Monday, August 31, 2015

Jax's First Day of 1st Grade!

Jax had a great first day of 1st grade. Just like Lilah, he didn’t have a ton to divulge, but we have a new system in place that is providing opportunity for more conversations, about our day, upon arrival home.

Jax’s schedule is identical to Lilah’s minus a few small changes (aka: Jax isn’t in cheerleading :)

                                           6:15 am Rise and Get Dressed
                                           6:30 am Breakfast/Family Devotional by Daddy
                                           6:45 am Brush Teeth/Hair
                                           7:00 am Load Book Bag W/ Lunch Box
                                           7:05 am Walk To Bus Stop
                                           7:06 am Get On Bus
                                           7:35 am Arrive School
                                           7:50 am School Starts
                                           2:15 pm School Ends
                                           2:40 pm Bus Drops Him Off
                                           2:45 pm Unload Bookbags/Snack/Homework
                                           6:00 pm Football
                                           8:00 pm Dinner (EEEEEEKKKKK)
                                           8:45 pm Bath
                                           9:15 pm Prayers and Lights Out!

The first day of school, Jax wasn’t like the typical kid: anxious or excited and popping right out of bed.  Jax was fairly indifferent and didn’t really budge when I woke him up.  He was used to the 8:30 am rise time and 6:15 am was tough.
It’s amazing how much Jax has grown since Kindergarten.  From his photos last year to this year’s photos, it appears as if he went from toddler to CHILD. Sniff, sniff. 
Jax knows that mommy always gets to pick out the 1st day of school outfit (at least until he starts arguing with me :)  LOL! I try hard to color coordinate the twins, more so for photo opportunities, rather than because they are twins. I chose a beautiful and uniqued colored, plaid shirt from Carter's (again I am surprised that's the store I found our 1st day of school outfits in).  The knee length jeans came from Gap Kids.  
 His cute, white laced, boat shoes were ALSO from Carter's.  
Jax was happy that Evan is in his class again this year! Other than Evan and Lilah, he hasn't really made reference to any new or old friends that he is enjoying!
Oh my Jaxey definitely has some strong Crisafi genes.  I just think he's a knock out!
 I say it all the time, too, he's so much more handsome when he smiles!!!!
One way to for sure know that he is growing up too fast is by his book bag and lunch box selection.  When Ty was in 1st grade, I was able to still purchase a matching book bag and lunch box set from Pottery Barn Kids, but Jax is walking very quickly in his brother's footsteps.  He chose NIKE all the way! The lunch box is grey with fluorescent yellow accents.  The lunch box is black with fluorescent yellow accents.  
I think school will help Jax grow tougher skin.  He has a very sensitive spirit, like his mommy and daddy, and can be crushed to the core easily.  The second day of school Jax tried to sit next to Lilah, at circle time, and Lilah exclaimed, "Why do you want to sit next to me?"  That really hurt his feelings.  He even cried re-telling the story to me!!! Lilah claims she was just wondering why he wouldn't want to sit next to Evan or another boy! Jax couldn't believe that she would even go there. Of course he'd rather choose his twin sister over a friend.  That Lilah...she can be a little insensitive at times, but she is also a little lover!!!
 There he goes... off to the bus stop! My little "handsome bunny"! Haha.  That's what I call him.
I also cannot recall anything noteworthy from Jax's first day of first grade, but one thing Jax did say, by the end of the week, that he loved MORE about 1st grade than he did about Kindergarten was DESKS.  He likes NOT having to share SPACE with friends.  He enjoys having his own desk verse a table. I CANNOT say that I blame him for feeling that way!!!
I didn't need to take as many photos of Jax because he was rather cooperative, but I certainly did NOT post all of the pictures above.  If you are interested in seeing them ALL, please feel free to click on the Picasa Web Album, below, to see more!!!!

Sunday, August 30, 2015

North Roanoke Jamboree 2015

The Glenvar Highlanders played in another scrimmage on Saturday.  It was called the "North Roanoke Jamboree".  The weather was gorgeously hot.  LOL!  The boys did great, suffering a little humility, losing by a touchdown.  Enjoy a small slide show I put together. I am also posting a few of my favorite photos below for the FULL effect. I am SUPER excited for their first game on Wednesday, September 9th.  Come out and support our Glenvar Highlanders.
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Of course, if that's STILL not enough, you can ALWAYS double click on the Picasa Web Album below, from a landline!!!

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Getting To Know You...

Yesterday, I designed a teacher questionnaire so that we can get to know our kids' teachers a little bit better.  The questions/answers come in really handy and are used as a great resource for when it's gift giving time.  I enjoy being creative and I give to the teachers ALL throughout the year, but during the BIGGER holidays, for instance Christmas, I try to get them something that they will really enjoy.  There are only so many apple items, posted notes, and framed artwork that they can use or make room for.  Their classrooms are OVER-flowing.  


I had to work in stages because LIFE has a great way of interrupting the FUN in your day! LOL! Here is Stage 1. 
It was actually a good idea to walk away from my designing because over time I thought about more ideas and I was able to add them all, creating the cutest little questionnaire.  

