Preschool Shoe Mix-up

Emily started preschool on Tuesday. She was so excited to go and I was so excited for her to start because I knew what a great year she was going to have. It really is helpful to have already been through this with Tyler - it gives me hope that when Emily starts kindergarten it won't rip my heart out again. Anyways . . . she's so excited. We both go and have a little orientation for the parents and then I left and she stayed for preschool. I picked her up and she was all smiles. She had a great time.
After we got home, we had lunch, and then walked Tyler to the bus stop. On the way home I noticed that she had her shoes on the wrong feet - which is unusual for Emily - she's really good about putting them on the right feet. So we get home and I go to switch them and I realize that she has 2 right shoes. Exact same shoe, just two rights. So I look at the sizes and one is hers and one is a half size bigger. So I ask her if anyone at preschool had the same shoes as her. "Aubrie does" she says, luckily for me Aubrie is her friend (and in our carpool) and not some girl I don't know yet from our first day of preschool. So I call my friend Kim to see if Aubrie by chance is wearing two left shoes - while I'm leaving her a message, Kim pulls up at my house with the missing left shoe. It was so funny - neither girl even seemed to notice one of their shoes was on the wrong food - and the wrong size! I did notice today that when I dropped the girls off at preschool both Emily and Aubrie were wearing a different pair of shoes than the ones they had worn on Tuesday - apperantly Kim and I don't trust them!
Preschool is going great - she was so happy today because she was calendar helper and popcorn was the snack. It doesn't get better does it?
Tyler is doing better in kindergarten. I think this is going to be a big week of transition but he's doing great. The last two days he's ridden the bus both ways so that's all of the scary stuff out of the way. He went to Music on Tuesday and liked it, and went to PE yesterday and really liked that so we're thrilled. My tears are slowing - I haven't cried today, but I better sign off or I for sure will.

First Day of Kindergarten

Today's the day . . . the first day of kindergarten. Last night the gravity hit me and the tears started flowing. Every time I would see Tyler I would start to cry, and then try to stop them as quickly as they came so he wouldn't know how hard this is on me. I cried most of the night and started again this morning. I did however pull myself together when it came time to get serious and go to school.
I dropped the girls off at Jen's house and hurried home to get Tyler. There he was in his new school clothes all ready for his first day of kindergarten. Derek and I both went with him to school. The parents were invited to stay for the whole time (it was early release day so kindergarten was only 2 hours today) and so the three of us headed off to school. We got there and went to his class and met his teacher. We knew five other kids there so that really helped. The kids sat on the carpet with the parents sitting around the room. We hung up his Spiderman backpack and got his papers out of his cubby. We went over a few things and then she did roll call. She called Tyler's name and he just raised his hand like he knew what he was doing. I got myself signed up to head up the class parties (with my friend Becca) so that should be really fun. Then the parents left the classroom to fill out paperwork in the library while the kids stayed in the classroom with the teacher. The paperwork was insane - so many forms to fill out to get him on the right bus! After we filled out everything we went back to the classroom. The kids had been going to different stations: coloring, blocks and other things. As soon as Tyler saw Derek and I his countenance changed from everything's fine to being upset. I think he was fine while we were gone, but as soon as he saw us it was upsetting. Why is it that kids are fine for babysitters but the second you walk through the door they start crying? It was exactly like that. After that he couldn't finish his paper and he just wanted to go home. We said our goodbye's to the teacher and we left. It took him a while to adjust back to himself after we got home too. I think kindergarten is going to be a big transition for him. He's such a home-body that this is really going to stretch him.
All in all, our first day was great. I loved that parents were invited to stay the whole day - that was so great to have a little baby step for both Tyler and me. Everything seems really great - the day I'd dreaded for 3 months wasn't so bad.
Now tomorrow is a different story - he's riding the bus. To and from school! I think we better just get everything scary out of the way so I'm jumping right in. I'm really worried about the bus - it seems the most scary to me out of all the kindergarten worries. The ride there will be fine because it's just kindergarteners, it's that ride home - with 5th graders! I've found out that they put the kindergarteners on the bus first - and that they sit at the front with assigned seats - so all of that really helps to alleve my fear. Tomorrow's a big day - riding the bus and being at school alone. And I don't even want to think about the fact that Emily starts preschool tomorrow too . . .

