First Grade & A First Birthday

Dear Conor,

On October 6, 2012 we were two busy road trippers!  We got up early to prepare for our busy day.  We hit the road at about 9am so that we would get to spend a little bit of fun together in the truck before you took your morning nap.  My hope is that you would sleep for the majority of the ride.

We were making amazing timing - no traffic at all so I called your Auntie Cathlin to see what she was up to and if she was in town - and she WAS!  Not only was she in town but she was at her school which was just 15 minutes or so from our final destination.  She asked if we wanted to stop by (and of course we did) so a quick detour and we found ourselves at her Elementary School (which we will not name).

Welcome to First Grade Conor!

The rug rules said that you must sit "criss cross applesauce" and you did!  What a good student

Reading with Auntie Teacher

A need idea: a book about teacher for students to read (thanks Pinterest she says!)

 

After practicing your reading and learning about teacher it was time for some directed learning.  On today's lesson plan was shapes and so out came the wooden blocks for you to touch, smell, taste, and see.  It was a lesson you were truly able to sink your teeth into (hee hee).

Next we toured the classroom library where there was not one but TWO copies of your favorite book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom!!!!



Sitting on the bench Grandma Mary made in the classroom library reading your favorite book!

After spending a bit of time in the classroom it was time to take a tour of the school.  We loved the porthole openings on some of the doors and the fact that the kindergarten classrooms were themed with Chicka Chicka!  We saw Auntie's old classroom and right next door was the office of a certain person who we love - Ms. Whitt!

We couldn't pass up sneaking in and helping her with her work since she will be going on maternity leave shortly and we don't want her stressing out!

Checking Ms. Whitt's messages

Making sure she had enough writing utensils

hmmmm.......what to leave in my note

I love you Ms. Whitt - hope to see you soon!

After making sure we left Ms. Whitt's office as we found it (minus some fingerprints on the frame) we went to the library.  Auntie's school has a beautiful library just right for younger readers.  Mommy was in love and was sad to learn that if the new school is built this library will be no more.  In the library was a little amphitheater and you had a great time climbing the stairs and crawling along the rows before we had to return to the classroom.

Beautiful Library

Climbing

After our tour of the school we played for a few more minutes and then it was time to leave because we had a party to get to.  Thank you so much Auntie for letting us visit first grade - we had a wonderful time!

We packed up our things and then it was off to the Berridge home to celebrate Little G's FIRST Birthday!!!  His birthday was Sesame Street themed and his cake had Elmo in a boat on it.  Auntie Ana did a great job decorating and she had a ton of food available for everyone to munch on!  Everyone played for a little while and then it was time for cake!

Auntie Ana and Little G waiting for the singing to start

Blow out the candle little G

Little G loved his frosting

and loved it

and wanted to share it with me

 After everyone got cleaned up from cake eating it was time to open presents.  Auntie Ana helped Little G.  There was one gift that both you and Little G wanted to play with at that very moment and there was nothing that was going to stop you - not even Auntie's leg!

oohhh......a bubble octopus

Let's get it!

While Little G continued to open presents you played with Meghan.  She worked hard to teach you how to play with the musical toy and not put the stick in your mouth.

Little G soon got tired of gifts and so he and you played with his toys while his Mommy finished opening for him.

You guys played so long and so hard with the toys that you were both filthy from head to toe!

dirty dirty Conor

There was no way I could put you in the car all dirty so you had to have a bath at Auntie's house.  Miss Meghan was a great helper so the bath went extra quick!  We left Auntie's house around 4:30pm which was just the right time for both traffic and for you to get a good nap in.  You slept the entire ride home in your cozy penguin jammies.

When we got home I knew that you were not going to sleep right away so we played and sang songs or an hour or two until you were tired enough for me to tuck into bed.  Daddy was out with Mike for a wrestling event so we sent him this picture for you to say Goodnight to him!

Thank you for a wonderful day little man!  It was a long day and you were not only a GREAT traveler but it was fun to spend the entire day with you!

xoxo
Mommy