Alden Pre-School Halloween Party and Jedi at the Dentist

Alden was Obi Wan for Halloween this year.

Alden and Mikena Obi wan protecting Princess Leia

Alden and part of his class.

So like every kid right after their fist school Halloween party they go to the Dentist.  Here Alden is using the force to help clean his teeth.

Alden showing off his prized alien.

Yep, even the Dentists kids are trouble patients.

May the Force be with you.

St. John's Fall Festival

Alden's school held their fall festival on September 24th. They have a bounce house and games for the kids to play.

Alden made it through one time, but the next time he got stuck, so he crawled out the side because we weren't paying attention!

Our friend Lindsey Gross-Rhode made this out of gutters! The kids had fun making their own "pirate ship" out of styrofoam, tinfoil, sticks, paper and stickers!

Alden's 1st Day of Preschool!

Alden started preschool today, August 23rd, and St. John the Baptist Catholic School!

He was so excited that he got up at 5:30 this morning!! (At first I wasn't sure if he was excited or nervous and that's why he woke up!) He will go to Preschool for 2 years at St. John's (just like Samantha did) and then he will go to Kindergarten at Plattsmouth Elementary School.

The traditional 1st day of school picture in front of the garage!

The girls got in on the picture too!

Samantha took this picture of Alden & I! I think it turned out pretty good!

Alden standing in front of HIS school!

The girls once again needed in the picture!

He was very proud that he was a preschooler now!!

Standing in the hallway just outside of his classroom! (Click here to see Samantha's 1st day of preschool - we took a lot of the same pictures!)

He got all of his supplies out of his book bag to give to Miss Nancy. He LOVES his new STAR WARS book bag.

He found his name on an orange star that had his birthday on it all by himself! After this his friend Mikena started playing with him and I gave him hug and so did the girls. There were no tears when we left!!

Clair, Samantha, & I rushed out to the car to get Samantha to her school on time! We parked at Memorial park again and walked along the trail.

Samantha walked very fast today! She was excited to see her new friends!

When Clair & I got back to the van after dropped Samantha off at her classroom, I suddenly felt a huge void! I currently had only 1 child to look after on Tuesdays/Thursdays from 8:10-10:30! Clair didn't quite know what was going on, but she didn't cry like Alden did when we dropped Samantha off at preschool for the 1st time.

My friend Christie and I planned to spend the morning at the local bakery in town to keep ourselves distracted! It worked! Clair entertained us and we had great conversation. The hours passed quickly and soon we were back up at the school waiting for Alden and Mikena to be released from school!

When the kids came out the door - all the girls ran to their moms, but Alden just walked and gave me a grin! Miss Nancy told me that he only had 1 meltdown while at preschool. One other little boy cried most of the morning, and Alden finally decided to let it bother him too. He told his teacher that he missed me, but she quickly distracted him and everything was fine!

Alden and his friend Mikena after their 1st day of preschool!

Alden said he had fun! His favorite part was recess where he got to play with the Kindergarteners, especially his friends Jayger & Grant!

Preschool Welcome Picnic

Tonight we went to Alden's preschool welcome picnic! It's hard for me to imagine that 2 of my babies will be in school this year! Alden will be in preschool on Tuesdays and Thursday from 8-10:30am. He is a very shy child around people that he doesn't know, so I've been worried about how he'll do at preschool!

Tonight I learned that there are only 6 kids (total) in his morning preschool class! Of those 6 kids, he know 4 of the them! Only one kid will be a new face, which means he can really be himself!

He did very good at the dinner and then we went to his classroom and looked around. We found his name in the hallway and his birthday star on the wall of the classroom! We went outside to check out the playground! I think he'll be just fine without me there to hold his hand! It brings tears to my eyes, yet joy in my heart all at the same time! We'll update you on his first day - August 23rd!

He got to wear a name tag and seemed so serious tonight! This baby of mine is growing up!

