Fun Run

Last Friday Curly got to participate in her school's annual Fun Run. The kindergarteners ran two laps around the track which is about a half a mile. Poor Curly had been dealing with bad allergies all week and wasn't feeling very well that night. But she still wanted to run and play with all her friends. The kindergarteners ran last so that gave Pat enough time to get there from work and watch Curly run. She finished in the middle of the pack which was great considering she didn't feel good. After watching the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers climb the podium and receive their medals, Curly is very motivated to be up there next year ;0).

With some of her buddies before the run

Hugs from Mrs Hutcherson before the run

The Kindergarten Girls at the start of the the run. Curly is in the middle with the black pants on. I promise it was cool that evening.

Run Curly! Run!

The Kindergarten Girls medal ceremony. Curly is the second girl on the left of the picture.

Oops!

Sorry it's been a long while since I've updated the blog. Our family's schedule this new school year is kickin' my tail. We are going all the time. I'm not complaining. I'm enjoying watching the girls participate in their activities, volunteering in Curly's classroom and my new bible study. I could do without Pat being in school though ;0). One more year and that will be OVER! All that to say when I do find myself with a moment, I haven't been motivated to upload pictures and write a post. I'll try to do a better job. Let me do my best to catch you up on what's been going on with the girls...

The Bear is enjoying preschool. She goes three days a week. However, unlike her big sister, Bear is a girl of few words when it comes to telling me about her day. Curly would tell me every detail of her school day from what they learned about to who got in trouble to what they had for a snack. When I ask The Bear how her day was, I get " It was good". When I ask for more details she basically gives me one word answers or says she doesn't remember. The Bear is very matter of fact. Details and long stories are not necessary in her mind. She is still enjoying ballet. Her teacher wants the girls to practice jumping on one leg at home. The Bear isn't fond of that but we are working on it.

1st day of preschool

Curly is still insane about kindergarten. She loves each and every detail about it. I honestly cannot think of one thing she has ever said she doesn't like about school. She thinks her teacher, Mrs Hutcherson, hung the moon and all the stars. Curly even told me one day that " Mrs Hutcherson knows everything about all things, she's the smartest person in the world". I don't know about her teacher being the smartest person in the world, but she has so far been a fantastic kindergarten teacher. She is exceeding every expectation I ever had. Curly has already brought home a few simple books that she can read. She couldn't read prior to starting kindergarten. I love volunteering in Curly's classroom. The kids are so sweet and I love getting to she how Mrs Hutcherson teaches. There are three weekly volunteer opportunities for parents in the classroom. One is working "centers" which is a rotation based activity. Usually the parent works with an art project with a group of students, while Mrs Hutcherson works on phonics/reading with another group and Mrs Jann (the assistant teacher) works with writing/typing. The second way to volunteer is being a reading parent. This is only once a week where a parent comes in to read a story to the kids. The final volunteer opportunity is the computer lab. Curly is still taking the bus to and from school each day. She's making many new friends in her class.

Curly's Kindergarten Class

Soccer season has also started for Curly. Her team is called " The Clash" this year. She has the same coaches and many of the same little girls on her team this year as she did last year. Her games are every Saturday. Last year we the games were miserably hot. This year the temperatures are so mild it's awesome and makes going to games so much more enjoyable. Curly understands the game a bit more this year.

1st soccer practice of the season

Quick funny story about Curly, the other night Pat was reading her the story of the prodigal son. In case you don't remember it's the story of a son who asked his father for his inheritance early so that he could leave home. He then proceeds to squander the money on selfish things and becomes poor. He was so hungary at one point he even ate pig slop out of a trough. He ends up going back home and his father forgives him just as God forgives his children who come home to Him. When Pat finished the story, Curly looked at him and said very seriously " Daddy when you die and I get all your money, I will not waste it because I DO NOT want to eat pig slop".

