Misc May

Stem night at school with the Sawgrass Panther...

A fun friday pic...

Rylee's class was in a program called Kapow where a business partners with a classroom and comes in occasionally to talk about good work habits etc.  Then at the end of the year you go on a field trip to that business.  The business they were partnered with was a media company that makes commercials.  On the day of the field  trip, they all wrote scripts and auditioned for the commercial.  Isaiah's script was the favorite, but Rylee was picked to deliver it.  Awesome!

Here is a shot of her reading the teleprompter in front of the green screen

(in someone else's glasses since she hadn't brought hers)

After they edited the commercial, they gave everyone a DVD copy.  It was about the fictional "Ford Falcon" - a flying car.  It turned out really out cute.  So proud of our little actress!

Rylee's last project of the year was a cereal box report on Roald Dahl's "The BFG" (Big Friendly Giant).  It turned out so cute, I had to share.

She traced a tree shape and cut it out with an exacto knife.  Placed on top of pretty scrap book paper and you have the wishing tree from the book.  She also had the idea of filling the little glass bottles with "dreams" that the giant caught.

On the back, the made some puzzles (like you would see on the back of a cereal box), but they were about the BFG.  When she presented, it was interactive and the kids helped answer the questions. 

One side was a summary, and the other side was about her.  She wrote with crazy invented words like the giant talks in the book.  :)

Sawgrass Spirit Day...

Jace with his buddy Saed at lunch...

April - Megan & Max

We're always sad when my parents have to go, but this year they're leaving coincided with a visit from the Ericksons, so that helped!  With Max and Megan...

They spent a few days in Orlando hitting the parks and Harry Potter land (hence the wand above), and then drove down to see us for the weekend before heading back.  On Saturday, we spent the day at the ocean.

On Sunday, we went on an airboat ride (my first ironically).  

We had some airboat troubles and had to switch boats three times, but each time we upgraded to a better boat, so we didn't mind.  I can't speak for everyone, but I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Jon had taken the kids here a while back when I was busy or out of town.  When Rylee held the baby alligator, the tail slapped her in the face.  She opted not to try it again, but Megan was game.

After we got back, the kids played in the pool...

and played video games.

These kids love each other and have so much fun together in MN and on our annual Cedar Crest trip.  It was really fun to host them at our place in FL.

Misc April

We always say that Rylee is the best big sister ever.  She is always helping Jace, getting things for him, looking out for him.  She even invented the "special treatment" for him when he's hurt or sick (where she sets him up with pillows, blankets, and rubs his feet.  Jace can't say that Rylee isn't there for him, I mean sometimes she's even his chair...

My parents were heading back to MN in late April, so we celebrated my Mom and Jace's birthday at the same time.  My mom was kind enough to agree to a Star Wars cake.  Lol!

Showing off the gift he got from my parents.  A Star Wars "fitbit."  Technically, it's a Garmin, but we call it a fitbit.  He is obsessed with it.  He wears it everyday (even to school) and tracks his steps and activity.  

Rylee with her besties, Emily and Maddan, on a field trip.  They had so many I'm not sure where they were going this time. 

I'm thinking the Imax based on this picture.  (On another note, do you happen to notice that Rylee zips her jacket all the way to the top?  This is a point of contention between her and I.  I'm always tugging it down an inch or two and she's pulling it back up.  It's our one and only fight.  Lol!)

I mentioned Jace had two weeks of swimming lessons for his Kindergarten field trip.  His teacher and friends loved this towel I got for him last year.

April - Rylee's Play

 Rylee's community theater play was "Something Wicked in Oz," a mash up of "Wicked", "The Wiz" and "The Wizard of Oz."  Rylee auditioned for the Scarecrow and got it.  She did an amazing job!  She was one of the few kids that really projected and acted.  She got so many compliments from people that didn't even know her/us.  :)

They don't allow photography during the performance, but here are some pics after the show.

The 4 of them...

With her former teachers (K,1, and 2)....

My co-teacher (who was pregnant at the time) also came to the show...

 With us...

Loaded down with flowers... :)

With her favorite theater teacher...

Cutest scarecrow ever!

More April

Erin, Rylee and I went to Stars On Ice which featured all the skaters from the Olympics.  Rylee was especially excited to see the "Shib Sibs" ice dancers.  They wouldn't let you take pics during the show, but Erin took a selfie of all us.

Rylee made the A honor roll for the 3rd quarter.

Jace had two weeks of swimming lessons...

...and a field trip to the farm (which Rylee was really jealous about - 

she missed this field trip in K because she was sick).

I have to admit it is a fun one.  It was my favorite to take the kids on when I taught K.

So I know exactly what the kids are doing in this picture, singing "We are the dinosaurs... roar!"

Autism awareness day...

April Hijinks

In March, we started a new Friday after-school tradition.  We go to the YAA museum with some friends.  We hit the library and the kids play in the exhibits until closing.  One time we visited, the kids put on a performance.  They had mics, karaoke, and instruments in the exhibit.  Usually, it's not open for very long, but the guy that watches the exhibit was so impressed with the kids that he let them rock out for over an hour.  It was really fun.  I have tons of video, but here is a pic of Jayden, Maddan, and Rylee singing.

One Saturday in April, we went to a super cool birthday party thrown by one of the gals that teaches on my 2nd grade team.  Her son was turning 1 so I'm not sure how much he enjoyed the party, but the rest of the kids thought it was fantastic!  It was a jungle safari theme complete with petting zoo and photo area.  

Jace and Mucci's (Rylee's teacher's) daughter, Marissa...

With Reese (another teacher's kid)...

With Rylee and Josephine...

The kids without their props.

The petting zoo had pigs, chickens, and bunnies.  We called Rylee the "bunny whisperer."  All bunnies wanted to be with her.  When they were trying to jump out of the basket with another kid, they would pass the bunny to her and she would work her magic until it was calm and snuggly.

They also had a baby marmoset monkey.

Jace was the "bunny catcher."  When bunnies would jump out of baskets (one's that Rylee wasn't taming obviously), Jace would catch them and bring them back.

As you can imagine, Rylee really wanted a bunny after this party.

April - Most Valuable Polich

Our school created a new award this year.  It's the MVP award or "most valuable panther" since that is our mascot.  Basically, ever quarter the teachers or administration nominate one student out of the entire grade level (say 180-200 kids) to be the MVP.

Jace won the MVP for the third quarter!  We were so surprised and proud!  This is what they read about him before they called his name.

This MVP is a one of a kind student.  He displays many of the character traits we aspire to see in children and really in all people.  He is the child who is always there to help a friend without question.  He has that intrinsic drive to do what's right no matter what.  He is kind, respectful and has a great sense of humor.  He is the perfect example of an MVP for Kindergarten. 

The principal talking about Jace...

Getting his medal from the asst. principal...

So proud!

Way to go, Jace!

Bonnie from our PTA (the one in the maroon shirt that you can see in my photos, also snapped this pic of Jace and I.

Jace calls it the "most valuable Polich" award.  :)