Proud Parents

Maddie completed her 5th week of kindergarten last week, marking the half-way point of the first quarter.  Progress Reports were sent home today evaluating the students' progress in academic subjects and behaviors that promote learning.  We're proud parents!

Maddie's Mid-Quarter Progress Report (click to view larger image)

Letter grades are not given to kindergarten students.  Instead, academic standards are categorized as:

• "Meets Standards" meaning student would grade between 80%-100%
• "Progressing" meaning student would grade between 70%-79%
• "Area of concern" meaning student would grade at 69% or less

More than the academic achievements, we're especially proud of Maddie's exemplary behaviors and the teacher comments.

The impact of five weeks of kindergarten has been noticeable.  Maddie's reading skills and confidence have increased significantly.  Her writing has improved so that letters are more consistently sized and aligned with spaces between words and she has a greater "endurance" to sit and read or write for longer periods of time.  When she writes, more words are spelled correctly, and even misspelled words are close enough to be deciphered.  New mathematical and scientific concepts are being explored, grasped, and applied (how many of you know what a Venn diagram is... ask Maddie!).

Best of all, Maddie is enjoying kindergarten and has expressed that it's mostly fun.  We hope that she keeps having fun and the learning will take care of itself.

Baby Luke Turns 1 Month Old

It's hard to believe that Luke is already one month old!  (Have we been waking in the middle of the night for 30 nights already?).  It seems like just yesterday that we were driving to meet him.  Every day we're reminded how blessed we are.  Luke has already brought so much joy and happiness to our lives.

Luke in the hospital

Maddie is embracing the role of big sister and enjoys "helping" with Luke's needs - changing diapers, shaking bottles of formula, and finding lost pacifiers.  She even helped Dad put together the baby swing and crib.  She's also very affectionate toward her new little brother - giving him lots of kisses on his head.  She's anxious for the day when they can play together in the toy room.

Maddie doing what Luke likes best - feeding him!

Mom and Dad are now fully back in "baby mode" and we've relearned everything that we forgot from 5 1/2 years ago.  For the most part caring for newborn Luke seems to be easier than it was caring for newborn Maddie.  However, changing baby boy diapers is a little more challenging than changing baby girl diapers - boys squirt!

Luke concentrates on his target... ready, aim, fire!

Only one week after settling into his new home Luke met "Grandma" (Angela's mother) when she visited for a week.  Of course he instantly charmed her and she fell in love.  We have a trip planned to visit Grandma in Lousiana in the fall - Luke's first airplane ride.

Grandma + Baby = Smiles

Fun Luke facts at 1 month old...
Favorite food: Formula
Favorite pastime: Eating
Least favorite activity: Diaper changes
Longest continuous sleep: 5 hours
Weight: 10 lbs, 9 ounces

Maddie starts kindergarten!

Last week Maddie started kindergarten!  The eagerly anticipated day was Monday, July 26th.  Tom took the day off from work to participate in this momentous day.  Together with Angela and baby Luke, Tom drove the "mom bus" to school, and after wiping Angela's tears and wishing Maddie luck, we left our big girl at school.

Maddie and teacher pose for playground photo before school

Maddie arrives eager to start her first day!

Maddie and a new friend compare first-day fashion

Maddie survived (and even enjoyed) her first week... it's a success!  Every day was a new experience and the dinner table was abuzz with stories of the day's activities.  Maddie's favorite things about kindergarten after one week: making new friends and PE!