First Grade and Fourth Grade

Jake and 1st Grade

Apple Day

 field trip day - class picture

 pumpkin patch and hay ride

Jake's first grade buddies - Lawrence and Jack

These are pictures of award ceremonies throughout the year.  Jake had a fabulous year.  He grew like crazy academically and had great character. 

Sydney took a few videos of Jake's Christmas program.  Only in Florida is the Christmas program outside.  It was a nice night.  

Jake chose his good friend Jack to dance with.  At his age, there is no way he is going to dance with a girl:)

Jake playing the rhythm sticks in his Christmas program

We have LOVED Mrs. Steger.  She is perfect for Jake - an absolutely AMAZING first grade teacher. She challenges him and motivates him so much.  We were so lucky to have her for Jake.

Sydney and 4th Grade

Sydney has Mrs. Lane for 4th grade and she LOVES her.  Mrs. Lane has done wonders for Sydney's writing and creative imagination.  Sydney loves all of her stories.  She has helped Sydney's self confidence by leaps and bounds.

This is the first awards ceremony of the year.  Sydney received the Principal's Award for her outstanding character and made all A Honor Roll.  Amazing little girl!!

Halloween pumpkin carving and relay races

 

 Sydney had to do a book report and present it to the class.  Since it was around Halloween, they had to decorate a pumpkin as their character.  Sydney read the book "Schooled".  The main character was a boy named Cap who was very much a hippie.  I think this inspired her own Halloween costume to be a happie too.  She also made his school locker out of a box.

Courtney, Siena, Sydney, Natalia, and Maggie.  Sydney has been so lucky to have close friends in her class this year.  

                                 

                                   looking at a heart                                    Thanksgiving feast

Fun Times

Every year the Kennedy Space Center has a free admission day for Brevard County residents.  We took advantage of it this year.  It's actually a pretty amazing place to explore.  

I LOVE this picture.  She is such a pretty thing!!

We took a walk on the beach to watch a rocket launch.  They are always amazing.  

 My brother Butch was at a conference in Orlando and came over to see us for a few days.  We referred to him as "turtle man" when we went for a walk at Turkey Creek.  Butch is always doing something crazy.  He had to prove to Jake and Sydney that he could catch a turtle.

Jake and Sydney had  to take Butch down to the beach for a bit while he was here too.  We needed him to go back to Missouri and convince the rest of the family to come out to visit too:)

Halloween 2011

We had a great Halloween.  We invited a bunch of the kids friends and their families over as well as neighbors to eat before we all went trick-or-treating.  We had over 20 families come so it was a big crowd.  The kids had a blast!!

Sydney was a hippie for Halloween (very fitting for her).  The shirt she is wearing is her Grandma Peterson's that she actually wore in the 70's.  She loved it.

Jake was a glow in the dark skeleton and he was in full character.  

 School friends and neighbors!!  We live in a great neighborhood for trick-or-treating 

 

  Thought I would throw this picture in.  This is my friend Jessica that I teach preschool with.  I love working with her.  She thought of a last minute costume idea.  We were called lots of different things by the kids and parents - letter ladies, alphabet soup, and more.

The Florida Gators and The Swamp

We love college football.  Although we are not Gator fans, we had to go experience Florida Gator college football.  Ever since we moved to Florida, Jake has thought he likes the Gators.  Him and Sydney were so excited to go to the game.  

Jake wore this helmet the entire care drive (2 1/2 hours) holding his football.   Sydney read this book on the way.  Her friend Maggie who likes the Gators let her borrow it.  It made the game fun because Sydney had read about all the stadium traditions before we got there.   

Tailgating and playing football before the game.  College football in the South is a totally different world than out West we grew up. We had already experienced that atmosphere while living in Atlanta, but it was fun to enjoy the atmosphere.  

 Left:  Gator chomping on campus.  Right:  Jake didn't take his helmet off ALL day long.  He even took drinks with it on.  It was so cute.  

 Pictures of us at "the swamp".

 Sydney finally convinced Jake the last few minutes of the game to let her have a turn wearing the helmet.