Week 39

It seems we have hit a new season in our lives this fall.  We are now so super busy shuttling kids to and from their various activities.  For the last six years, we had a consistent routine of supper at 6, bath time at 7 three days a week and bedtime at 8.  We very rarely strayed from that routine.  Now, we are squeezing in dinner at 4:30 or 5 so that we can leave for a class which means Derek isn't home in time to eat with us.  It is a struggle to find time to bathe the kids even twice a week and their bedtime is often being pushed back a half hour or so.

Punky wanted to try ice skating lessons this year.  Her class is only for 30 minutes once a week, with a 30 minute practice time after.  One parent can join her on the rink during the practice time, but so far all three of us have been sneaking out with her.  It's a fun time to spend together!

Her first day was a mess- lots of falling down, bumped heads, cold hands and crying.  After only 3 lessons, she is really getting the hang of it!  We see a few kids from school leaving hockey practice as we are entering the rink.  I keep asking her if she thinks she will want to do hockey or figure skating.  So far she is more interested in twirling- whew!  

I realized I don't have many photos of her at ice skating.  We have to sit pretty far away during her lessons and I am not about to bring my camera out on the ice during her practice session.  I do have a few iPhone photos and videos though.

                        

Week One- she was basically skate-walking.

                                   

By Week Three, her right leg was gliding!

                                  

Punky also is in the church choir which meets once a week.  I am super excited to hear her sing once a month at church and for her to be a part of the Christmas program.  Her BFFs joined too, so we are able to carpool with them.  That helps out a ton because Buddy has Taekwondo the same night.  

Taekwondo is... interesting.  When Buddy mentioned wanting to join, I called the local studio and asked about classes.  They offered classes two days a week and there wasn't really the option of anything else.  I just did not want to put a preschooler in an activity two nights a week, so I was very excited when I saw the Parks and Rec department offered classes at the same studio on Saturday mornings.  Buddy showed up the first day... and he was the only kid!  The next weekend there were two kids.  So, his class was canceled and we switched to twice a week.  I was okay with it because I really wanted to watch him at his class and Saturdays were always busy for me with working and being out of town.  This way we are super busy, but at least I get to see him.  

I love this photo that Derek took- he didn't even realize the quote was perfectly centered.  :)

And it is hilarious.  Let's just say he has a lot of improving to do.  He is a second behind all the other kids and struggles with getting his body to do what he is seeing the teacher do.  But- he is the youngest kid in the class by far and the others have been involved for a few months.  He has no clue and is so excited though, so as long as he is happy, I am all for it.  We will definitely be able to see his progress!  :)

I think that was his serious face.  We need to work on it.  :)

   

Week 38

Buddy started preschool last week!  All through the summer and leading up to school, he never showed much interest.  In fact, he told us he did not want to go.  He only cared about Taekwondo and didn't want anything to do with preschool.  It was such a relief when I picked him up on Tuesday and he LOVED it!  He had a great time and was excited to go back on Thursday.  Hooray!  

On Tuesday, his class was learning about frogs.  So, Buddy was able to bring in his two frog pets (Fat Cat and Swimmer) to share with the class.  Then the teachers realized they missed Buddy's birthday by only a few days, so they celebrated his birthday on Thursday with a special crown and passing out treats.  I'm so happy that he took a liking to school and I hope it continues on for kindergarten!

Week 37

Aaaah!  Routine!  Punky went back to school this week.  It's so nice to be back into a consistent routine.  She had a great week and I have no doubt that first grade is going to be a great year for her!

All summer long, Punky hoped and hoped to have Mrs. Wagner for her teacher.  Last year in kindergarten, Mrs. Wagner's class came into her classroom and put on plays for the students.  So, Punky was convinced that Mrs. Wagner's class was the only one to do plays.  Well, thank goodness, Punky got Mrs. Wagner!  And one of her BFFs is in her class too!  There were only two other kids from her kindergarten class in her first grade class, but I think she knows more than half of the kids from the playground, enrichment classes, etc.  She's got a great group of kids in her class and a great teacher!

This week I watched the neighbor boys at 7am and got them on the bus because they were in between childcare.  It was hard for me to get up so early, but I think I am going to continue it (ok maybe 7:30).  It was nice to not be rushed in the morning and it led to a calmer, happier mama when we didn't have to rush, rush, rush.

With the start of school came the start of the kid's activities.  I will blog about that in a few weeks once I get some more photos taken.

Buddy starts preschool next week.  He had his open house and was a little nervous.  I think his first day will go well because the unit is frogs and he is going to bring in his pet frogs to show the class.  He is definitely excited for that!  And so am I...  grocery shopping with no kids!  :)

Week 36

What a fun weekend celebrating our little Buddy's 5th birthday!  He was so excited for his big day and it was such a joy to watch him throughout the weekend.

We started the celebration with a birthday party with Buddy's friends.  The party was at the nature center where Buddy took his preschool nature class last year.  The party was so easy and so much fun!  I remember after Punky's 5th birthday party I felt overwhelmed and worried that people didn't have fun.  Not at all this time around!

We had a naturalist come in for the first hour.  First, Buddy chose an animal for everyone to touch. Of course, he went with the biggest- the bull snake!  The naturalist took the time to teach the kids a little about snakes and answer their questions.  Derek and I got a quick glimpse of what it is like in a preschool or kindergarten classroom.  There were so funny comments and cute questions but overall we were so impressed with how well the kids listened and the knowledge they shared!

After the snake was put away, Buddy chose the theme of his party to be "Buggin in the Pond".  (There was a list of 10 or so topics to choose from and he chose this back in July.)  The naturalist brought in photos and posters and talked to the kids about what kinds of bugs they might find in the pond.  Then we walked out to the pond together and each kid got a net and bucket.  She taught them how to search for the bugs and they did really well!  There were probably 5 or 6 different things that she talked about that the kids found.  

After we got back to the party room, we opened presents and ate cookies.  Buddy got nearly every Jurassic World toy made (it feels like it anyway)!  His friends must know him well.  That left 10 minutes for the kids to look around the nature center before their parents picked them up.  Perfect!

On Sunday, Buddy had another party with family.  It was pretty low-key with grilled hot dogs, chips and cake.  We visited and watched Buddy play with his new toys.  He got yet more Jurassic World toys and not a single duplicate!  Seriously, we have no need for any more dinos though!  It was great to have everyone here for the day and weekend.  Buddy had a great birthday!