Words of Advice for my Kindergartener

Yesterday was the first day of school for my fifth grader. Today was the first day of school for my kindergartener! Technically it was only a parent orientation/student assessment but try telling that to Momo.

As promised I made Momo a cake (see previous blog post for the story). Well, it's not REALLY a cake....it's actually a pan of brownies but that's what she wanted...

 

.....with sprinkles, of course. But she doesn't want to EAT the sprinkles. She just wants them on the brownies. I'm sure all moms understand.

As I send her off to school I think of all the advice that I should be giving her: be nice; make friends; listen to your teacher, etc. Instead, I think these are more important: (limiting it to five. Trust me....I can think of a whole lot more!)

1. DO NOT SAY "DONKEYBALLS" (like you did to your swim teacher yesterday).

2. DO NOT take your shorts/skirt off the minute you walk into your classroom like you do at home.

3. If you have to poop while in school do a good job of cleaning your butt. Nobody else is going to clean it for you. (Also - if you have to poop.....please don't announce it to everyone and/or show them your work.)
 
4. Do not threaten to do karate on anybody. 
 
5. Do not expect Pulehu ribs and a Diet Dr. Pepper for lunch (like you requested at Play School).
 
And those are the ones I got off the top of my head. Just imagine if I put a lot of thought into it!

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Update: She had a great day and did none of the above mentioned. One of the first things she said was, "Mom....they didn't take us to the cafeteria! They didn't feed us!" As well as, "Mom! I didn't get into trouble today!"

Sounds like a great start to me!
 

 
 

First Day of School!

Goodbye, amazing summer vacation! Hello, new school year!

Yes, you read that right. School has started here in Hawaii! Seems like just yesterday I wrote my last blog post, "It is Officially Summer!" It's hard to believe summer has come and gone!

While there were moans and groans about school starting there is one thing that Kailani looks forward to on the first day of school, CAKE! 

It's a tradition we started back in kindergarten. Every year I make her a cake with the new grade number. Since she is entering the 5th grade this year (WHOA) her cake has the number "5" on it spelled out with her favorite candy, Hershey's Cookie and Cream Drops:

This year I actually have to make TWO cakes, since my youngest will be starting kindergarten! Momo starts tomorrow, so I will post her pics then! 

Check out Kailani's first day of school cakes....all the way back to kindergarten!

 

First Day of School.....AGAIN!

I can't believe today is the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL! I know most schools in the U.S. aren't starting until the end of the month or even in September but the majority of public schools in Hawaii started today. What about you? When does school start where you live?

Much like last year I was definitely a little bummed that summer vacation was over. Trust me, Kailani felt the same way. As a matter of fact this morning she said, "Mom, if I could be any princess this morning it would be Sleeping Beauty...or Snow White.....or any princess that is sleeping." Funny girl(that doesn't even like princesses!)

However, there was ONE thing she was looking forward to - her "First Day of School" cake. It's something we've been doing since she started kindergarten! It's always a simple cake (because I can do no other - HA!) with the new grade decorated on top. This year's topping made me giggle a little. I have to give Momo credit!

So here she is on her first day of 4th grade, followed by pictures of her first day of 3rd, 2nd, 1st and kindergarten. It's amazing to see how much she has changed throughout the years!

 

Hope everyone has a great new school year!

Sharing this post with Tip Junkie's "Tip Me Tuesday":

First Day of School.....

Today is Kailani's first day of school. (Didn't I JUST write this post?!?) Not only is it the first day of school but the first day at a new school. This morning was full of anxiousness, excitement, nervousness......but also happiness. And because she is happy this mama is relieved.

And sad. (But...I did NOT cry this time! HA!)

While most parents seem to be excited to send their kids back to school I am a bit bummed. I honestly love having her home (but homeschooling is out of the question!) She is such a sweet girl and our summer was awesome. I can't believe how fast it flew! I'm gonna miss having her around all day!

Anyways, every year on the first day of school I make her a cake. Just an FYI - making and decorating cakes are not my thing. Eating them - yes, that's my thing. :)

Here she is this morning...her first day of 3rd grade followed by pictures of her first day of 2nd grade, 1st grade and kindergarten:

It's amazing to see how much she's grown and changed over the years!

Best of luck to her and all the other kids that have returned to school already! Teachers too!

P.S. Is it time to pick her up yet?!?

First Day of 2nd Grade

Who said it gets easier?

Okay. Maybe it does - but just by a smidget. That's it.

I just got back from walking Kailani to her first day of 2nd grade. I still can't get over it! Second grade?!? I didn't cry but boy did I come close. Kailani on the other hand was fine. She did admit to being a little bit nervous (which made me even more anxious) but she was more excited than anything.

This morning I woke up at about 5:00 a.m. to make Kailani a cake. My girlfriend Betsy came up with a tradition of making a cake for her daughter every year on the 1st day of school. I loved the idea and have been doing it as well.

Need I remind you that I am not a pastry chef. Not even close! But as long as Kailani thinks I am I will continue to make boxed cakes and use store bought tubs of frosting! :)

Here is Kailani on her first day of kindergarten:

And her first day of 1st grade:


And then today, her first day of 2nd grade:

I had totally forgotten about making a cake until yesterday morning. I am so glad that I remembered. I would've been totally bummed had I completely forgetten!

So after posing for a picture with the cake we were off. We are fortunate to live close enough to the school so we can walk.

I'm already looking forward to the school day being over so I can go and pick her up! I can't wait to hear about her day! :)

Good luck to all you mommies and daddies out there that are sending your kiddos off to school for the first time (or the second....or third!)

ETA (edited to add): So as I'm finishing up this post I notice Momo is unusually quiet. You know that's not good. Here is why:

Those would be Momo's fingerprints. Can you make out the frosting on her face?