What a Day it Was at School! by Jack Prelutsky

- Welcome to Kindergarten by Anne Rockwell

- It's My School by Sally Grindley

- Off to Kindergarten by Tony Johnston.