First Week

Simon's projects from the first week of kindergarten. Most of them were related to the book "The Kissing Hand". And of course, the handprint and poem melted my heart!

Here are my hands with 10 fingers in all.
My first mark in school to hang on the wall.
As years go by I'll remember and say,
"My hands and I had a very good day."

And He's Off to the Big K!

Yesterday we met Simon's teacher and delivered his school supplies. Since he is a "busser", we took his picture by the school sign. He is walking into the school with Daddy.

Simon is sitting on the front porch the morning of Kindergarten. He had a busy morning: wake up, get dressed, eat breakfast, brush teeth, get back-pack, take pictures, and get on the busy. He responded to that list "whew, that's alot!"

A picture waving on the sidewalk, just like Mommy's first day of Kindergarten!

Simon and Norah waiting for the bus on the corner of our house!

Norah decided on her own to wear her Elmo backpack for the occasion. With a naked baby and blanket in tow!

An eager and excited Simon getting on the bus, with Norah trying to tag along and join him.

And there he goes . . . . . .

The only moment of unsuredness is from Norah, because she could not ride the bus. All morning she said "I go too!"

Still unhappy and refusing to walk back home. Oh, the sadness of a denied bus ride.

But Daddy taking her for a donut will sure turn that frown upside down. Our smiley girl returned!

And we are soon off to go see Grandpa's Garden. Norah declares that Simon goes to Kindergarten and she goes to Grandpa's Garden. It only seem fitting that we visit the pumpkins.

So the big question, "Did Mommy get teary?" No, I did not. With my history of working in early childhood special education I have seen so many children go to kindergarten not as expected by any mother. Kindergarten is what is next. Simon is a smart boy and is very ready for kindergarten. I cannot wait to see him grow in his letter knowledge and begin reading, develop knew friendships, and create a small world that is all his own.

2 Sleeps 'til Kindergarten

2 sleeps brought Simon Froggy Goes to School by Jonathan London. We love the "Froggy" books!

Tomorrow we meet the teacher . . .
And find out the bus stop information . . .

On our way, to the great big K!

3 Sleeps 'til Kindergarten

Five sleeps brought Simon School, a picture-fact book about the community of a school and the professions inside. (thanks to a long ago ECH Scholastic book order)

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Four sleeps brought Simon The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn (thanks to the public library!)
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Three sleeps 'til kindergarten brought Simon, Boomer Goes to School.
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His backpack is officially done and ready to go! We bought a plain navy backpack (thanks to WalMart), and I stitched on his initials and a star in bright yellow. Thanks to the embroided iron-on letters from Jo*Ann's.
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And tomorrow my double life starts as a part-time working Mom. I think I will be fine, once I get started!

5 Sleeps 'Til Kindergarten

7 Sleeps 'til kindergarten brought Simon: Love You, Forever by Robert Munsch
6 Sleeps 'til kindergarten brought Simon: David Goes to School by David Shannon

We have yet to see what 5 sleeps 'til Kindergarten will bring Simon.

Oh, and we completed Charlotte's Web. Simon was quite saddened by the fact that Charlotte died. The fact that her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren befriended Wilbur did not cheer him up. He cried in sheer sadness. We had to watch a show to get our mind off of that sad fact before heading to bed. Then at the pool yesterday, Simon used his bucket and pretended to give me a buttermilk bath. He truly appreciates the story and remmembers more details than he lets on! We watched the old cartoon version, given to him by Grandma Wiens awhile ago.

Still Gettin' Ready for the Big K

We are talking up Kindergarten around here! Simon has been to two years of preschool, so I am not concerned one bit. I am curious how he/we will be the moment he must get on the bus and wave to us out the window. (Not sure yet on all the details, bus stop location and time will be known the day before school starts. I'm keeping my advance-planning mode on the down low on this one, and trying not to freak out about the logistics. This is out of my control, people.) I am also curious to see how he will be towards the end of the first few weeks after going to school EVERYDAY! He will absolutely LOVE kindergarten. And if he truly indeed has Mrs. Eichels, I have heard she is a wonderful teacher. I wonder how much Norah will miss Simon. He and Daddy went to Grandma's for a brief moment this evening and she declared "Simon come back", like she missed him. Oh, and every time we mention Simon going to kindergarten, Norah reminds us she is going to Grandpa's garden.

