Back to School and whole lot a new...

Sunday we had our traditional (going on our 2nd year)

back to school kids choice dinner.

The menu included:

Maui chicken, carrot rice, corn on the cob,
and homemade french bread.

and ice cream sundae's for dessert.
Before bed the kids each received the most

important part of our back to school traditions-

*a father's blessing*

Here they are bright and early, super excited for school.
these are the kind of pics I got after sending dad
outside with the kids & the camera
(and several others just like this one).

(Good thing mom took a few pics of her own)
Kaipo is soo ready to finally start school.

I think he is even more excited that he

is starting the Spanish Immersion program,

which means half of their instruction is

in english and half in spanish.

All of the kids have been practicing

their spanish CD (that Ame's teacher gave her

to use over the summer).

Ame, on the other hand, has been filled with much anxiety

about her first day in the Spanish Immersion Program.

She will spend the first half of the day with Mrs. Eskelson,

who is her spanish teacher and their instruction is

COMPLETELY in spanish.

Then the afternoon is spent in english with Mrs. Smith.

Ame came home SUPER excited for what this

year has in store for her. She was soo nervous because all

the other students have been in this program since Kindergarten

and so of course have the advantage in speaking spanish.

Ame is such an GREAT student and soo at the top of her academics

that I think this year will give Ame the perfect challenge,

and she definitely won't be bored because everything is

soo easy (as it has been the past 2 years).

And Ash couldn't be left out,

even though we aren't starting

Joy School until after Labor Day.

He kept saying "what about me..."

as all the focus was on the other 2.
oh how we LOVE Ash!!

talk about smart...this kid is amazing!

(more about him later)

Ame all ready to learn SPANISH!

Kaipo already enjoying kindergarten!

I got to spend the first day WITH him.

We rotated around centers doing lots of fun acitvities

and beginning of school stuff.

The rest of this week is Kindergarten testing

so he doesn't officially have his FIRST day until next week.

The anticipation of the first day is over

and now the FUN and LEARNING can begin!!
Before we know it, we will ALL be fluent spanish speakers

(thank goodness dad already is so

he can give the rest of us extra help).