Last Day of 3rd Grade

Today is Lexi's last day of 3rd grade. Time marches on...  They both had a great teacher, but Lexi completely adored her homeroom teacher. The kids brought gifts for their teachers this morning.

This afternoon, I met the kids with water guns, like most of the walking parents do. It is fun to spray them when they walk out of the school. They enjoy it for the celebration and because it is HOT here in Texas. They came home to find that I had decorated the front door. Let the summer games begin! 

3rd Grade Awards & Presentation

The 3rd Grade had their end of the year awards and presentations today. Lexi loves doing PowerPoints, so she asked if she could make one for this. She made it at home and brought it in on a USB.

Regan & Lexi

Awards & Recognition Time

Presentation - The Rainforest

Cool 3rd Grader

3rd Grade Coming to and End

Some mornings I think about how this year is coming to an end. It hits me as we are walking to school and I want to remember this. Of course, pictures help with that.

First STAAR Test

This is Lexi's very first week of standardized testing. In Texas, it is called the STAAR Test. Lexi was quite excited about it. Her school did a great job of making them think this was cool. They told her to bring books to read, which she did and spent most of the day reading those. The test was done pretty quickly. She thought it was kind of boring, but was glad not to have to take her backpack or do homework. 

Cheering for Tests

Next week, the kids elementary school has their dreaded standardized testing. This will be Lexi's first year doing it. I told her that I actually like test days, which is true. As a mom, I still love that there isn't any homework.

This is quite silly, but her school had a pep rally today to get the kids excited about the tests. Lexi came up with a cheer and talked a few of her friends into joining her. They tried out and won a spot in the rally, so here it is:

Backpack Silliness

On the way to school this morning, Lexi swung her backpack to the front. She announced that she was pregnant.  

School Literacy Night

Last week, I took the kids to their school's literacy night.  Lexi had been looking forward to it for a few weeks because they were learning and song and dance that was going to be taped and put on YouTube.  Jordan wasn't that interested partly because he missed the initial classes when he was ill. Jordan and I stayed in the back of the room.  Lexi got right up in front with a few of her friends.  The video was posted today and I had no problems picking out Lexi.  She is in quite a few spots. She has a black shirt on and a long blonde side ponytail.

Texas Bluebonnet Reading Program

From 3rd to 5th grade, Texas has a Bluebonnet Reading Program. The school kids get the list of 20 books for the program. If they want to attend the school party, they have to read 10 of the books and be ready to discuss what they liked/didn't like about them. Then there is a party during school so they can vote on which one they liked the most. The 3rd graders are invited, but few of them go. Lexi wanted to do it this year. She ended up being 1 of 4 third graders at the party. The pink and purple shaded books above are the ones she read. If you read the last post, you can probably guess which one she voted for.  

Literacy Night

Lexi and Jordan had literacy night at their school this evening. They brought along one of their favorite books. Lexi had Flora & Ulysses. Her favorite part of these evenings is socializing with her friends. Of course, she doesn't refuse the homework pass.

Foggy Walk

It was foggy on our walk to school this morning.

School in the Winter

Winter break is officially over.  The kids went back to school today. Back to reading logs and homework too.  

Harvest Festival

I went to the school today to watch the kids celebrate Harvest Festival.  The kids decorated sugar cookies to look like turkeys.  They also played games.  

Veterans Day Performance

The third graders at Lexi's school have been working on their Veteran's Day performance for months.  They learned lots of patriotic songs.  The kids were asked to invite their family along with veterans.  I told Lexi that we didn't know any veterans that live nearby, so she asked if we could ask a friend from church.  She just knew that his ultra-patriotic self would LOVE it.  Fortunately, his grandsons go to the same school.  I mentioned Lexi's desire to his daughter and she handled the part of inviting him.  He even took us to dinner and we had a nice evening.  

Looking Cute

Wearing Orange

Today was wear Orange day.  Lexi picked her orange skirt to wear.

Crazy Sock Day

It was crazy sock day at school today.  Lexi wore her knee-high hot pink heart ones.  I thought she looked cute.

Geography & Physical Science Project

This week, we had to make salt dough to send to school for a project.  We actually made 2 batches.  Lexi has a girl in her class, who misses out on a lot of these things because her parents don't always come through.  We know this because she was in her class last year too.  Lexi didn't want her to get in trouble for it, so we just made extra.  Today, Lexi got to bring home her project.  She was very excited to show us her different land formations.

Sadly, when she got in the car, Jordan threw his coat in and knocked one of the big ones over.  That is why her eyes look a little teary in the picture above.  He didn't mean to do it.  He was upset about something else.  What a fun way to start a Friday night, right?  I helped them calm down and we glued Lexi's mountain back on.

Expanded Playground

Every year, Lexi and Jordan's school does endless fundraisers.  Last year, they were collecting money to add a new section to the playground.  It was finished this week, but the weather wasn't very good and too many kids were climbing on it so they didn't get to play on it during school.  I took them there today and they had a blast.