Spelling Test Preparations

Every evening this week, we have given Peyton a practice spelling test in preparation for Friday's real test.  The words are super easy; they are all words he's been reading and writing for at least a year now.  We just want him to be familiar with the spelling test process by Friday.  On the very first test, he got all the words correct.  I wrote "100" at the top of his page, and we gave his lots of kudos.  On the next test, he let his attention wander away from the test and the words I was calling out for a few moments, and, as a result, couldn't remember one of the words he was supposed to write down.  I decided to make it a teachable moment, refused to tell him the word he didn't pay attention to in the first place, and, after the test was over, made him write his missed word five times for practice.  Tonight, he payed VERY close attention to the words I called out and wrote each one quickly and neatly.  Lesson learned.  Peyton made a "100" again tonight, and, after I wrote his "grade" at the top of his paper, he asked (much to our amusement and parental pride!), "But Mommy, how can I make MORE than 100?"

Fiesta Texas

On Saturday, we took the kids to Fiesta Texas for the first time since moving to San Antonio over a year ago.  Our main objective was to spend most of the day at the water park, which didn't open until noon.  We arrived around 11 to let the kids ride just a few of the smaller rides.  By 11 am it was already HOT, but there was no wait time for any of the rides. 

When the water park finally opened we headed over there, ate lunch, changed into our swimsuits and got wet as quickly as possible!  Peyton and Daddy did one of the bigger slides - which Peyton loved, of course!  We spend most of our time in the kids play area, which had slides that both kids could do.  We also took a few trips down the packed lazy river!  Despite the heat, we all had a really good time and are wanting to go back and experience Holiday in the Park in December, when is it hopefully much cooler!

First Week of School

One week down....  And it was a great week!  Peyton woke up completely on his own at 5:40 on Monday morning, the first day of school!  He happily got dressed, ate breakfast and posed for a few "First Day of School" pictures.

 Our big First Grader!

After the traditional pictures, we all drove Peyton to school and walked him to his classroom. 

Heading inside. 

 The students wait in the hallway until 7:35.  The school day officially begins at 7:45 again this year.

Let the learning begin!

Reagan and Mommy spent the first day of school running errands and doing a few projects at home.  The day passed by quickly.  Reagan missed her big brother and was in a very fussy mood all day!  When we picked up Peyton, his report was that school was "good" but that he was ready to get home and play with his toys!   As I was putting him to bed that night, he finally reported that school felt a little "weird" this year (just like it did last year).  He liked it, though, and really liked the book Mrs. Carle read.  His favorite part of the day was recess (shocker!).  

The rest of the week went by pretty quickly.  Reagan keeps asking about when her school will start (after Labor Day).  Peyton has had a great week!  His teacher even called on Tuesday to report on what a great job he is doing!  One afternoon, as Peyton colored at the kitchen table, he asked me, "But Mommy, can you believe that I'm in First Grade already?"  Peyton is starting to learn the names of the other kids in his class.  Today, his "homework" was to bring an item from home that best represents himself.  He took a baggie to school with one each of several different building toys because he likes to build stuff.  Tonight Peyton told us that he likes Mrs. Carle because she dresses nice!  Peyton's first spelling test is next Friday.  Guess that means we now need to block off time in the evenings for real homework!

Meet the Teacher Night

On Wednesday evening, we went to school for Meet the Teacher night.  Peyton's First Grade teacher is Mrs. Carle, and we are so excited that he will be in her class this year!

 Peyton sorting his school supplies.

Peyton and Mrs. Carle

Peyton in his new classroom.

School starts bright and early on Monday morning.  Tonight I asked Peyton if he was excited about school starting.  "I'll be excited on Monday morning," was his answer!

Beach!

Last weekend was our "Beach Weekend".  We spent Friday night with Grandma and Grandpa and then headed down to Corpus Christi on Saturday.  Our drive to Corpus Christi included several really neat sights: windmill farms, the USS Lexington, the Harbor Bridge (the tallest bridge in Texas), a tug boat pulling an oil tanker into the harbor. 

