This will be a journal of Alexis's first school years. Feel free to visit this site anytime as we watch her grow during her first year as a kiddiegarter and all the school years to come! The "Bulletin Board" over there ------> will be updated as Alexis accomplishes her tasks! Mom didn't mis-spell any words on the "bulletin board". Remember.... Alexis is the kiddiegarter learning and growing! We wish our little girl the best as we watch her grow! We love you Alexis!

May 28, 2009

Alexis completed a wonderful, fun filled year at the private school she attends, Learning Their Way. To sum up the entire year I will be featuring photos for each step of her walk at this amazing school. Here we go as I feature pics of Alexis as the......

Book Star

School Girl

Landa Park Fun

Our Valentine's Fairy

Snow Day

Pirate At The Fall Party

Chef Alexis at Carinos

Learning at Ms. Inga's House

Rainforest Cafe & 3D Movie

Christmas Angel

3D

April 15, 2009

The entire LTW school loaded up and headed to the IMAX theater at the San Antonio Riverwalk to watch a special viewing of Deep Sea 3D. The show was amazing and 3D effects of today have come a long way since I was a kid. Alexis and her friends has so much fun reaching out as they tried to touch the creatures of the deep sea. It was a truly amazing experience. The school purchased popcorn for all of the children but drinks were just too expensive. I had to break down and purchase a Coke for Alexis and I too share. No wonder the school could not afford to purchase a Coke for each child with a cost of $3.75 for a small. With all that buttery, salty popcorn the kids were devouring, I felt so sorry for them because they were all "SO" thirsty. Thankfully, following the showing we ate lunch at the Rainforest Cafe which was a treat in itself for all of the kids, Big & Small. See a preview of the moving below.

Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo

January 11, 2009

We found the perfect costume for Alexis to wear to her schools Valentines party. Although, she was really hoping to dress up as "girl" pirate! I explained to her that all of the girls would be dressed up as their favorite princess. So, here you have it. It's perfect! Her cute top is adorned with glittered hearts and the look is completed with a sparkly, star wand. She is Our Valentines Fairy.....

Star Of The Week And Next Year

Alexis has been chossen to be the "Star Of The Week" at her school this week. Her teacher will be displaying random pics of her on the star of the week bulletin board, she gets to bring something for show-n-tell, and her teacher will read a special letter to her that her daddy wrote.

After, visiting several private schools for next year and narrowing my options down to Cross Lutheran, Mrs. Inga has decided to extend Learning Their Way one grade level. With much decernment, Craig and I have decided to keep her right where she is at. It seems like she's been there for half a year (or longer), yet she's only been attending a full three months. She is thriving and looooooves it there. A safe place, where they love to learn, is right where she needs to be.

Fall Enrollment

January 1, 2009

We received news today that Alexis' teacher, Mrs. Inga will be adding 1st grade to her curriculum in the fall. I have visited several prospective schools for the pending year in anticipation that Alexis would need to attend another school; since her teacher only teaches up to kindergarten. I will be visiting Cross Lutheran tomorrow, just to check it out and see what it's all about. Who knows, maybe I'll get a "feel good" feeling about this school and decide if this is the school that Alexis should attend next year. However, my heart tells me that another "good" year at the same school with the same teacher will be best for Alexis. You know, baby steps to the 2nd grade, yet encouraging and very positive. Our goal is to set Alexis up for success, nothing but a win, win situation.

One Long Break

January 13, 2009

Although Alexis enjoyed an extended winter break, I see that I have slacked a wee bit on logging new info on her site. The most surprising thing Alexis has accomplished was reading 1000 minutes. This earned her a free book of her choice from her teacher, Mrs. Inga. Mrs. Inga is also toying with the notion of adding a 1st grade to her school. If she decided to do so, we may keep Alexis there an additional year before having to scope out something new. The school Alexis attends has been exactly what she was needing. Something on a smaller scale and lots of one on one with Mrs. Inga. Alexis is improving on her reading skills and is loving learning about math. We discovered that we absolutely love "BOB" books! Londyn will learn to read with them too!