We now have his new backpack and plastic folders. Very hard to find plastic folders, thanks Sears Essentials on that one! We just have to pick up wipes, pay fees, get through an eye exam and dental exam this week, and meet the teacher.

But at our house, I have had a goal that Simon would listen to Charlotte's Web by Kindergarten. We tried last summer, too early for Simon. This year, Simon has progressed from only listening to a page or two to listening to a whole chapter. Remembering details from the previous chapter has improved throughout the book. He kept asking "Who's Lurvy?" everytime he appeared (bty - Lurvy is the hired farmhand). Wilbur is now at the fair with Charlotte and Templeton, with only 5 chapters to go! We read two chapters this morning after breakfast on the porch. Simon then said "Can we read all of it to the last page so I can go to Kindergarten?" Seriously, what will I say if we finish and have a week-ish yet to go before school starts?

I have an answer for you. We perused our local used book store, hoping to find The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn, more for me than for him. I struck out on that hope, but was blessed with an August special of buy one kids/teens book get one free. I found all the "school" themed books I could find and kept the ones I liked. I will wrap them up and place a number on each one. I think there are 6 with The Kissing Hand from the library. So each day we will draw a number and read the corresponding numbered book during the last week before the big K.

Eric and I have been strongly encouraging Simon to try to ride his bike without training wheels. I am sure words were said to him about kindergartners being able to ride bikes. Not sure on that one, and definitely not out of my mouth! Anyway, today Simon had a very accepting attitude towards trying to ride his bike. He pedaled and rode for about 5 sidewalk squares before his usual steer to the grass and stop! I was so excited for him! He willingly showed Daddy and Grandma at the end of the day. Now we won't be able to stop him! No video as I am not an octopus!

If only such excitement was present in regards to Simon learning to tie his shoes. One thing at at time, I guess.

An annual tradition will be inaugurated the night before the first day of kindergarten, we will go out for ice-cream. One last moment of care free days. This tradition to be repeated every year the night before the first day of school.

I also return to work, part-time, next week and have my usual ups and downs about all of that. Our schedules of school, sitter, missing my babes, doing the flexible dance when things come up or kids get ill. But we have done it before and we shall do it again.

And we are off to an exciting and adventurous year!

Lemon Ice

Lemon Ice is my new favorite treat to make and to eat! I made it last night from a recipe in my Family Fun magazine. The only substitution I made was lemon juice from the fridge already jarred, rather than fresh squeezed lemon juice. I did not have lemons on hand. The result was still lemon-y and tasty! Click on the link below to enjoy for yourself. Don't like lemons, try the blueberry version!

Lemon_Ice

Norah's Chant

"Fun to wear fun to wear fun to wear"

Now only if she would subscribe to the family motto that "underwear is fun to wear"!

Off to the Big K

Last night as a family we enjoyed getting our little boy ready for kindergarten. We went school supply shopping. There is something about seeing brand new crayons, glue, pens, notebooks, folders, pencils, etc. Especially when it is for 25 cents! I just get all kinds of new and organizationally excited. But this year, we had a list of supplies to buy for Simon. Definitely a small list but huge for his little life. Norah was upset that she could not pick up a box of new crayons, notebook, or whatever passed her fancy. Simon was his quiet, serious yet excited on the inside self. A few items still needed, but he is on his way, to the big K!

At checkout, I had to take Norah to a bench to put on her shoes. She looked at me and said "go to high school". I said "No, Simon is not going to high school". She replied "I go too". I mentioned that he is going to kindergarten, and high school is not yet (I know I know, it won't be long).

Then we had to go to "Grandpa's kinna-garten" to check the pumpkins. Again we had to explain that it was only "Grandpa's garden". And the pumpkin, muskmelon, watermelon patch is doing very well with leaves as high as my waist!