Back to School...Let's Party!

Madison was so excited to start first grade...seemed like a great reason to celebrate! Sunday night, Darin taught the kids how to play Uno in honor of starting 1st grade. Then we attempted to document the day on video, but our video camera wasn't cooperating. We had big slices of yummy Jello Poke Cake that Madison helped make. Then we topped off the evening with a back to school blessing from Dad.

Monday afternoon was "Meet and Greet" at the school where we got to go and meet Madison's teacher and see the classroom. Her teacher is Ms. Kastigar. From the few minutes I spent with her, I was really impressed. This will be her third year teaching, and she seems so excited. The classroom is set up really nice. The kids have their own desks, different from the kindergarten tables. Madison sits next to a girl that was on her soccer team last year. She says, "That's good I get to sit by Ashley so she can keep me safe and I can keep her safe." I'm not exactly sure what they have to keep each other safe from, but I am glad she knows someone in her class. There are also two kids that used to be in our ward and two kids that were in her class last year. I kept waiting for her to express some sort of apprehension about school, but she never did. She just wants to go! It's funny what being in a classroom environment does to kids. We walked in and she started pointing to posters that were hanging around the room and telling me all kinds of things--like counting to 100 by 10's--that I have been trying to practice with her all summer. She hasn't really been interested at home, but as soon as we step in the classroom, she is ready to learn!