Homes Tour Artwork

This past weekend was Luke's school's fundraiser, the Rose Garden Homes Tour.  It is a really fun afternoon where several homes in the historic Rose Garden are opened up to the public for tours, all the benefit some of the enrichment programs that Luke's school continues to offer to their students (Spanish, Art, Band, etc.).

At one of the homes each year, student artwork is chosen to be featured.  As Michael and I were making our way through the tour, we noticed that Luke's artwork was selected to be on display this year.

Welcome to 1st Grade!

Luke started first grade this morning.  FIRST grade!  How is that possible?!  I just can't believe how quickly the time has gone.  Here he is on his first day of school.  Clearly, I cannot choose a favorite photo, so here are a bunch.

His teacher invited parents into the classroom this morning as the kids found their desks and settled in.  I also snapped a photo with Luke and his new teacher, Miss Pardini.

Happy 1st day, my sweet boy!  I hope it is a wonderful year for you.

Soccer Season

Luke started another soccer season this week.  He is playing with a group of boys, all from his class at St. Martin's, and they are being coached by a couple of the dads.  The best part of the first practices was seeing the boys back together again after having the summer off of school - they were just so thrilled to see each other.

The coaches' biggest challenge is going to be getting these boys to play instead of chatting and hugging one another!

On to 1st grade!

How is it possible that Luke has completed his Kindergarten year?!  It all went (too) fast.  We couldn't have asked for a more positive, nurturing first year of elementary school.  We feel so grateful to be a part of the St. Martin's community.

Here he is on his final day of Kindergarten.

And with his amazing teachers:  Mrs. Anderson and Mrs. Lawrence

Luke's first Walk-a-Thon

St. Martin's had their annual Walk-a-Thon this week.  Not only did the kids raise money for their school, but the event itself was so much fun for students and parents.

Paw showed up to walk a few laps with Luke,

...and Luke got into the spirit with face paint and colored hair spray.

Luke walked his heart out - nearing 100 laps of the school field, which was one of the most by any Kindergartener.  You can also see how much Luke loved walked with his 4th grade big buddy, Will.

Catching Leprechauns!

Part of Luke's homework this month was to create a leprechaun trap.  He was told to incorporate things that "attract" leprechauns such as:  the color green, rainbows, sparkly things, gold coins, Lucky Charms cereal, and four-leaf clovers.

After we talked about a few different ways that he might trap a leprechaun, we decided upon a design.  I helped only by making suggestions, providing supplies, doing some sketching to provide an outline that he could cut out, and then helping with the glue gun as he put it together.

I think it turned out great, and he was so proud.

The idea is that the leprechaun will be tempted to climb the ladder and will then find the Lucky Charms and see the gold coin dangling over the trap door.  When he jumps to catch the coin, he will fall into the tissue box and be trapped!

School Spirit

Luke is sporting his Bengal pride on orange and black Spirit Day at school.

What were his tiger whiskers now just look more like he was cleaning a chimney ... but you can imagine :)

Kindergarten Field Trip

This week, Luke's class took a trip to Santa Clara University's theatre to see "Miss Nelson Is Missing" and I was able to join them.  The kids seriously think that riding together in a car is perhaps the best part of the trip!

Luke's Kindergarten Christmas show

St. Martin's put on a beautiful Christmas program, full of music and singing.  The Kindergarten class dressed in costumes from the night of Jesus' birth, and sang several songs.

Luke was a shepherd, a very highly regarded part, apparently.  After seeing the props when we arrived at school, I realized why not all boys in the classroom were cut out to be shepherds.

 The class practicing one last time in their classroom before the show begins.

It was so hard for me to get a good photo of the cutest shepherd without standing up in the middle of the audience (which I was tempted to do!).  This is the best I could get.

Kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast

Luke's class put together the sweetest Thanksgiving program.  Parents were invited to their Thanksgiving Feast where the children wore their own handmade costumes, answered questions about the first Thanksgiving, expressed their gratitude for those things (and people) most important to them, and shared their art projects and snacks that they prepared with us.

Answering Mrs. Lawrence and Mrs. Andersons' questions about Thanksgiving

Luke shares what he has written on his feather.  He is grateful for his friend, Owen.

 

 

Sitting down to the feast table

 

Using symbols to tell a story like the Native Americans once did

After the Thanksgiving Feast, parents and extended families were invited to join the school in the church to listen to the Kindergarten class' retelling of the first Thanksgiving.  Each child had a part that they memorized and recited to the audience.

Afterwards, Mia congratulates her big brother on a great program.

 What I am most grateful for:



School Halloween Celebrations

The Halloween festivities began the Saturday before Halloween this year at Mia's school's Fall Harvest Party.  Mia was a fairy (Tinkerbell, if you ask her) ... although I think that she was sort of wishing at this point that she also had a robot costume like Luke (note to self:  next year Mia gets the elaborate costume).

Luke was excited to go back to Mandala and see all of his old teachers, especially Miss Sharada, who was so sweet and walked with both kids in the costume parade.

The robot costume came with a bit more publicity than Luke (or any of us) bargained for.  For shy-guy-Luke, it made him a little uncomfortable.  He basically walked around saying "thanks" on repeat while everyone commented on how cool his costume was.  He even was asked to take photographs with a family who we didn't know ... (weird? ... ummm, yes!).

Halloween morning brought the costume parade at Luke's school.  As the day wore on, Luke became more comfortable with the added attention that the costume brought to him. Luke's teacher, Mrs. Anderson, told him that it was the most creative costume that she had seen in all of her years of teaching (making Michael very proud).  By the time we were getting ready to go trick-or-treating, Luke asked me if I thought we could go somewhere to enter him in a costume contest because he was pretty sure that he would win. :)