IT'S SUMMER TIME!

My boy is home!!!!!!

Kaylen and I went over to the school at 11am to be there for the closing of school (he had wanted me to drive him home). When we walked into the main office it was complete chaos with kids running here and there with their autograph books. The excitement was sky high!

I checked all my PTO stuff and then we headed out to a bench to wait. The computer lab teacher, who I've gotten to know pretty well this year, sat with me and we chatted a bit. The conversation focused a bit on how the district has changed the start time for Kelton's school so it will be an early start which means he will go an hour earlier in the morning and be home an hour earlier at night. I actually like that a lot though I will miss the extra time in the morning. The trade off though is having him home at 3 instead of 4. Nice! Until Monday our school was still slated as a "late start" so this news caught everyone by surprise.

Soon Kelton appeared in front of us and kids started streaming from everywhere! Kelton decided to see if Kaylen could ride the bus home with him. I was pretty sure the answer would be no but he went off to ask his driver anyway. To my surprise, she let Kaylen ride the bus home! (I see this as another plus to getting to know the school stuff and bus driver over the year. It's nice to be known around the school.) She sat them in the front seat so she could watch her and soon they were on their way. I drove home to meet them and two happier kids you have not likely seen. As the bus drove away Kelton screamed "I'M A SECOND GRADER!"

His report card is excellent (the actual letter formation in writing still isn't on the excellent side but we're going to work on legibility this summer)! He was placed in the advanced placement class for next year (his teacher and I talked with we waited for the buses to load) and he is thrilled to know he will be with the teacher he most wanted. Yay Kelton - I am SO SO proud of you!!!! He is actually being recommended for the special math program they have for advanced students. Wow.

So - all in all, the year ended on a very high note. And just for fun, here are a few photos of the bus ride home.

Last Day of First Grade

Yes indeed - today is the last day of school for Kelton! In one hour and 24 minutes I will have a second grader living in the house. I am so proud of my little guy - he has done such a great job in school this year. The things he has learned have amazed me and, looking back, he has grown by leaps and bounds in both the physical AND academic manner. The first grade of today is not at all like the first grade of my time (you know - back when dinosaurs roamed free). The things they know coming out of first grade is truly something.

The year has gone by so quickly - it seems like not that long ago that we were putting him on the bus for his first full day at school. Well - for that matter it seems like not that long ago we were leaving a tearful little guy in his kindergarten room.....and now? Now we have this fantastic kid poised to step into second grade.

Like last year, Kelton opted to wear the exact same clothes for the last day as he wore on the first. I went through the photos yesterday to refresh my memory and then I went through his closet to find the shirt. Sadly though I didn't look closely enough at the photos to realize he was wearing his light brown cords and not jeans. I completely spaced on the fact that he refused to wear jeans back then because of the snap/button issue. Since he lost so much weigh over the year, he can now shimmy them on and off without needing to unsnap or botton. See? Who said losing all that weight didn't have an upside?) I find it odd in some ways that he hasn't really outgrown his clothes since kindergarten because yes, he can still wear the shirt he wore to his first and last day of kindergarten. A few random things here and there have been outgrown but mostly, it's all the same stuff. I see it good in this way: I have very little back to school clothes shopping to do for him since I still have the bin of stuff in the garage that I had bought for him to wear this year that he hasn't yet grown into. :)

And now for the compare and contrast part of the fun......take a look at how much my guy has changed in the past 9 months. I am stunned because, to me, he looks exactly the same and always has. But clearly the photos tell another story. Such a big kid he is now.

Last Day of Kindergarten

How in the world did the end of Kelton's first year of school come so quickly? These past nine months have flown by. He is so excited about being a first grader (which he can tell you happens at 11:25 this morning. That's when the bell rings, signaling the start of summer vacation.).

I go back and forth - thrilled for him but so sad that this year is over. Next year brings even more changes - such as a full school day. Wow.

Here are some photos I took this morning and then a few from his first day of school back in September. Amazing. Oh - and yes, he is wearing the same shirt. He had me go back into the files to see what he wore on the first day - he was sad he didn't have the same sweatshirt and shoes though. :)

Showing everyone that he is going to be a First Grader!!

Kelton and Mom. Getting ready to get in the car. Did I mention he gave up on the bus before the end of September? He only rode it when I absolutely could not take him - like when I had appointments. I've enjoyed dropping him off every morning. :)
Waiting outside his classroom door.
With his friend.
Another friend. (I didn't get pictures of everyone but we managed to get several. He is a well liked kid. :))
Chatting up the music teacher. He was definitely a highlight in Kelton's school year.
Kelton with his teacher. What a great year its been!

And now a look back to that very first day:


Eager to go.Kelton and Mom.
Riding the big yellow school bus.

We have come a long, long way this year. He has done exceedingly well in school and has had a lot of fun. We could not be more proud of him if we tried. Kelton, my son, you have rocked your kindergarten year. Congrats, baby! :)

And for fun - let's do a side by side comparision:

Then:



Now:
Is it just me or has he lost a lot of that baby-ness in his face? *sigh*