1st Day of 1st Grade!

Today was the first day of School for Alicia.  She was excited to start 1st Grade!

1st Grader!

Say "pickles"

Riding on Dad's bike to school

Greg rides his bike to work right after dropping off Alicia at school.  This will be a normal scene throughout the school year.

A parade of people

Since we live so close to school (2 blocks), there is always a few people we're following or following us to school. 

Standing in her class line.

Of course the teacher is the one holding the sign.  Alicia's friend Charlotte is 2 people ahead of her in the yellow shirt and blue backpack.  Lilly is the one standing behind her, both were in her Kindergarten class last year.

 

A sea of people

This may seem like a lot of people, but it is only Kindergarten and 1st graders (and their parents).  Both parents usually show up on the first day, even I rearranged my work schedule for today so I could be there for drop off this morning.  Although I was surprised there didn't seem to be many others taking pictures. 



And to compare to last year's first day.....

1st day of Kindergarten

....what a big difference one year makes.

Open house and school

Today Alicia and I (Judy) went to her school's open house.  It is a nice opportunity to see her classroom, find her locker, drop off school supplies, and of course meet the teacher!   She is very excited that her friend Charlotte will be in her class!

                                               (Click on the picture to enlarge it.)

The classroom

Alicia, Mrs. Louthan, Charlotte

PJ is Baptised!

Sunday was a special day... PJ was baptised.  His Grandparents from Minnesota and Auntie Jean and Cousins came all the way from Minnesota.  Auntie Beth and Uncle Ryan are PJ's Godparents.  It was a very nice ceremony.  As were were sitting in the Pew and the Priest was beginning to speak, PJ looked at me and pointed to himself with a questioning look on his face.  So I whispered to him, "Yes, this is for you!"  It was a very special day to have so many family and friends together to share PJ's big day.  

PJ and his GodFather (Ryan)

A quick family Photo

Getting Baptised

Family Blessing

Sisters!

PJ getting help opening some gifts.

Water Park with Cousins!

This weekend the cousins from Minnesota and Wisconsin came.  We headed to the water park for some fun in the water.  The all had a great time even though it was short (more on that later).  Jacob, the oldest of our group of kids enjoyed helping PJ around.  He will be a very good big brother again (his parents are working on getting papers done to adopt!).  All the kids played very good together this weekend.  After about a half hour or so at the water park, the people in charge said at the top of the hour everyone had to go out and let the next group of 40 people in.  There were at least 40 people waiting in line so we came home.

PJ LOVES water on his head!

They really liked the waterfall!

Alicia is 6 years old

Oh my!!  I have a 6 year old!!  I still can't believe Alicia is old enough to be 6.  I asked her this morning if we could say she was 5 and have her go to Kindergarten again.  That way I could have a little girl for little longer.  She told me it would be best if she stayed 6 and went to first grade so she could learn to spell.  Hmmm... pretty good argument.  Here are some pictures I took of her today.  They are not full quality ones on this blog so if you want one to print up send me an email and I can email the full quality photo.

And just for comparison fun, here is Alicia when we got her at 13 months old.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALICIA!  You have blessed our lives in so many ways.  You are blossoming into a beautiful person inside and out.

PJ's first Cleft Palate Surgery

 Here is a picture of PJ the morning of his surgery.  Little did he know what was going to happen that day.. poor little guy.  But it was a necessary step to aid in his ability to talk

This picture was taken about 16 hours after the one above.  At this point he had been out of surgery for about 10 hours give or take an hour.  It was his bedtime and had just fallen asleep again.  They had him in the post surgery 24 hour area where patients usually stay if they are being observed overnight after surgery.  However he was the only patient scheduled for an overnight stay so they sent the nurses home and moved us to a different floor.  This room was his first room which would have been more quiet for his mom to get some sleep as it was a private room which means less traffic coming and going.

 This is a picture of PJ getting his sponge bath the next morning.  He slept pretty good considering the nurses kept coming in to check vitals, change diapers, and help the other baby.  This is the room he slept in overnight.  He had a roommate who is on the other side of the curtain behind him.  The kids in this area of the hospital are ones that were born with a lung problem (don't worry, it wasn't a spreadable disease and sorry but I don't remember the name of it).

 This surgery they closed the palate at the back of his mouth.  The doctor said they do 2 surgeries for his case because his opening was to wide to do it in one.  The medical community has learned that if they do the closing of the palate in 1 surgery that the palate may reopen.  During the next few months as we wait for the 2nd surgery date to arrive, the rest of the open palate is stretching which will allow the 2nd surgery to be a success.  Next surgery is scheduled for November.

Memorial Day Weekend and Haircut

During the school year Alicia was taking a Mandarin Class after school on Wednesdays.  On May 26th we were invited to the "Around the World" potluck and performance.  There was also Spanish, French and German but Alicia was only signed up for Mandarin.  This picture is of her Mandarin Class (her teach was in China that week). 

On Saturday May29th we had a nice day with Phillip's travel group families.  The kids all had a great time and played together while the parents caught up with all the happenings in our families since we last saw one another.   The 3 newest members of our group all needed a bath at the end of the day.  On Sunday the 30th we went to Greg's Mom's house and had a wonderful time there too.

Today PJ got his first haircut since coming home.  As you can see he complied without complaint.  I think this was nothing new to him as his hair was pretty short when we got him.