Madison's new favorite recess activity. She is becoming a bit of a daredevil, and totally stressing me out. She wants to hang upside down like the rest of the girls. She doesn't do that when I am there but I would guess she does when I'm not there. I worry about her falling and getting really hurt, but at the same time I want her to have fun. I can just hope she is making "good decisions". (the only rule on the playground is to make good decisions, this school is all about kids being kids)

1st grade picture preview

Today is picture day. Here's a preview.
Pictures I took - not the school picture professionals
Mad had fun taking these pictures this morning

pose all hers - where does she get this stuff

there's my sweet girl

Madison thought it would be great if she could wear her
vampire teeth in her school pictures

our 1st grader

The barrette was made by my sister Angela. Madison has a few of them and she loves them. They are easy for her to put in by herself. I need to get a better picture of them, they are adorable.

Fun Run

For the past couple weeks Madison has been calling our family asking everyone to pledge her in the Fun Run at her school. She ended up being pledged a total of $16/lap. She's quite the little sales lady.

Today was the Fun Run and she did so amazing, beyond amazing. She ran, or jogged as she keeps telling everyone, all 36 laps. I could tell it was really hard for her, 36 laps is just over 2 miles. She worked so hard and really pushed herself today.

I'm so proud of her.

Homework

Ever since Madison was little she has wanted to do homework. Her brothers would come home from school and take out their notebooks, school books, pen, pencils... and do their homework.

Not only did Madison not get to go to school (that being to young thing), she also didn't have homework. She felt left out.

Last year Madison started school, Kindergarten. And guess what? No homework. Again she felt left out.

Now Madison is in 1st Grade, and she finally has homework. She loves it. She spends over an hour a day on homework without complaint (I totally hope I am not jinxing myself saying that). A quick run down of all she does each day:
-one side of a worksheet (math)
-finish her rocket math timed test (math, guess that one is obvious)
-300 sight work flash cards (reading, currently she is getting over 250 correct)
-a timed reading passage, she has one minute to read the passage to determine her words read per minute (next week she is being moved up a level in this, our little smarty pants)
-and finish any class work that did not get completed that day (our smarty pants is a chatter box too)

So, now she is not left out. In fact, most nights she has more homework then her Freshmint (another post) brothers.

more playground picures

just a few pictures of morning recess

Madison and I found this flower walking up to her school
so pretty
i had to take a picture

our beautiful girl

waiting in line for the...
you guessed it,
the monkey bars

our little monkey

bell rang
time to line up

day 2

no, i will not be posting pictures everyday
these were just kinda cute

so, these last few posts are back dated -
Madison ends up falling off this balance beam
on Monday August 22nd
and really scratching her legs up
(she was wearing shorts)
she hasn't been back on since

wish i knew what was going thru her mind sometimes

back on the monkey bars
the right way today
and they are a favorite

again with the thoughtful expression
i wonder what she is thinking today

first day

off they go
excited
nervous
and (again) ready

but not in the mood for pictures

I stayed with Madison until a little after school started
so I have a few, or a ton, more pictures of her
checking out the slide

curvy monkey bars
she is actually going the wrong way - up, she should be going down
but she was the only one out there so we didn't know

swinging
she has always loved the swings
Angie, did you notice her hair clip

this year i think the monkey bars may be her favorite

she was excited to get an exercise ball for a chair
a special treat to start her day

and she got right to work
ready for 1st grade

and I went home to an empty house, i couldn't help but cry. my kids are growing up too fast. i wish time would just slow down.

meeting her teacher(s)

today we got to meet Madison's teachers
she has 2
they are sisters
and, they seem really nice

they were ok with my (maybe crazy) requests of Madison not sharing crayons, pencils,  glue sticks... and whatever else
(we're doing what we can to keep her healthy)

Madison is super excited, and can not wait to start 1st grade

Madison took off running as soon as she got out of the car
she is so excited to start school

Madison, Ms L, and Ms O