First Day of Preschool

We were able to have C attend the same preschool that his big sister did. All summer he enjoyed listening to us verbally transform it into HIS school. I think it really means a lot to him to have teachers and a class and a school of his own. It was fun returning to the same classroom that L was in when she was 3 -- he ran right to the favorite toy he'd had back then: the marble run. Two of the teachers are even ones we've had before.

There were some nerves (as shown by his "worried face"), but after lots of rehearsing how the morning would go, I was able to exit the classroom with only a few minutes of reassuring. 2 1/2 hours seemed like such a sort time (now that I have all day kindergarten to compare it to), but he had lots of fun (even though he came home with a secret that he is refusing to divulge but keeps bringing up --I'm going insane with curiosity).

It is going to be lot of fun to see how he rolls on his own.

Online Preschool Site Recommendations

A while back my sister asked what sites I let my kids play on and I really didn't have much to offer. We use Starfall (which is great for reading/letters), PBSKIDS.ORG, and a while back we would do Mickey Mouse Clubhouse or Nickjr.com (for Dora). The newest one is Shiddoni where they get to draw their own characters and then the characters play games (so more for creativity than academic).

Do you have other places you like to visit? C likes him some computer time and I'm always looking for new places that are safe, fun, and of course educational!

UPDATE: Today while reading our Family Fun magazine with C, I came across a 5 week free trial (using code USA25FAM) for a reading/letter site www.readingeggs.com. I signed up and it looks like it will be lots of fun for a month (costly after the trial so don't get too attached). I like that I can have different levels for each kid.

First Week of Kindergarten

Truth be told, I was not excited to see my baby girl start on the path of formal education. Preschool for 2 hrs twice a week was more of a playdate than schooling. The thought of all-day Kindergarten made me feel like I'd lost a custody battle and was only receiving nights and weekend visitation rights. It didn't help that she had to be bused 20 minutes away to a school downtown instead of getting to walk her to the end of our street like I'd anticipated (the school is remodeling for 2 yrs).

But, we've all survived the 1st week. And she even seems to be enjoying herself quite a bit. Her younger brother is definitely happy that he now gets to choose activities, dictate play, and pick shows to watch. He's stepped up his interactions with friends on playdates too because she's not there to be the leader. I think he's really digging this new set-up. Plus, when L gets home they are having lots of fun playing together before dinner.

Our 1st After School Snack -- the Brownie #2 Pencil

Still, it is hard adjusting to this new phase in life. I miss getting to hang out with my little girl all day. And gone are the whimsical, carefree, schedule-free days of going and doing whatever and whenever. It's wake up early, get her out the door (Q walks her to the bus on the way to his bus), morning activity, lunch and a short nap for the kids before trying to wake them up to walk to pick her up, time to start dinner, and then early bedtime to help our sleeping beauty (that likes to wake up at 9am) wake up in time to make her bus.

I guess there is an alternative... homeschool?

Baby G at 7 Months

Some of you have been attentive and noticed that Baby G is no longer 6 months. It's true -- I've had so many good intentions. But he IS still 7 months (until tomorrow).

During this month we have watched our relaxed little infant become an active explorer. He is no longer willing to lay and smile at bear mobiles above his head -- the world is out there and he wants to know all about it. He's sitting and army-crawling all over the place. I've discovered that we've re-entered the stage of needing to baby-proof everything -- which means I've got to get started collecting the millions of little trinkets and toys that 3 and 5 year olds collect.

He is still such a content and happy baby -- even with his first two teeth popping through. There were a couple of rough days/nights, but you can tell he's feeling better. Vocally he's realized that he can babble almost as loud as the noises he's hearing from his big brother.

On a total side note, our camera lens that we saved up for mysteriously broke in half. No one seems to know what happened, but pictures won't be quite as fun for a while...

One of my favorite things:

I'd seen and heard about these with my other babies, but didn't use or take much notice of them. Man was I missing out! With the older kids I did a lot of steaming and pureeing. I've only done it once with G because I can stick whatever fresh or frozen fruit or veggie I want in there and he just gnaws away at it. I've even done rice and beans in there (not together). I don't have to sit and try to spoon stuff in and I don't have to worry about him choking. He loves it because he is in complete control -- when he's done he just tosses it over the side.