Samantha showed him around the classroom! (It has been her classroom for the last 2 years! It's hard to imagine she'll be at a different school tomorrow morning!)

Preschool Field Trip to the Zoo

A cold day for a field trip!! May 13th was the day for Samantha's preschool field trip. We stayed bundled up the whole day! The wind was crazy this day and the temperature barely made it to 50 degrees! Anna O., Samantha, & Anna J. - waiting to go inside! They all love PINK!

Emily M. & Samantha - Cousins! Emily, Taryn, & Alison brought us bagels from Panera! :)

Jayger, Mikena, Samantha, & Alden still waiting...We had to be there to "check-in" at 8:30, but we couldn't get in the gate until 9:00! It was more like 9:15 before we actually got in! Brrrrrr.

Samantha & Emily M. at the Aquarium!

Looking at the sharks! (It was warm in the aquarium!)

We stopped at the butterfly chairs for a quick picture on the way to see the Butterflies!

Miss Nancy & Miss Janet - you will have your hands full next year! Alden & Mikena make a crazy pair!

Samantha & Emily wanted to walk across the bridge!

Miss Janet, Samantha, & Miss Nancy

(her preschool teachers)
Alison, Emily, & Taryn rode the tram!

Look at the monkeys through the hole...(Grant & Alden)

This was our group that we walked around with (minus Emily M.) - Launa, Samantha, Alden, Grant, Mikena, Caden, & Jayger.

Stella joined us for a few minutes and she got smashed by the boys.

Samantha & Stella

Checking out the tigers.

Once again Mikena & Alden...crazy kids!

We saw Emily Z. on our way to the car.

It was a little bittersweet this year at the zoo for the last get together with Samantha's preschool friends. Samantha is going to Public School for Kindergarden next year along with Marcus, Anna O., and few others, but most of the other kids are going to St. John's for Kindergarden. A couple others are taking another year in preschool. And Caden is moving to Japan in August! :(

Samantha's Halloween Party @ Preschool

On October 25th, Samantha had her preschool Halloween Party. The kids wore their costumes and gave each other candy. They went on a Spooky Walk, paraded around in all the other classrooms, and had Halloween treats and crafts. Samantha was Ariel (the Little Mermaid) and wore a bright red wig!

Samantha's First Day of Preschool

Samantha with her traditional first day of School "In front of the garage" picture.

Alden needed to bring his Dinosaur backpack and his favorite yellow football (thanks Uncle Chris!) along with us to Samantha's drop off for school.

Clair even got in on a picture! All 3 kids in front of Samantha's school.

Samantha in the hallway before we dropped her off in her classroom.

Samantha putting her name in the box. This means she is "present" for the day. (At least physically present, but we never really know how mentally present she is - as she is quite the space cadet! :)

Caden & Samantha pose for a picture. For those of you that don't know, Samantha & Caden have fallen in love and they will be married one day! (So they think....) :)

When Samantha was done with preschool for the day, the whole class comes out to meet the parents in front of the school.

Samantha is running to give Clair, Alden, & Myself a hug.

Alden cut Samantha off for the 1st hug! It was so cute!

Samantha & Caden at Burger King for lunch after their first day of preschool

Samantha had her 1st day of Preschool on August 23rd. She is going to the same preschool she went to last year - St. John The Baptist Catholic Preschool. She goes from 8am - 11am on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays this year. She has about 15

kids in her class this year (quite a change from only 6 in her class last year). When we dropped her off, Alden didn't cry and say "no Sammy, come back Sammy" like he did last year when we dropped her off. He actually seemed fine with it. (We have been going straight to the Community Center (gym) and playing in the gym until the day care opens and he loves that! He even does fine in the day care without Samantha there! I think he's starting to grow up!) After preschool, Samantha was running to us to give us hugs and Alden cut her off and got the first hug! It was so cute! Then, we went to lunch with my friend Mandy and Caden (who is in Samantha's preschool class this year).