Firsts

Today.
First Day of School.

First Day of new clothes.

First Day of chilly mornings.

First Day of busses and lunches and friends and homework.

For Olivia and Christian, today is the first day of a new school with Olivia entering high school and Christian entering Kindergarten. 

The first day of school is always exciting yet nervewracking. Dropping off each of the kids today reminded me of how fast time is flying by and how old I'm getting. A high schooler?? A 7th grader?? Christian's already in KINDERGARTEN? Not possible... yet here it is.

It's so exciting to see these kiddos blossom and grow. 

My beauties! 

Olivia - Freshman

Morgan - 7th grade

Christian - Kindergarten

Olivia with her BFF Paige on their way to HIGH SCHOOL

Miss Mo 

Christian's new classroom - sadly this is only HALF of the children that will complete their classroom this year. Too big. Too big.

We love our school district!

Winter Concerts

Tis the season for choir concerts in the schools.

Each of the girls had theirs this past week and got all dolled up for them in their fancy dresses and curled hair.

Olivia:

Seventh grade choir:



Olivia and Paige:



Morgan:



ENTIRE elementary school K-5:



Morgan in her pretty dress (that I stumbled across at Target on clearance that very day... $7.48!!)



A big thank you to Christine for curling Olivia's hair and teaching me to curl with a straightening iron. I ended up doing Morgan's myself... not too shabby for my first try.
Also a big thank you to Jennifer for taking pictures of Morgan for me. I'm the ding dong mom who forgot her camera AND her phone.

Highest Form of Compliment

The highest form of compliment a parent can receive is a phone message like this sent on a Friday afternoon when teachers probably are anxious to head home and begin their weekends:

"Hello H Family! This is Alan P. I'm Olivia's Social Studies and English teacher and I just wanted to let you guys know that she's doing a really really good job. She's really smart and very respectful and academically she's got everything in and she's doing a great job. I just thought you guys should know that - that she's doing amazing. You've got a great daughter. Anyway, I thought that you should know that. Have a nice weekend. Talk to you later. Bye!"

just because.

Back2School

I can't get over how fast the summer flew by. Wasn't it just yesterday school got out and we started swimming lessons, prepared for Girls Camp, had Morgan's end-of-the-school year party??

Today I sent Morgan off to 5th grade. She kept saying, "Today is my last 1st day of school in elementary school." And so it is. She's growing up so quickly and reminds me every chance she gets. At least she let me walk her in and get settled at her desk.

Morgan's fortunate to have Mr. Mackenzie this year. Olivia had him as her 5th grade teacher two years ago, so we know him, are comfortable with him, and love his teaching style.

It's going to be a great year for Mo!





Olivia had a late start since she's a big 7th grader now, so her friend, Christa came over and they "got ready" together. So cute. They walked to McDonald's for lunch where I later picked them up to take them to school with camera in hand. However, as we drive into the parking lot, I was instructed to just drop them off. :(

What? You don't want me to walk you in, hold your hand, take your picture in front of your locker??? Where did my little girl go?

So... being the "cool mom" I am (or pretend to be) I obliged. But I managed to sneak in a couple pics of Liv with her buddy. Then off she went, skinny jeans and all.

Aack.

State Testing Essay Awesomeness

One of the components for Oregon's 4th grade state testing was to write a two page essay telling about a friend that you got closer to and how. Morgan's teacher was so impressed with this and gave us a copy of it... So well done!

My Favorite Cousin

Do you have a favorite cousin? I do. Her name is Jadi. Jadi lives in Texas and she hasn't come to Oregon for years, so I didn't know her that well. But last Summer Jadi came to my grandma's house for one month. Let me tell you some fun things we did together.

First of all, let me tell you how I got to know Jadi better. I would go to my grandma's house everyday because she lived only 15 minutes away. Jadi and I would talk in our grandma's hot-tub and when we were finished our hands and feet were wrinkled.

Three weeks later our families went to the lake. When we got to the lake Jadi and I tried to find tiny shells. After we got our family boat in the water, all of us jumped into the boat and headed to a cove. When we got to the cove our grandpa started to blow up the Hulkster and the Black Ice. Our grandpa drove the boat really fast over giant waves from other boats.

That night we had a sleepover at our grandma's giant house. We played telephone and did pillow fights. After a while we got tired and fell asleep in the living room. When we woke up it was Jadi's last day in Oregon. I made Jadi a cd with Jonas brother, Hannah Montana, and Chris Brown songs on it as a goodbye gift. We watched fireworks while making smores that night. Finally we said goodbye. I could not stop crying.

