Anderson-the 1st half of 1st grade

This was one of his first drawings this year. He goes back & forth between hating drawing and loving it, but I think he always does a really good job. 

So many signs that I am winning. 

(I think Harry Potter is out of this world because it is cool.)

He did such a good job drawing this pigeon!

Upside down-sorry. 

(I worry when I see a snake.)

I said, "What do you mean, you worry about this??"

He replied: "I do worry. I worry that I might not be able to catch it."

Seriously. 

I love when he sounds things out. 

I managed to take an awkward half day in September (we had a football game, so I still worked 10 hours...hmmm) and had lunch with this guy. He was THRILLED. I will never regret the times that I do this because I know he will not want me to one day. 

Scan of his school picture. 

Holding my hand one day as a walker. 

Lunch with Noni/Nop & Levi.

His class had exactly one day when parents could attend/join, so I ,of course, was there. It was the Holiday Party & I snagged ownership of the reindeer food station immediately because the rest of them looked like the require varying levels of creativity. 

I stayed & played Bingo with him before checking him out & bringing him to Toni's so I could head back to work. I was very unprepared that every mom was going to check out their kid, so I was so grateful that Toni was home!

I always love seeing what he writes in his journal about the weekends. 

Of all of the things that sum up Anderson it is this note. 

"Our goal was to have students make 14 lengths. Anderson did 32."

 This note was sent home because he pushed himself so hard that the teachers were concerned about his breathing at the end & sent him to the nurse. I have said this before, but I am so grateful to finally have validation on parenting the CHILD WITH ALL OF THE ENERGY ALL OF THE TIME.

I do love his intensity, drive, need to be physical and competitiveness...just not at 5am.

Anderson's school collected pet supplies for Gatlinburg & I, of course, brought in all dog food because my mind defaults to my daughters in a situation like this. When we carried it in, Anderson was very concerned that nobody had donated kitty litter. Because I do love his heart & he was so genuinely worried, we stopped at CVS to buy some on the way home.