A few of the hundreds of huge windmills along Hwy 181, just North of Corpus Christi.

When we got into Corpus, we drove along Shoreline, next to the bay.  We ate lunch at Whataburger by the Bay, a two-story Whataburger with a balcony.  And yes, we ate our lunch on the balcony, despite the heat and seagulls begging for our food! 

 

 Grandpa's Corpus Christi office (the Education Service Center) is just across the street from Whataburger, and the kids were excited to get to see Grandpa's "other" office.

We finally arrived at our beach destination about mid-afternoon.  We decided to return to the same beach we visited a couple of summers ago on North Pardre Island by Bob Hall Pier.  

When we finally all had enough sand and surf, we cleaned up and headed to Wings N More for dinner. 

August "Summer Fun" Updates

August has been just as busy and just as fun as July was!  Here are a few updates from the first ten days of August:

Reagan "graduated" to a big girl booster seat!  Her favorite part is not the pink or the flowers or that she can now unbuckle herself.  Her favorite thing is the cup holders!  (It's true - girls do like having cup holders!)

Also during the first week of August, we saw "Despicable Me" at the dollar movies, went to Funtastic Playland, went school shoe shopping at the San Marcos outlet malls, had a friend over to play, to name a few activities!

On Saturday August 6, we took the kids to Kiddie Park.  And yes, it was almost unbearably HOT!  However, we had free passes, the kids were begging to go and we prepared for the heat as best as we could!  The kids did have a pretty good time, and, since very few families were crazy enough to go to an amusement park in 100 + degree heat, they never had to wait in line to do a ride.

 Riding the airplanes.

Flying saucers

 Reagan is a little hot and sweaty!

Boats

They had the bus all to themselves!

On Sunday afternoon (August 7), Reagan and Mommy attended the play "Pinkalicious" by the Magic Theater.  Daddy and Peyton spent their "boy time" that afternoon at the pool, per Peyton's request.  

This production of "Pinkalicious" was held at the Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club instead of in the Magic Theater downtown, where most of the productions are held and where we've been in the past.  Reagan decided to take her Pinkalicious doll.  The musical was really cute, and Reagan was completely attentive to the entire hour long production.  

 Reagan brought her Pinkalicious book, a birthday gift from Kelsey and Bethany, and got autographs from the entire cast.

Reagan and Pinkalicious!

Monday, August 8 was day Peyton had been counting down to for some time!  It was the day we were going to Schlitterbaun for Kendra's birthday!  The kids have excitedly watched Schiltterbaun commercials all summer long and were thrilled when Randy, Dana and Kendra invited us to celebrate Kendra's birthday there with them!  We arrived at 10 am, as the gates opened and met up with the Stephens family and Kendra's friends.  We claimed our tables and hit the rides!  Peyton was ready and willing to go down even the highest, fastest slides.  Throughout the day, he and Daddy did several of the bigger slides, while Reagan pouted about not being big enough to do it too!  There were a few some-what bigger slides Reagan was able to do however, and she couldn't get enough!  We all enjoyed floating down the Congo and one of the newest rides, The Falls.  

Got tubes, ready to ride!

Reagan on a turtle 

Trying to keep a birthday candle lit!

Playing in the tubes

Peyton and Daddy climbing the stairs to the roof-top slide - traditional Schiltterbaun!

There they go!  Peyton did this slide 3 times and would have done it more!

We almost closed down the park!  Tired and sunburned, we had to practically drag the kids out of the park - they so did NOT want to go home!

Tuesday, August 9 - Back to school dental cleanings and exams for the kids!  Another great visit - no cavities!   To celebrate, we used our movie passes see the new Smurfs movie!  Very cute!  Today was also Comet's birthday!  We bought a package of mini cupcakes (for us!) and kitty treats for the Birthday cat.  He wasn't very impressed with the candle or our singing of "Happy Birthday to you."  The kids also made birthday cards for Comet.