Here is Stage 2. I created one question per letter of the alphabet.  Some of the letters were much more difficult to come up with ideas questions for.  I even had to ask a few of my girlfriends for help, but in the end, I went with my own ideas.  
I still felt like the list wasn't perfect.  "Kids (#)??? What would I do with that?  I also had Ice Cream for I, at one point, but I LOVE what I changed the I to and I was able to use ice cream STILL under the letter Y.  And the banner looked a little plain. So here is Stage 3. Notice the changes? I changed the K to "Kolor".  Yes, that's NOT the way you spell it, but that's ok!!! I also added the words "Fort Lewis" + a heart to the banner.  IT FIT PERFECTLY in the predesigned banner.  I was thrilled.  
Here is the FINAL STAGE! 
I added a little heart to the lion! Fort Lewis' school colors are blue and yellow and the school's mascot is a lion! HENCE the reason I added those personal touches.
After I printed the FINAL questionnaire, I had to SPRUCE it up with some rope and alphabet or star paper!
If you are a Fort Lewis parent/student and LOVE this idea, I have created a blank questionniare for you to fill in!  Just send me a quick email or comment and I will send you the document to print from your very own computer.
If you are NOT a Fort Lewis parent or student, I have created a non-personalized (no lion and no school name) questionnaire for you. I know how precious time is and sometimes being able to create your own printables is NOT a possibility!  Feel free to comment or email me for the document.  You should be able to open this document in WORD and add your teacher's name.  You could ALWAYS hand right it too!
I am so pleased with how it turned out.  It is fun giving the teachers a little bit of HOMEWORK for a change!! I wonder if they will turn it in on time.  LOL!

Lilah's FIRST Day of 1st Grade!

Lilah Ann Bolling's FIRST Day of 1st Grade!
Oh my little girl is growing up too fast! When I looked at the back-to-school pictures I took, I said to Darren, "Man O' Day, look at how big she's gotten!" His response..."I think it might be the way you dress her."  LOL! No daddy, she's growing up! Lilah was very pumped about the first day of school.  Everyone was asked to sleep in their own beds the night before school started.  This was a hard something to swallow because there has been a ton of musical beds going on this Summer. When I woke Lilah up, she was bright eyed and bushy tailed aka ready to go! 
Lilah's first day of 1st grade, according to her, was great. The start of her day was smooth sailing. After school, I could tell she was exhausted.  Praise GOD Mrs. Thomsen did NOT give any homework, other than to "Memorize [their] lunch number."  Her agenda was slightly different from last year's...
                                                         6:15 am Rise and Get Dressed
                                                         6:30 am Breakfast/Family Devotional by Daddy
                                                         6:45 am Brush Teeth/Hair
                                                         7:00 am Load Book Bag W/ Lunch Box
                                                         7:05 am Walk To Bus Stop
                                                         7:06 am Get On Bus
                                                         7:35 am Arrive School
                                                         7:50 am School Starts
                                                         2:15 pm School Ends
                                                         2:40 pm Bus Drops Her Off
                                                         2:45 pm Unload Bookbags/Snack/Homework
                                                         6:00 pm Cheerleading
                                                         8:00 pm Dinner (EEEEEEKKKKK)
                                                         8:45 pm Bath
                                                         9:15 pm Prayers and Lights Out!
It gives me heart palpitations that my children are currently eating dinner 3 hours passed our normal dinner time.  It also saddens me that they are in bed so late.  There is really NOTHING I can do about it.  It's a crazy season of life and it will get better come late October. 
I fell in love with Lilah's outfit as soon as I laid eyes on it.  I actually custom ordered an outfit, from a very talented seamstress, with mix and match fabrics and loads of cute details, but I couldn't get my mind off of how cute this outfit would look on her.  The shorts romper, believe it or not, came from Carter's.  I spotted it on our July trip to Myrtle Beach.  It's adorable alone, but I knew immediately that Cheetah/Tortoise Shell/Leopard accents would make it that much cuter.  Originally, I also thought I would have her wear boots with it, but the cheetah shoes AND her hair tied everything together, so perfectly.
And speaking of her hair...Lilah and I, together, decided on an ADORABLE, side, bow, ponytail.  I have been practicing with new hairstyles this Summer because I am tired of the standard ponytail, pigtails, and braids.  I practiced this bow-tail several times so that the morning of it wouldn't be a challenge to complete, before the bus arrived.  I'm so in love with this look and now that I know how to do it, it really is simple.
Lilah's shoes were certainly something that I wish were made in my size.  Classy, yet trendy, June T-Strap, leopard print shoes.
I also loved the jewelry that I picked up for her.  I purchased ALL of her attire from different stores, but it all went so well together!
Between the outfit, the hair, the shoes, and the accessories (belt, necklace, and bracelet) she was ready to head off to 1st grade.
Off to the bus stop she goes!!!
 Growing up before my very own eyes!
This year, I allowed Lilah to express her interests and loves by picking out her own book bag, lunch box, and matching water bottle.  It killed me, but I think she did pretty good actually.  She chose this ombre, sequined, "L" matching set from, of all places, JUSTICE!
Lilah enjoyed her first day of school! Last year, I wrote about some of her highlights/comments, but this time, I didn't get a TON out of her!  As the week progresses, I am trying to remember some things that she has been sharing with me, but so far she hasn't said anything funny or worth noting, really! 
I'm interested in seeing how 1st grade grows/changes Lilah! My biggest hope is that she is kind to EVERYONE and that she will serve/obey her teachers rightly. I'm not concerned about her academically.  She is a great reader and a bright little girl, WHEN she's willing to apply herself! This is NOT the end of 1st grade news!!! I'll be back...
I took a TON of pictures.  If you are interested in seeing MORE, you can use click on the Picasa Web Album below.  If you are viewing this post from a cell phone or tablet, the online photo album will NOT be available to you.