I Didn't Even Know It

December 3, 2008

I went to visit a private school today to see about 1st grade for Alexis next year. The director asked if she could read. I informed her that she could not! She seemed a bit concerned since Alexis is six years old and in Kindergarten. I informed the director that Alexis knows all of her letters and the sounds they make. The director stated that she felt Alexis was on the verge of reading. She advised me to go to the book store and get the BOB reading books. I was then on my way to pick Alexis up from school. While I was there, I consulted her teacher about Alexis's reading skills. I shared, that I felt like she is just about to start reading. She looked at me with wide eyes and said, "Alexis reads to me everyday." Next we were off to the bookstore. I asked the associate where the BOB books were? The associate pointed them out to me and I soon discovered these BOB books were the same books Alexis comes home with each day in her backpack that we practice reading each night. I then sat down on the carpet at the bookstore, took one of the BOB books out and asked Alexis to come sit down and see if she could read it to me. She opened the book and began to read. She read the entire book! I asked her why she never told me she could read, she softly said, "I didn't know I could read, and I learned today."

Now, I Know MY ABC'S

December 1, 2008

As we took a late night stroll, in our neighborhood, to see if we could see Venus & Mars, Alexis started to sing her ABC's. I've been trying to teach her this song for what seems like a couple of years now. So, off she went spouting out this song. To my surprise she had indeed learned it. She knows each letter and the sounds they make, but she just wouldn't learn the dang song til now! I told her, now we can sing the song together instead of by myself all the time. She just laughed and said yea!

A Yummy Buttery Spread

November 18, 2008

Alexis came home yesterday from school and thought it was the neatest thing ever to have made some homemade butter. She said they got some coffee milk or cream and put it in a little glass container and shook it up; what seemed like forever. She said it was soooooo good. She asked, if I wanted to try some when we got home. I did! It was very yummy, yet tasted a bit saltly to me! She didn't think they added salt though! I caught her several times, sneaking into the fridge (spoon in hand), to dip into and get another taste of the very yummy, buttery spread.

"Walle-E" Comes To Mind

October 21, 2008
When I picked Alexis up from school, she had a big zip-loc bag to show me. It was full of computer parts. She and her classmates had disassembled a computer. Ms. Inga's husband is a computer guy. That's what he does for a living. Alexis was so excited to get to "see" all the insides of a computer; to see what makes it work. Now, she has all of those parts scattered on top of her dresser. I'm wondering what she thinks she's going to do will all of those parts? Walle-E is coming to my mind!!!!! We are believing it's not coming to hers?

A "Loooooove This" Update!

October 6, 2008
Alexis is going on her 3rd week at her new school. She LOOOOOOOVES this new school. She loves it so much that she awakens each morning excited about going and hops right out of bed, gets dressed and off we go. She often wants me to speed so she can get there quicker. When I pick her up in the afternoons, she asks if I can come back later to get her. Departing from school, each afternoon, she commands that I turn around and take her right back. Alexis doesn't go to school on Fridays and is, OH!!! SO SAD. Ms. Inga deserves lots of kudos. I ask Alexis each day if she misses me? Her reply is a shake of her head from side-to-side rather than up & down. Sigh. She is beginning to understand the blending of letter sounds to create words. She knows the words "the" & "a" by sight. She just went on an adventure with Hopper; we'll tell you about that later.

Learning Their Way

September 22, 2008

Alexis will start attending Learning Their Way private school beginning tomorrow, or Wed (we haven't decided yet). After lots of prayers and discernment Craig and I have decided this is the best place for our daughter to give glory to the Lord; and to safely shelter her mind & soul. Learning Their Way is a place that loves the Lord. She will receive a tailored curriculum created just for her and lots of one-on-one time from her new teacher, Ms. Inga. Alexis is excited about her new school and we hope she will only grow and increase In His Name.

Check out Piven's World ------> over there on my right sidebar under "Drawerin".

The Parent Meeting

September 16, 2008

I attended the Kindergarten Parent Meeting tonight! As I entered the cafeteria I was greeted by a woman who asked if I was Amber. It turned out that her father works with Craig at EOG Resources and her mom was our realtor when we lived in Corpus Christi; we got together for lunch often. Kelly's mom Carolyn often spoke about her daughter, Kelly who lives in New Braunfels. She was so nice, so I think we will plan to have lunch sometime; just as her mother and I used to do. I was then introduced to one of Kelly's friends who lives off the road we live on. That led to another introduction to a woman who's son is in Alexis's kindergarten class. Lastly, we ended with Liz (we graduated together)....so it's a small, small world. I was chosen, along with two other moms, to be room mom! I also ran into the mom of the boy who kissed Alexis. I told Alexis to tell him, "my daddy said you better stop kissing me!" I also got the chance to meet the mother of one of Alexis's friends. She was excited and wishes to get our girls together soon.

