Kindergarten Luau

Jaiden and her classmates had loads of fun celebrating the end of school (and the successful completion of kindergarten) with a luau party. They dressed up in "grass skirts," colorful shirts, flip flops and leis and had a blast dancing to music, eating snacks and posing for pictures -- like this one! Yes, that's my little ham on the right with the pink, star-shaped sunglasses!
(I can't believe my little girl has finished her first year of school!)

Student of the MONTH!

We're very proud of Jaiden, who is doing exceptionally well in kindergarten -- in her work and studies and in just being a good student and getting "starry eyes" ... just about every day.

In fact, Jaiden was recently Student of the Month for January. Her school held a really nice ceremony and presented her -- and other winners -- with an engraved medal. WOW! Way to go, J!

Christmas at CPES

Jaiden's kindergarten class had their Christmas program last night in the cafeteria of their school. Parents and family members were everywhere... there was standing/sitting-on-the-floor room only! Aside from some soreness from the awkward seating, the program was fun -- and funny! Most of the kids didn't really sing as much as they yelled the words! Jaiden and her classmates did a great job! Of course, we couldn't hear her sing from where we were sitting/ standing.... so she could have very well been only mouthing the words to the songs!

Turkey Claus?

Jaiden had a "family holiday homework" project to work on last week -- we were given a paper drawing of turkey parts (head, legs, wings, etc.) and were instructed to "hide" the turkey so he/she wouldn't get eaten for Thanksgiving. Some suggestions to "hide" the turkey were to disguise him/her as another animal, as a cartoon character or even as an inanimate object like a soccer ball, tree, etc.
Jaiden wanted, at first, to create a fairy princess turkey.... but another girl in her class created that one! *whew! So then we got excited about the idea of a snowman turkey. But another kid showed up at school with his turkey disguised that way. So... we convinced Jaiden that it would be cool to go along with Sean's original idea of a turkey disguised as Santa Claus.
(I mean, who in his right mind would eat jolly ole' St. Nick for Thanksgiving, right?!?)

Well, we worked on it all evening.... sewing a Santa costume, cutting out Santa boots and belt and buckles, and even making our turkey a sack of Christmas presents. It turned out pretty darn cute!

Hopefully Jaiden's "Turkey Claus" will be safe this holiday season!

First day of BIG SCHOOL!

Jaiden officially became a "big girl" yesterday with the start of Kindergarten (AKA "big school")!
She picked out a new outfit to wear -- green and pink pants and a matching white shirt with green and pink turtles and hearts -- and used her new polka-dot bookbag.... ah, I mean messenger bag. (She's not too keen on how to carry it though, so we'll likely get out the Dora backpack so it's a bit easier for her!)
She loves her classroom and her teacher, and she's met some new friends.. but she says, "I can't remember all my new friends' names."
She's memorizing her car pool number and remembering to check the blue folder with me every night. So.... so far, so good!
The funniest thing is, when we got home yesterday, she asked: "Do I get to go to the big school all the time?"
Ah.... yes.... little does she know that this is just the beginning...