Bear Tales

Curly continues to love kindergarten. She comes home full of fun stories and a bit tired. She wakes up each day between 5:30 and 6 am on her own full of energy. By the time I walk in her room at 6:30, Curly has already dressed and made her bed. We've been putting her to bed a bit earlier each evening since she is waking up so early each day.

The Bear has been enjoying alone time with momma while Curly is in Kindergarten. We've been enjoying time at the park and doing puzzles (Bear's personal favorite thing). She started a little ballet class at our church. Curly took the same ballet class two years ago. Ballet was a bit too slow and boring for Curly. She loved the recital at the end but the weekly practices just weren't her cup of tea. The Bear seems to really enjoy it so far. Next week she will start preschool 3 days a week. We went to meet her teachers, Ms Robbi and Ms Heather last week at open house. They were also Curly's teacher's when she was in the 3's class. I think The Bear is really looking forward to going to school. Every time we drive past the preschool she says "Look there's my school. It's not sissy's school anymore. It's my school".

The Bear also has a weird yet very funny obsession with moles. As in the spots on your skin. I discovered a mole on her shoulder a few months ago. When I told her about it, she was so excited. I guess she had noticed the moles on my arms and in her sweet little head made the association that moles = mommy. As soon as I pointed out her mole she said " Yay! I'm going to be a mommy when I grow up". I asked her why she said that and her response was "Now that I have a mole, I can be a mommy and I'll wear pink shirts". Ummmm... okay, yes that's exactly what moles mean. I have spotted a few more moles on her body since then and she gets so excited about each one. Maybe in her mind each mole represents a child. If that were the case though, I'm a few hundred kids short of my mole count. Next time you see The Bear, ask her to show you her moles. It will make her day.

Ballet Buddies Mim, Abby and Bear

Bear and Abby August 2011

Big Sister's Curly and Avery August 2009

Bear and Ms Robbi

The Bus

Curly was adamant that she was going to ride the bus to school this morning. So I let her. We all got up early. Our bus stop is the first pick up of the morning at 7 am. Poor little Bear was still half asleep walking up to the bus stop. That little girl knows the beauty of sleep. Curly on the other hand is my naturally early riser and was already awake and picking out her clothes when I walked into her room this morning. The bus driver's name is Ms. Karen. She is super sweet. Curly thought she was big stuff getting on that bus. I was anxious all day to hear how she liked riding the bus so long in the morning while they made many other stops to pick up more kids. This was our conversation when she got off the bus this afternoon:

Me: "So how was riding the bus to school this morning?"

Curly: "Mom, the bus is so awesome. I am going to ride it to school everyday. I met a friend. She is in Kindergarten too but she has a different teacher. She said she rides the bus everyday. We will sit together."

Me: "What is her name?"

Curly: "Oh, well, we didn't talk about names."

So I'm a bit torn. I definitely don't like waking up even earlier (nor does The Bear) and walking up to the bus stop. But I don't want to deny Curly a fun experience. I'll probably end up driving her some days and letting her take the bus on other days.

Day 2 of Kindergarten was just as awesome as Day 1. Today she had PE class. Tomorrow she will have art class. She's loving every single second of Kindergarten. I hope this whole year goes this smoothly.

Ms Karen the bus driver

Waving Good-Bye

The Big Day!

Today was Curly's first day of Kindergarten. She has been anticipating this day since her Pre K graduation. To say she was excited is an understatement. This morning I walked into her room to wake her up but when I opened the door she was already awake. We got dressed, got The Bear up (she was NOT awake yet) and headed down for breakfast. Then we all piled into the van and drove Curly to her new school. When we got there she just hopped right out of the van, gave us a quick wave and skipped inside. It happened so fast. I turned to Pat and said " But I didn't take enough pictures. I should have walked her in. What if she doesn't remember where her class is". He assured me she was fine. Today seemed like the loooooooongest day ever. I tried to keep myself busy so I wouldn't think about her every second. Finally it was time to walk up to the bus stop and get her. When the bus doors opened, Curly bounced down the stairs with a HUGE smile and announced " Kindergarten Rocks! I can't wait to go back tomorrow!". After we walked home I checked her bag to see what the teacher sent home. In her bag was a Yogli Mogli t-shirt that she won in a drawing from Sneak A Peek last Friday. Curly had no idea she had won. She was extremely excited about her tye dyed t-shirt. She really does seem to genuinely love school, her teacher, and the friends she made today. We are slowly getting info out of her but trying to get a 5 year old to recall all the details of a long day is difficult. Tomorrow I will let her ride the bus in the morning. I don't think it will be a normal thing because the bus comes so early, but she REALLY wants to try it out. Day one was a success! Let's hope day two is just as awesome.

