Operation Serve: family edition

This year was Anna Claire's first to serve with us!

So, we were on our way to Operation Serve and AC points out a homeless man. "We should give him a blessing bag, Mommy." I told her we were running late and we could maybe stop back by later. "He may not be there later, Mommy." Needless to say, I turned the car around and handed him a blessing bag!

For Op Serve this year, we collected food donations for Manna Cafe in front of GFS on Wilma Rudolph. 

Anna Claire and a little boy named Will were our secret weapons. They handed out fliers that listed foods Manna Cafe needed as people entered the store. We did pretty well! We collected several boxes ful in our 3 hours there.

We had Madeline with us too, so it was convenient to have Target right across the way. Larry took the girls over to get snacks and drinks and to get Lucas a birthday present (bday party today). Ac and Larry also went in a bought $100 worth of food for Manna. 

It was a good experience for all of us and we were so thankful for the rain that came last night and cooled things off. No so hot, and there was a nice breeze.

First Full Day of Kindergarten (with her whole class!)

Anna Claire is like the typical child when you ask her about her day. She'll either shrug her shoulders or tell you "nothing" when asked what she did.

But not this day! Larry and I got a wonderful earful. I am so happy knowing she's liking her teacher, her class, and her school. And her enthusiasm is precious.

Mommy! We read The Kissing Hand and Mrs. Hayhurst made Kissing Hand cookies! They had Hershey's kisses on them! 

Mommy! We went to art class and my teacher is Mrs. Smith! I got to paint a penguin. It's hanging in my class.

I fell asleep on my towel. Maggie did too. She was snoring.

At lunch I had a peanut butter and jelly with strawberry jelly! We had spicy fries with hot sauce too. It was so good. And fruit. I had grapes and pears and peaches. I want to take my lunch box on Monday though. Maggie has Capri Sun, mommy. Simon was talking on the red cup. That means no talking so Simon had to sit by himself at the time out table.

It's my turn to bring snack on Monday. I want to bring go-go squeeze applesauce and white cheddar cheese cubes.

We got to go to recess! We played ring around the Rosie at recess! I played with all the friends. Even Simon. 

Kindergarten, already?

I am just not ready for this! If Anna Claire wasn't so over-the-moon excited, I'd be a babbling mess. Thankfully her enthusiasm is contagious and she has me pretty gosh darn pumped too.

We went to back to school night and didn't stay long since we had Madeline with us who has been pretty fussy. We met Mrs. Hayhurst! I could kick myself for not getting better picks of her amazing jungle themed classroom. It is so awesome! And Anna Claire is in the same class as one of her best friends, Maggie!

I was feeling a little bummed that I couldn't be the parent who attends the First day of kindergarten with her tomorrow, but I realized that I have been so lucky to take part in so many of her milestones when Larry couldn't. So I am happy for them to have this special daddy daughter moment that they can always both share and remember.

Kindergarten parent homework

Mrs. Hayhurst, Anna Claire's kindergarten teacher, gave us a homework assignment for the start of school that I really think I'm going to enjoy! We're supposed I write a letter to her letting her know what kind of learner Anna Claire is, what her interests are, and anything else we think she should know about her. 

Here it goes!

Anna Claire is a very sweet, thoughtful and sensitive little girl. I think you'll find her to be considerate of others and a friend to all.

Anna Claire enjoys art, music, reading, food (dad is a classically trained chef), gymnastics, and spending time with her family. She is wanting to play soccer this fall but only if Maggie Williams or their Red Barn friend Ava plays, however we are trying to encourage Anna Claire to make choices based on her own interests versus what her friends want.

Anna Claire can read just about anything you put in front of her. We did Your Baby Can Read with her and it definitely works if done with fidelity. It does not translate, however, to writing, though Anna Claire has only recently started showing interest in even wanting to write words.

Anna Claire has a new little sister, Madeline. We have faced some issues with jealousy in the past 10 months. We have tried spending one on one time with Anna Claire and just really trying to go out of our way to let her know she's special. It is slowly getting better and easier.

Anna Claire has lost three major adult figures in her life in under a year: my mom last September, Larry's step-dad in April, and our small group leader and close family friend a couple of weeks ago (Anna Claire spent every Tuesday evening in their home for about a year).

Anna Claire is a nail biter. We have incentives in place at home (Beary Bear) to encourage her to stop. We have also explained to her the importance of keeping her hands out of her mouth at school to keep herself and her friends healthy. Your support with this is appreciated!

Anna Claire is left-handed. She has special left-handed scissors in her school box that have both the handle and blade reversed, which is really what a lefty needs. I've really seen improvement since getting her this pair. Anna Claire has not been very receptive to her daddy or me showing her how to correctly hold her pencil and we've struggled with how to model for her since we are both right-handed.

Anna Claire is a good girl, but we are aware she is not perfect. She struggles with listening to and following directions, so focus and paying attention are concerns. Anna Claire is honest most of the time but we have caught her telling stories recently. She really wants to please and Red Barn teachers loved her to pieces. I am sure you will too.