A fabulous finish

Today is really Maisie’s first day of summer break because even though school officially ended last Thursday, she still had her Stanford testing to complete yesterday.  You’d think that the girl would be dancing from the ceiling…oh wait that was *me* when I was a child…but NOOOOO my little school lover was quite upset that there was no school today.  This morning there was quite a bit of whinging, moaning and complaining that she didn’t get to go to school, first on her part and then I joined in as I got tired of hearing it…OY!!  To placate my little learner we pulled out some workbooks and she was happy again.  It should be an interesting two weeks before her summer camps start, of finding things to occupy Maisie while most of her friends are still in school and when she’s not busy with gymnastics practice.

For Maisie, first grade had a wonderful beginning followed by a great mid-year then an awesome third quarter and a fabulous finish!

Can’t wait to see what’s to come in second grade!! 

How lucky am I?

Maisie likes to know what the activities and plans are for each day so every morning when we first wake up we talk about what will be happening that day.  During the school year Maisie has a good handle on each days schedule and will tell me something along the lines of, I have school and we start with prayer and I have phonics, English, a math test, then homework and gymnastics, etc., etc.  Now that she is on summer break she doesn’t have a regular schedule so it’s more of me telling her about what’s going to be happening each day. 

When we woke up this morning she asked what we had planned for the day.  I told her that she had to go into school to finish up her Stanford testing and then we would be home for lunch, she would go with me to the doctor and then she had gymnastics.  Maisie had already completed most of her testing last week in between all the other activities but since she was the only first grader taking the test (it is not required for first graders) they just didn’t finish it all with her so she needed to go in today to complete the last section or two.  Maisie asked if any of her classmates would be at school and I told her that since she was the only one taking the test, that she would be the only one there.  She looked me square in the eyes and said, “how lucky and I that I get to test all by myself!”  Shoot, how lucky am *I* that my little girl loves school so much that she looks forward to and thinks she’s special because she gets to go to school and take tests that no one else in her class “gets” to do.

It didn’t take long for Maisie to complete her testing and she was on top of the world happy that she was the only one special enough to be there with Miss. Andrea all by herself.

Now we wait for the results!

Big Sister banquet

We have had very busy days since Maisie’s school year ended on Thursday.  On Friday we had planned to have a super fun play date with our pals Lisa & Briana but Maisie was asked by one of her coaches to do something special so we had to postpone our play date but Maisie still had a very fun day.  Maisie, along with three other gymnasts and a few cheerleaders from her gym performed and demonstrated gymnastics and cheer skills all.day.long at Little River Elementary Cultural Arts Day.  Maisie had an absolute blast, loved performing, demonstrating and being in front of classes all day and has been asking to do it again.  Saturday Maisie’s gym hosted the 2011 Spring Compulsory State Gymnastics Meet so I spent from late morning into the evening helping out at the meet while Maisie had a fun day playing with Eammon, K & A.  

Today Maisie and I had a great end to our weekend as we attended the final event of the Big Sister and Brother* season, a lovely Chinese banquet with friends but it was also a sad farewell to the graduating Seniors. 

When we first arrived at the Big Sisters event Maisie made thank you cards and signed picture frame mats for the two leaders, Donna & Jenny, who are both graduating and heading off to college.

She signed her name to about a dozen mugs, one for each of the graduating seniors.

Maisie then headed down to the dock for some quiet time with one of the big sisters.

Snuggling and checking things out with another big sister.

Running around the playground. 

Maisie loves swinging high.

After fun on the playground it was time to head inside to watch some performances.  The children who take weekly language classes recited three poems in Mandarin and the dance students performed two dances.  Then the big sisters did a dance before the littles presented the graduating Seniors with their gifts.

All the big and little sisters and brothers gathered before dinner. 

After our delicious Chinese dinner we headed back out to the playground where the children had fun with the hula hoops.

Maisie always enjoys her time when she’s with the big sisters.

Maisie must have spent a full 20 minutes hula hooping without it ever dropping and she always makes it look so easy!  The look on her face is because she’s watching the other children with their water balloons making sure that they don’t get too close to her as she wasn’t playing that game.

Swinging into the night as our evening was coming to a close.

Sheer delight on the swing.