Oatmeal and a banana for breakfast

All ready for Kindergarten

Maybe The Bear will miss Curly a little

She gave me a quick smile after she got out of the van in the carpool line

Then she turned and headed inside with no hesitation

Big girl on the bus

The cherry on top of her perfect day

Sneak A Peek

This morning was Sneak A Peek at Curly's Kindergarten. We got to go meet her teacher, see the classroom, and meet other kids in her class. I also got to be overwhelmed with paperwork and sign up lists. My head is spinning. Curly's teacher is Mrs Hutcherson. She seems very sweet and Curly instantly liked her. Of course her initial liking of Mrs Hutcherson is based solely on the fact that "she is very pretty with black hair like Princess Jasmine" and wore a beautiful purple dress =0). The reality of kindergarten starting has started to really hit Curly now. She is quite nervous. She asked her teacher this morning what exactly they will be doing the first day of school. Mrs Hutcherson explained all the fun things they will do and Curly seemed excited about it. There is also a Para Pro (Teacher's Aide) who works with her class named Mrs Jann. She is very sweet as well but lacked the purple dress so she didn't get quite as an enthusiastic approval as Mrs Hucherson did from Curly. Thankfully we do know one little girl in her class named Carly. She was in Curly's Sunday School class this past year. Carly's mom and I are so excited the girls are together and that we get to experience being first time kindergarten mom's together. Monday is the BIG day. There is a "Coffee, Tea, and Empahty" meet and greet for kindergarten parents that morning at the school. Pat thinks it's hilarious but I'm totally making him go with me =0). It's likely I'll cry but my main reason for going is to meet more parents. Our plan for this year is for me to drive Curly to school each morning ( our bus comes way too early) and let her ride it home. I'll post all about her first day next week. Here we go...

Mrs Hutcherson

Their classroom is called the Beehive and all the students are Honey Bees who all Bee-Long Together.

Working on pictures of themselves with her table partner, Natalie.

Tidbits

Since returning from our journey up north, we've pretty much just laid low. Lots of playing at home or at the pool. We went to the aquarium last week with some friends and saw the new dolphin show. Enjoying the last few weeks of summer before Curly starts kindergarten. I get teary eyed typing that word. I just can't believe it is happening already. She's too little to go to kindergarten right? She was just a baby yesterday.

About to see the dolphin show

Curly is having a little difficulty with this non structured end of summer. Throughout June she had swim team practice each morning. We had a routine each day. Since returning home from Minnesota, Curly is going a bit stir crazy. Each morning she asks me "What are we doing today?" "Who are we going to see today?". If I tell her we are just staying home or running errands she is extremely disappointed. Needless to say, Curly has zero anxiety about starting kindergarten. She will welcome the structure, the socialization, the excitement, the learning, and basically everything else school brings to the table.

The Bear is pretty much status quo. She still loves her milk, has no interest in eating much food, refuses to swim without her floatie, can spend hours working puzzles or coloring, and often pretends to be some kind of animal for hours at a time. She will be starting preschool at the end of the month.

Pat finished his summer semester with a 4.0. We are very proud of him and very excited his school is out through August. His summer schedule was AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL. He's halfway through his MBA program. This time next year will be be celebrating his graduation. Woo Hoo!