The kids will play when Dad is away

Chad is in New Hampshire for a few days....the kids and I decided to visit the Easter Bunny and have a special dinner at Red Robin...just because we should do special things and who really wants to do dishes when you have the kids on your own :)  Here are some pics.  Kaelyn was mighty afraid of the Easter Bunny...gripped onto me with all of her might.  He was admittedly a little scary.

Go Green

March Madness has filled the Easton household...windows open, screaming and cheering, clapping, and hoping...we love us some MSU March Madness.  I think from the mere names of our children....Hunter and Kaelyn...its clear that we love MSU to our core.  We didn't name them exactly for MSU...but there is definitely a connection.  Some may think its crazy...but that is okay with us...Chad and I met at MSU...first in the Izzone...then through mutual friends also in the Izzone.  Chad and I started dating on an Izzone road trip to good ole Minnesota and were eventually married in the MSU Alumni Wedding Chapel.  I earned my teaching certificate there (brag time: number 1 education school in the nation 18 years running) and Chad his marketing degree.  We spend endless Saturday's on campus soaking up the air and sun that feels extra wonderful...reminiscing on one of the greatest times of our life.  We told Chad's parents we were pregnant with Hunter after an MSU win on a crisp fall day! We daydream about what it might be if our kids too, went to State and how completely AWESOME that would be!  We love our school and thanks to Izzo...we've found a great deal of fun and celebrating in March during tourney time.  Currently Hunter's favorite player is Appling, number 11, who he affectionately calls Apple-Dumpling!  We are missing Kalin Lucas...our former favorite player but we find a new one every 4 years or so :)  These are some videos of the fun we have while watching MSU!  Go Green!  We love MSU!

Go Green!

Kinder- GULP-garten

This seems to be all that is weighing on my mind as of late.  The inevitable that Hunter is growing up...becoming a sweet, loving almost-5 year old boy.  I find myself looking at this huge boy and wondering and reflecting where his baby, toddler, and preschool days have gone.  Reminiscing on his first smiles, first steps, first long awaited words, first teeth, first experiences, first days of preschool, etc.  I find myself reflecting back on my elementary years...remembering both the good and the bad experiences.  I have realized now he will remember some events of his life...though exciting...I have this parent fear of "I hope I don't screw up" looming in the back of my mind. 

There are so many questions too...its crazy!  I'm finally realizing what it means to be a parent in a school sense....so much to keep track of!  When do I turn in immunization records? Can I preference a school and teacher?  Should I preference a teacher?  Is that taboo especially since I do believe that this is a phenomenal school district to go to school in? What should we do before and after school? How can I prepare him for kindergarten? Do I try and teach sight words this summer? How do I keep him excited about kindergarten but not overwhelmed so he shuts down?

It's a lot. Hunter has become such a joy.  He is so loving, so energetic, so imaginative, such a rule follower, perfectionist in his own way, and a pillar of his preschool classroom as his teacher shared.  I'm so excited for him to start kindergarten because I think he'll love it.  He loves to learn as long as its kept active, he loves spending time with friends and being social and he thrives in structure.  However, I'm still afraid.  What if a kid makes fun of his lisp? What if he doesn't like his teacher? What if he struggles learning to read or wanting to read? What if full day kindergarten makes school "hard"? What if the 4th grade boys pick on him because he is so huge and stands out from his peers?  What if he gets mad and punches someone?  Yikes....yes, I'm worried about all of these things...yet the small, insignificant voice in me speaks out that I have to let him experience life and that I can't protect him from everything though I do tend to try.  All and all, I'm excited, but with kindergarten registration right around the corner....my brain is consumed.  I know I need to give these fears to God and have faith that things will work out.

*I technically wrote this a few days before registration but forgot to post it...so its a bit late but wanted to have record of these feelings.  Kindergarten Registration went great and it actually made me pretty excited for Hunter.  It was amazing how many families we knew who also had future kindergarteners between fellow teachers, Little Star preschool families, activity groups, etc!  It made our community and Hunter's class of over 300 students feel not quite so overwhelming.

how he rolls

Hunter is exploring and uncovering his own personal sense of style and independence as of late.  I never noticed much of this when he was younger as I think as a boy he was happy to just wear whatever that was comfy and move onto playing.  As of late, he's been making clothing requests regularily and showing some style skill!  I guess its just one more sign that he's on his way to being a full-blown elementary student...even though I'm grasping to accept that reality.