While giving her Mama a heart attack as she swung higher and higher upside down!  

* The Chinese Big Sister & Brother program is a youth led group which connects children adopted from China with Chinese-American teens through monthly gatherings during the academic school year.  I can’t say enough good things about the program and the people and how fortunate we are to have a program like this available to us as this is a local program founded, developed and completely run by high school students.  This was the fourth** event that Maisie has attended and each time it has been such a positive and enriching experience.  The time, effort, thought and energy that the young leaders and put into each program is amazing and all the big sisters and brothers are so welcoming, nice, kind and just wonderful with the children.  Once again a huge thank you to all the Big Sisters and Brothers for a wonderful day and evening and we’re looking forward to attending many more events once the school year starts in the Fall.

** Previous Big Sister & Brother Events:  1st event Pool Party; 2nd event Dumpling Making & Tea; 3rd event Race through Chinese history field day.

Fried green tomato sandwich

One of my favorite lunch places which I’ve mentioned often on the blog is The Fickle Pickle and my absolute number one meal there is the fried green tomato sandwich and Caribbean clam chowder.  Now the fried green tomato sandwich is always on the menu but the soups change seasonally and I’m always heart broken when the clam chowder isn’t available because sometimes I just crave it.  Maisie and I went recently and I had to settle for an alternate soup, which was still good but it wasn’t their fabulous Caribbean clam chowder.

Fried green tomato sandwich with pepper jack cheese, tomato jam, onion, arugula & basil mayo on sourdough…NIRVANA!!

So what’s a girl to do to satisfy her Caribbean clam chowder cravings?  Well, try and duplicate their recipe at home of course.  A few months ago when I was at The Pickle the chowder was available so I brought my portion home, tasted, slurped, inspected and analyzed the flavors and recreated their recipe.  I know that mine is a tiny bit different (for one I know they put in carrots yet I left those out) but they are oh so very similar and I like them equally.  The chowder is super simple to make and freezes wonderfully so I make it in big batches.  My freezer is stocked with portions of what I call Caribbean clam chowder with corn.  I have posted the recipe on my Cook Lisa Cook blog so if you’re interested in a wonderful recipe go check it out.  Here is the direct link to the recipe:  Caribbean clam chowder with corn.

Next I need to figure out a good copy cat recipe for their tomato jam…

Enjoy!!

Final field trip

Maisie’s final day of first grade was one big day of celebrating and I too got to join in on the fun. 

Our day started when I received handmade cards from Maisie and each of her classmates.  They were all thank you notes for teaching them sign language, having crafts, parties and cupcakes for them all year long.  It was very sweet and each child presented and read their card to me and I thanked them each with a big hug and a roll of Smarties because they were my little smart ones all year long. 

The children then had a little time before their next dose of sugar so they all lined up to sign the backs of each others t-shirt.

Next, the lower school students gathered together for a Box Tops 4 Education party as all the classes did their best in collecting box tops so at 9:15 am the children were celebrating with popsicles and ice cream.  *A big thank you to everyone who contributed to Maisie’s stash of box tops.* 

The children then spent more time writing essays on the backs of each others shirt while also watching a movie in their classroom.  Then to get all the wiggles and jiggles out they had some time out on the playground.  

At 10:45 all the students (sporting their matching school field day t-shirts), teachers and numerous parents got into cars and we headed out to Mountasia where we took over the facility for a day of mini-golf, arcade games, pizza, fried chicken & cake.  Maisie and her classmates had a blast. 

Maisie sizing up the conditions.

Teeing off.

Maisie, Sebastian & Maya doing their best to coax their balls into the hole. 

Maisie and Maya spent a lot of time doing car races.  I think each game took so long because they spent so much time hitting things, driving backwards and off the course…but they had fun.

Maisie and Maya had their best fun playing air hockey, they really got into it.

And had a good time.

One final picture before all the students left for summer break.  Included are almost all the students in Kindergarten through fifth grade.

After Mountasia we returned home for an little down time and to change our clothes before heading out to classmate Sarah’s birthday party.  It was a small but fun little party and Maisie enjoyed being with her friends and classmates. 

After two busy active days and lots of party food and sugar you’d think the girl would have been exhausted but she was still full of energy come bedtime…OY!!  I need to figure out how to tap into her energy and get some for myself!