Art Time

September 15, 2008
Art time began today. When I picked Alexis up this afternoon, she presented me with a piece of tile decorated exclusively by her. It was hanging from a piece of leather roping and adorned with meaningful objects special to her. She also decorated a small piece of paper in the shape of a square. I asked her what it was? She took it from my hand and turned it with her fingers to display the shape of a diamond. She turned that piece of paper into a diamond using scribble marks from a pencil to show the brilliance & sparkling vibrancy she has noted from observing a real diamond. Mom loved them both!

What A Performance

September 8, 2008

So, Londyn and I surprised Alexis today by joining her for lunch. She had no clue we were coming. We got to eat our lunches up on the stage where the school has tables set up just for parents to eat with their kids. While Alexis and I visited, Londyn entertained the lunchroom children. She strutted herself from one end of the stage to the other, grinning her silly grin and pointing her index finger at them. She was loving all the attention she was getting. Many of the children where laughing and pointing at her too. They thought she was cute! I on the other hand, could hear the teachers calling me when she starts school.

Let's Play

September 4, 2008

Alexis had her 1st soccer practice. She's excited about playing for the first time this year. She received all of her exciting gear including a cool, new soccer ball! She will practice each Thursday and play every Saturday. Mom was excited to meet all the extremely friendly & nice soccer moms. I'm getting use to being a soccer mom too! Here are a few pics to highlight practice. I still need to play a bit with my camera to figure out how to take more close-ups. Of course, Londyn was in the middle of all the action.

It's All ABout Reading and Colors!

September 2, 2008

Wondering what the adorable picture of a horse and girl is above? Download this free ebook, Hold on to Your Horses by actually clicking on the pic or front cover of the book above. It is one of those children’s books that tells a great story with beautiful pictures; I loved it immediately.

Alexis is really starting to like school. This morning, I walked Alexis just to the cafeteria door. She walked right in and headed to her class's table. As she found her seat, I could see her ponytail bobbing up and down as she began to talk to one of her new friends. I waited at the door to see if she would look back to see if I was still there. For a moment, I thought she did as I began to waive good bye to her. Nope, she was so focused on talking to her new friend.....she was laughing and smiling. Alexis will be learning about the colors: Brown, Red, Blue & Yellow. She already knows her colors though. Each day we pick out an outfit to wear that matches the color they will be learning about for the day. We will begin reading stories each and every night before bed. The stories she will be reading are listed on The Bulletin Board (over there ------>) Two days this week she will be able to bring something for Show & Tell that is the same color as the color of the day. Tomorrow we are going to pick out cleats and shin guards for soccer which starts on Thursday.

If You're Happy & You Know It

August 27, 2008

Alexis had a better day at school on the 2nd day. After picking her up from school, she was trying to act like she was a little sad, but I could see a little quirky grin underneath it all. She said, "I have something to tell you about today"...."I L-O-V-E K-I-N-D-E-R and I want to go back to school right now!" That made her mom very happy! Alexis made 3 new friends this day; she is working on trying to remember their names though! She loves eating in the cafeteria, which surprised her mom since she is such a picky eater. She is tired when she comes home and has been taking an early, evening nap. For the 1st time, in all of her 6 years, she went to bed very early, 8:30 pm. We have all adjusted to our new schedule of rising and going to bed early. No more late nights for us.....we'll have to see what the weekend brings. Alexis has gymnastics this evening as well as her sister, Londyn who is in baby-nastics. I believe soccer and her art based educational, program "Art Time", all start next week. What a busy girl she is.

The Little Piggy Cried "wee" "wee" "wee"

August 26, 2008

Alexis was a little sad when she came home yesterday. She said it wasn't fun, not having any friends. I explained to her, this week everyone will be getting to know each other and that the other kids in her class feel just the same. I think she was expecting it to be like MDO and that those friends would be in class with her. She did see some of them at school, but not in her class. She got up like a trooper this morning and off to school she went. We made a bet, that by weeks end she would be liking school more.....