fabulous chaos

Monday, June 11, 2012

Let's go to the beach!

We spent four nights during the first week of June in Dana Point, lazing on the beach! We stayed at a great hotel (except for the 'round the clock train horns!) right across the street from the beach access. My family is so on the same wavelength when it comes to beach trips, and I am so happy for that! We hit the beach right after breakfast, and don't leave until dinner time. We packed our cooler each day and spent hours digging, napping, burying, reading and tanning! The weather was perfect. Mid-70's and sunny each day!

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

GW 2012

Girls Weekend 2012 was at the Westin Kierland this year! We booked a timeshare room for the weekend, which was faaaabulous! Amy and I went up on Friday. We ended up sitting in the room for the first few hours instead taking advantage of the ammenities because it was quiet and we could just talk. With NO interruptions!! We enjoyed a night out at Cheesecake Factory drinking more pineapple mojitos than we actually ate!
On Saturday morning Shannon and Lisa were there by breakfast time to join us for the day/night. We spent the entire day at the adult pool lounging, laughing and snacking.
It was a great weekend. Mellow, low-key and perfect. It was also where the plans were made for GW 2013. Year 7 come 11....in Vegas!!

Monday, June 4, 2012

An Afternoon with the 2nd Grade Teachers

At the school auction this year, I purchased, and won the 2nd grade activity. I was determined to buy it for Hayden. She doesn't get invited or asked to do much of anything by the other kids at school, but there was a small group of girls that she played with regularly, so I wanted her to invite them to do something fun. This was the perfect activity!

Hayden, Bianca, Jazheel and Andrea

Friday, June 1, 2012

Hayden's 2nd grade year...in the bag!

Second grade was a good school year for Hayden. It came with a lot of ups and downs..many challenges and strides academically, but socially, it was a peaceful year! There were no issues of Hayden being bullied, like in first grade, and she found a nice little group of girls that she played with each day at school. Having confidence in yourself and others, is half the battle to your successes in school, in my opinion!

Hayden made some good progress with reading and writing, whille math remained her challenge. But she's testing above average and her grades are very steadily at a B. We are so proud of her!

At the end of the school year, Hayden brought home an invitation, stating that she was getting an award for perseverance, excellent behavior, improving academics and following the TRIBE principles. Miss Pett., her teacher, had chosen her for the Sunshine Breakfast award. We were, again, so proud of her! Taylor and I were her guests for breakfast that Friday morning, before school started.

Miss Pettinato and Hayden at the Sunshine Breakfast

I stuck around for the PRIDE assembly once school started that morning, since I was there. Even if my kids are not awarded, I like to attend, if I can, as I think it shows them encouragement and desire to want to achieve these awards. Well....lo and behold..I am SO glad I did! Not only was Hayden recognized for her Sunshine Breakfast achievement, she was also rewarded with an honorable student award and a music award, given by Mrs. Davis, the music teacher.

Beaming. I was beaming. And fighting to hold back my tears. In the last 5 years, if you would've ever told me my child would have received awards for any of the above, I could've never dreamt it.

This is not her first Sunshine Breakfast, it is her second. However, this is her first one that her teacher designated why she earned it. She earned one in first grade, and that was for being a "sweetheart". ;-)

A (school) year in the life of a Kindergartner!

Not only did Mrs. DeHart gift each student with a tear-jerking photo/video slideshow at the end of the school year, she compiled a disc, per child, of pictures she'd taken of them all year long. Talk about a teacher that loves her job and her students. We were so, soo lucky that both of our girls had her! Here are some highlights of Taylor's kindergarten year!