gingerbread houses and gingerbread men!

A couple of weeks ago before school got out the kids both had parties in their classroom on the same day! Austin's class was making gingerbread houses and Mikayla was having her Kindergarten holiday party. I really wanted to do both and thank goodness Ms. Michelle planned to do the gingerbread houses right away which meant I could buzz over to Mikayla's school in time for her party! I have the pleasure of being the Room Coordinator for Mikayla's classroom so I knew it was important for me to be there to help direct the moms in where and what they needed to help out with.

Austin & his Gingerbread House!

It was so sweet to watch him have so much concentration and careful planning of where he wanted the candies to go. Maybe that's why he was one of the last ones to be finished!

For Mikayla's class party, we had decided on a Gingerbread Man theme...

The next day, Mikayla's class got to have a PJ day and watch a movie. I just so happened to be volunteering that morning and had grabbed my camera on the way out the door!

Mikayla and her "twin" Hannah...
they both got a kick out of showing up in matching PJs!

Mrs. Derry & Mikayla

{sweet faces}

{silly faces}

I am really enjoying not having to do drop off or pick up during this 2-week vacation from school. Oh, and did I mention the sleeping in part? Such bliss!!

pre-school party fun!

My cutie pie fireman celebrated Halloween with his pre-school classmates on the Thursday before Halloween. We started out talking about dressing up as a doggy...then a fireman...then a construction worker...and then he woke up the morning of the party saying he wanted to be superman. Thankfully he was OK to walk out the door in his fireman costume and what a cute little fireman he turned out to be...

{listening quietly to a "spooky" story}
{ready to play a game}
{he was such a good sport...and followed the rules - no hands!}

{so close!}

Austin and his classmates all dressed up
October 27, 2011
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

A month later...

My sweet boy at his Friendship Feast
November 22, 2011

{singing songs with his classmates}

{all the kids sharing what they are thankful for...Austin said bees?!?!?!?!}

The Friendship Feast!
...and one happy boy with a plate full of food!

It has been fun to be a part of Austin's pre-school activities. Ms. Michelle is such a super sweet teacher and perfect for Austin! I am loving watching him grow and become more and more independent...even though he is my baby!!

field trip to the pumpkin patch!

At the beginning of October, Austin and his pre-school class went on a field trip to Lee Farms and headed out to the pumpkin patch. I was so glad that it was earlier in the month than later, so we wouldn't have to miss it with our 10-day trip to California in mid-October (shhhh...don't tell Mikayla she missed her class pumpkin patch field trip while we were gone! I still don't think she knows!)

Field Trip to Lee Farms
October 4, 2011

{climbing the hay bales with his friend Sofie}
{mmmm...apple cider!}

{it's so heavy, Mom!}
{two pumpkins ready to take home}
{hay ride}
I love being able to accompany Austin on these little outings! It gives me joy to be a part of these special moments with him.

4th birthday celebration...at pre-school

The day before Austin's actual birthday, he was able to celebrate his special day with his pre-school friends at school! I was so glad to hear that I was able to bring in homemade treats for him and his classmates for a fun birthday treat! After picking up Mikayla from Kindergarten, we rushed over to spend the last 15 minutes with him and his classmates.

Chocolate pudding cups with "dirt" on top...
finished off with a CARS cookie.

When Ms. Michelle started singing Happy Birthday,
he got a little shy.

And then warmed up a little...
Austin got four "high-fives" from his teacher...

...and his classmates,

...and of course his big sis!

He also got a hug from Sissy!
After pre-school we headed off to visit Grammy & Papa and I wanted to take just a couple more pictures, especially without the chocolate mess all over his face, but this is what I got...

Get the hint, Mom...I'm done with pictures.
Birthday Celebration #1 complete!

it's teddy bear day

September 22nd was Teddy Bear Day at both of the kids' schools. They both thought it was the coolest thing to be able to take their teddy bears with them to school!

{I am pretty sure Austin is growling like a bear.}

Austin first day of 3's Pre-School!

At the beginning of the summer we had the perfect plan of where Austin was going to go for 3's pre-school for two days a week. It was this great in-home pre-school and I was super excited because of what I saw at her open house! However, in mid-July the teacher stopped by for a visit and to return Austin's registration because unexpectedly her and her family were going to possibly be moving out of state and she didn't want to start pre-school knowing that they might move. (wow...how's that for a run-on sentence?!) After this happened we decided that he would just stay home for another year because with his birthday being at the end of September, he'll technically do two years of pre-school.

But...when his big sister started school I could just tell that he wanted something of his own and he was itching to learn! So, when a friend of mine mentioned that there was an opening in her daughter's 3's pre-school class, I jumped at the chance to sign him up! We visited for a 15-minute observation and I knew this was the place for him. The teacher is so sweet and as I watched him participate in class, I just knew that he was ready!

First Day of School Breakfast
{homemade waffles!}

On his way to school...

So happy to have his own place to learn...just like his Big Sis!

"Building" the letter "A"

It was perfect that he got to work with the first letter of his name on his first day of school. His teacher was so proud of how he could write the letter A all by himself. She said to him, "that's the best A I've ever seen!" She's going to be perfect for him...so sweet!

Austin & his teacher, Ms. Michelle

So excited to see Mom after his first day of school...

...and to be with Sissy again!
I am so thankful it worked out for Austin to be at pre-school this year. I look forward to watching him grow, discover, and have a place of his own!