Just a test....

Just a random picture of Noah mastering Minecraft!

Noah's 2nd day of 2nd grade!

Noah's First Day of School...Take TWO!

Close up of our boy!

First Day of School, Take ONE!

 Okay, so August 13 rolls around, and it's time for Noah to start school. We've been a little hesitant because he just really doesn't seem to like school...and that makes us sad. There were some things that happened at school that frustrated us, made us angry, and we were trying to put it all behind us. Noah was beginning 1st Grade, he was going to be in a new building, with new classmates and new teachers, and we were hoping for the best. Well...he just really never seemed to like it. I know that it was only two weeks, but he seemed reluctant, and I picked him up one day and he just seemed miserable. 

So, we started looking at options. I visited a few schools, but none gave me warm fuzzies quite like Wellford Academy of Science and Technology, a public school in our district that scored very well on the State Tests, and according to their website looked really good. I really like the principal, and she gave me a tour of the school and it just seemed to feel...right. 

We had been talking to Noah about the possibility of other schools--we just didn't want him to be taken by surprise. I mentioned "Science and Technology" and he mentioned he'd like to go there...well, maybe. Maybe? He liked the science part, but wasn't too sure about the technology! I explained what technology was, and he said, "Oh, yeah, I'd like to go there!" I arranged to have Noah visit on Monday, just to make sure he'd be okay with it. I let his school know that he wouldn't be there on Monday, and the first thing Noah said was, "Yay! I don't have to go to school on Monday." This was just not what I wanted to hear. 

So, we visited--they had a scheduled fire drill, which Noah wasn't too happy about when we talked afterwards, but other than that--he loved it. He lit up like nothing I've ever seen. The teacher is great, all the other kids in the class were great, and we got to visit Science Lab. The teachers are all really engaging and excited, and this shows. Noah had a great time, and when I asked him if he would like to go to school there, he just looked like a kid on Christmas morning & just nodded his head. We went to the office & found out that yes, our School Choice form (though the school is in our district, it's not the school we're zoned for, so we had to apply for it) was approved--they thought it may take a little bit of time--and they said that if we wanted to fill out the paperwork, he could start the next day. Noah was so excited...  They also provide free breakfast--hot or cold--and as soon as Noah found out that they do serve sausage on some days, he was sold. That's right--our boy was persuaded by sausage!  They also have a hot lunch program, and Noah said he wanted to do that, too.

We had our first day at the new school--thus, the First Day, take TWO:

First Day of School, Take TWO!

I walked Noah in, and we had breakfast together (complete with the aforementioned sausage), and soon it was time for him to go to class. One of the teachers helped Noah with taking his tray to the trash, and along the way, one of the little boys from Noah's class visit saw Noah, and his face just lit up, as did Noah's when Noah saw him. They held hands and the little boy led Noah to class. I almost lost it, seeing our boy so happy in school!  This is something that we hadn't really seen, and it just breaks my heart.

We wanted Montessori to work--we still think it's a great method for some kids, but just maybe not for ours. 

I dropped him off this morning, and wasn't able to walk him in, but he was okay with that. He talks to us about his day, which is something he never really did before, and it makes us so happy. Each day he brings home a blue folder with notes from the teacher, or school events, and a list of what they're working on this week. We worked on homework tonight, and you know? I kind of like doing it. I LIKE knowing what Noah is working on and helping him with it and seeing his progress. I like knowing what kind of day he had and I love hearing about everything he's doing. 

For example--he was talking about PE today, where they were doing "rock, paper, scissors, shoe." (Yesterday they did a game called "Natural Disasters" which he was all over--apparently he got to whirl around like a tornado!) He asked me if I've ever played it, and I said that I'd played "rock, paper, scissors." He asked me what beats rock--I answered paper. What beats paper? Scissors. What beats scissors? Rock. What beats super scissors? I had no idea. 

Super Slug Worm beats super scissors. 

Super Slug Worm beats EVERYTHING. Even God. Even Super Shoe. Even Super STINKY shoe. 

"But what if a Super Slug Worm meets another Super Slug Worm?" I ask.

Then they mate and have babies. Lots of Super Slug Worm Babies. 

Yup. 

Really nothing to say at that point.

He just seems happy; even though tomorrow is his third day (and he's quick to point out that Monday was his first day, so today was his THIRD day), we are really excited and happy about the change. He was a little reticent this morning--he said he was embarrassed (his word) going through the lunch line. He liked it, he just wanted someone else to order for him. We explained that being unsure is natural and normal, and everyone feels that way sometimes. We also said that the more he does it, the more comfortable he'll be and the easier it'll become. He didn't mention any issues today when we asked him about breakfast and lunch (oh, ham biscuit and meatball sub, if anyone is curious as to what the days' choices were), so I think it's just something new that he's getting used to, and in a week it won't be anything to have him get right in there and order with the best of 'em. We think that this is a good thing, though--he's always been a bit hesitant when we go out to eat when it's time for him to place his order, and sometimes it seems that he's not sure how to ask for help. Well, he's in a situation where he's forced to order and ask for help, but in a gentle, nurturing, safe environment, and we are just tickled pink.  

Well, I am. Patrick's probably tickled a more manly color, like teal.

Picture of Noah swimming this summer....I love that smile!

Sentences I never thought I'd say....

I really should have been keeping a better log of these, but tonight's was one that I knew I had to get down before it flitted out of my gray matter, never to be remembered.

To regress a bit and to set the stage, Noah has this stuffed sheep pillow thing. It has velcro tabs near the feet, and basically folds in 1/2, so it's a sheep when fastened, and a flattened sheep pillow when unfastened (the four feet are then spread out--two feet on the left, two feet on the right). Noah likes to take said pillow and fasten it around all sorts of things--the arms of his carseat, the ladder on his bed, the arms of his rocking chair.  Okay, we should be set for the story.

We are getting Noah ready for bed, and it's obvious that he is very, very tired--he's rolling around on the floor, and just generally not paying attention to anything I'm saying.  I remark that I don't think he's really listening.  He said, "But I AM listening!"

I reply:

"I don't think you are, because rolling around the floor with a sheep on your head is not the way you show someone that you're paying attention."

Which really, is true no matter who or where you are.

Our Kindergarten Graduate!

We are so proud of Noah...  I can't believe he's going to be a 1st Grader next year!  Ack!  For those with access, I posted the videos of his graduation on my YouTube page--let me know if you need help with accessing them!