I miss Jadi very much! I didn't know we could end up being best friends! I'll never forget the time I spent a whole month with my favorite cousin.

What Lives at the Roof of the World?

Morgan and her sweet Daddy spent hours and hours on their Himalayan exhibit for her school's recent Science Fair.

I giggled as they worked on this and kept telling Martin that this was more high school or college level than elementary. But they sure had fun working on it together over the weeks. I was proud of Morgan and all the time she put into the research, the planning, and the assembly of this.

Martin is travelling over to India to hike through the Himalayas very soon with his brother, Greg... so this project was perfect for our family to learn a bit about the vegetation and animal life living and growing where he'll be.

building the mountain peak

thank you, daddy, for all your help!

painting the snowy mountain peak

adding vegetation

what a work of art!

grandma h came to the science fair to support morgan.

School Days

M O R G A N :

Today was: "not the best day of my fourth grade."

My teacher is: "very nice. She's very, very, very neat and organized and picky."

My classroom is: "room 7."

I sit by: "Haley and I'm close to Eric. In front of me is Jesse and behind me Lissy."

Recess was: "great! We played Big Booty and Little Sally Walker and we also did funky chicken!"

My work was: "confusing."

The thing I like the most is: "my friends and that my teacher tells us stories about her life."

The best part about coming home is: "not doing homework."

I can't wait until Monday because: "I get to see my friends."

O L I V I A :

Today was: "a great day because I had a good day with my friends."

My teachers are: "Mrs. LaGoy, Mr. Grimsly and Mr. Gillespie."

My classroom is: "really fun, I guess."

I sit by: "Deborah, Jackie and Sierra."

Lunch break was: "really fun and tasty."

My work was: "8 out of 10."

The thing I like the most is: "being able to see my friends."

The best part about coming home is: "school's over."

I can't wait until Monday because: "I get to see my friends again."

Back to School We Go!

4th and 6th grades, here we come!

Morgan entered the 4th grade Tuesday and was so lucky to get Elise K. as her teacher. We had her with Olivia two years ago and she is such a phenomenal teacher!

Olivia entered middle school as a 6th grader and couldn't have been more excited. I swear she looked older Tuesday morning.

My babies are growing.

Good thing I keep having more, right???

On our way to the car Tuesday morning, our next door neighbor and friend Paige was jumping in her car, too, headed for the same school as Liv. In the past, she attended a different elementary school, so this year will be the first of many years together for these two. I just love Paige!

Morgan was reunited with her gal pal, Haley, after a long summer apart. Luckily, they sit right next to each other. The first day of school is such fun!

Elise!! We are so happy to have her again! She is wild, crazy and SO full of energy. I wish she would share some of that energy with this old mama.

I'm writing this two days into the school year and so far so good. They come home happy and full of stories. It's definitely going to be another great school year.

I sure miss them during the day when they're gone. I sat on the couch this afternoon watching the clock waiting for them to walk in the door! I couldn't WAIT to hear more stories of their day. I love these girls and am so proud of all they are and all they are becoming.

Congrats Grad!

CONGRATULATIONS OLIVIA!

Olivia is now an Elementary School Graduate

and will be moving on to Middle School this Fall.

It's hard to believe that 6 years have gone by since we walked in the doors of this sweet little school for Kindergarten. I remember having a hard time leaving that day - wanting to stand in the hall and watch my big girl make new friends and begin her schooling without me. We've been blessed with the greatest teachers, several of which have become wonderful family friends. I am so grateful for the last 6 years here and for the opportunities Olivia has had to grow and learn. She has blossomed into a beautiful young lady in the halls of this school and made some tremendous friends.

It's been a great ride, this Elementary School journey, and I hope and pray Middle School is just as kind to our dear girl.

Can you see the look she's giving me?
"Oh Mom. Must you take my picture???"

Morgan and her bunny ears.

Olivia's 5th Grade teacher, Mr. McKenzie.

He was SO great!

Best of friends:

Deborah, Makayla, Olivia and Hannah

Grandma H., Aunt Margaret and Cousin Bennett came to support Olivia.

In the next post, Olivia's GRAD PARTY will be featured.

Way To Go Morgan!

Morgan earned a "Person of Character Award" which was presented by her principal at their all school assembly last Friday.

Her 3rd grade teacher nominated her for her trustworthiness and integrity.

We are so proud of you, Mo.

♥

Morgan and her Principal