Last day of first grade

Maisie has had an awesome, wonderful and fabulous year at school and we can’t believe that it’s over already but she’s super excited that she’s no longer a first grader but now, one of Miss. Patti’s second graders!!

I look back at the picture from the first day of first grade, a mere nine months ago and I’m blown away at how much Maisie has grown physically, I would say a good two inches.  Funny because when I look back at my last day of Kindergarten post I said the same thing.  I just need to stop time for a while and keep her my baby girl a little while longer.  Even though she’s put on a lot of height this year Maisie’s still in her size 3 uniform shirts which she started wearing in Kindergarten.  She’s also still wearing the skirt and shoes she started wearing back at the beginning of the school year.  No complaints and I’m happy that I’m not running out all the time getting new uniform outfits.

When Maisie started this school year I knew that she would have no problems with the academics but I had some (very) small concerns about her maturity level and how she would do both emotionally and socially as she’s 1.5 - 2 years younger than her classmates.  Even though she thrived in all areas during her kindergarten year, the difference between what is expected in first grade vs. Kindergarten is huge.  Thankfully all my concerns were for nothing as she is just mature beyond her years, her friends are her friends and they accept her as their peer and not as a outsider or a “baby” two years younger.  Maisie holds her own as she has a great sense of self, is confident and secure and no one pulls anything over on her.  I am always a very proud Mama but Maisie continues to exceed what I think she’s capable of doing and daily she lives up to her name, the A-Maisie-ing Maisie Miao Miao.  

First day of first grade post.

Here’s a little look back at pictures from her previous school year:Last day of Kindergarten post

First day of Kindergarten post.

What’s one new thing for when Maisie starts second grade?  New uniform shirts!  I’m not complaining though as she managed to get two years wear out of her current shirts but I figure that these have served their purpose, have held up and given her great wear but now she’s ready to move up to some size 4’s!! 

Field day

This morning Maisie and I headed out to drive to school and Steve was in his yard working.  He called over saying hello and asked Maisie if today was her last day of school to which she replied, “No, today is the penultimate day.”  Yep, that’s my girl!

Once at school I gathered the first grade class together to take some class photos because the day the professional photographer was at the school, Miss. Lisa was home taking care of her daughter who was sick and I really wanted to get a picture with her included.

Maisie and her first grade classmates all looking beautiful.  To get this picture I asked the children for some funny pictures to get them in the mood.

I asked for sad faces because school was ending but look at the boys, both smiling with J cheering.

I then asked them for a we love Miss. Lisa picture. 

What about some angry grumpy faces?

And our final picture, Yeah first graders and it’s field day!!

We then headed outside where the sixth graders planned, coordinated, hosted and led field day for the K-5th graders and they did a wonderful job with so many different activities.

Maya and Maisie in the three legged race.

Maisie absolutely adores tug-of-war and always gives 100% effort.

Come on team, PULL!!!

Oh no, we’re losing ground.

One of the sixth graders jumped in to help.

I love her determination.

Maisie just never gave up.  I just love watching her do tug-of-war because she gets so involved and into it.

Then the first graders went up against some of the sixth grade boys.

The first graders won, woohoo!!!!

Maya and Maisie taking a water break.

Such cuties, they just love one another.

Listening to directions for the over-under wet sponge race.

Run Maisie!

Trying to get as much water in the bucket as possible.

Like the energizer bunny Maisie kept going and going.

Making the hula-hoop look easy.

The children had participated in many more activities than I photographed but here they are just before lunch at their final event, limbo. 

How low can you go?

After all the fun and games it was time for lunch where we all enjoyed hotdogs, chips, juice boxes and popsicles.  Then to finish running off even more energy the children played on the playground until it was time to head back to their classroom to clean out their desks for the year.

It was a super fun day but I was exhausted and thought Maisie would be worn out as she gave 150% in everything she did during field day and it was a hot sunny day but NOOOOOOOO, not my girl as she was ready to go when it was time for gymnastics and she rocked her 3 hour practice.

Tomorrow is Maisie’s final day as a first grader, I can’t believe how quickly this year has passed.  I need to stop time for a while as my little girl is growing up way too quickly!