Last Week of Summer fun

This is our last week of summer - next week school sets in for both Tyler and Emily. The kids have had their paper chains in the rooms for a few weeks now. I'm trying to think of some things to do to make this week different and get the kids excited for school. The best idea I had was to take the kids to 5 parks in 5 days - and hopefully throw in some we've never been to (I got a new city map that had all of these parks that we'd never been to). So yesterday we start with gusto. I tell the kids we're going to this great new park we haven't been to yet and get them all excited. After getting hopelessly lost we find it - a big dirt pile with a sign that says 'Future home of park' - explain that to your kids. So I take them to a good-enough standby and the kids have fun. Today - exact rerun of yesterday - today's park isn't done yet either! I drove my kids all over the valley for nothing! Can you believe our luck?! Another stand-by parked filled in great though. I came home and checked the website to see what parks are actually done, so tomorrow we should fare better.
My next idea for our fun week is to check out all the First Day of School books I could from the library. Apparently I'm the last to have the idea because they were really picked over - but we got several and all of our story times this week are school books.
Hopefully my kids are having fun - I just hope this week feels special to them. It also helps me keep busy and not thinking about Tyler going to kindergarten. It's starting to set in though - I've been sick to my stomach all week with this feeling of dread. His teacher and principal did come by our house on Friday and that was really nice. They only stayed a few minutes but his teacher gave him a big hug and that made me feel better about sending him. It also helped to give a face to a name for him. On Monday parents go and stay the whole 2 hours (it's a half day for the whole school) so our big day will really be Tuesday.

My Musical Book Club

Last night I hosted book club at my house. I was moving the kitchen chairs from the table into the family room so I could sweep and mop before everyone arrived. Tyler asked me why I was moving the chairs and I told him so I could mop - he said, "Oh, I thought you were going to play musical chairs for your book club". Isn't that hilarious?! Let me tell you though - this isn't the musical chair kind of group!

Kindergarten is Official!

Today is the day that kindergarten became official. We went to Tyler's school this morning to see the class lists taped to the door. There was his name - it must be official. I really struck out with my wishes though. I really wanted Tyler in morning - and we got afternoon. I really wanted one teacher - and we got another. I really wanted this one friend of his in our class - and he's not. I really didn't get anything I wanted, it's almost humorous how much I struck out. We did get 3 kids that he knows really well in his class so that's great. Also, in talking to my friend today lamenting over afternoon kindergarten - she pointed out that at least it will be warmer for the kids at the bus stop - so there's my looking for bright side.
Now I have to think about logistics of what this means for my daily schedule. Tyler goes in the afternoon, and Emily goes to preschool 2 days a week in the morning, and has dance class once a week in the morning (yes, I'll always have 2 kids at home with me, when I had dreams of doing all errands with just one!). Also, it makes me sad that on Tuesdays and Thursdays Emily and Tyler will simply pass each other.
It's funny how one list hanging on a school door has changed so many things for me today.
I'm trying to think of fun things to do with Tyler next week to make his last week of summer fun - the best I've got is taking him to a different park every day of the week - any suggestions?
Forecast calls for rain - good thing I've got you reading and commenting or this would be one lonely blog!

Everything there is to know about Bailey:

3 things that scare me:
- knowing a diaper change is coming
- babysitters putting me to bed
- Emily getting in the tub with me

3 people that make me laugh:
- Dad
- Tyler and Emily
- Grandma

3 things I love:
- Keys
- Phone
- Swimming

3 things I hate:
- Church (sorry to say, but it's true)
- Nose wipes
- Face washes

3 things I don't understand:
- Why I can't play with little things
- Where my pacifiers went
- Why someone can't hold me all the time

3 things on my floor:
- toy piano
- books
- dinosaurs - not so much because I like them but because Tyler keeps them everywhere!

3 things I'm doing right now:
- Babbling
- Put toys in a container and then taking them out again
- Eating the toys

3 ways to describe my personality:
- Easy
- Adorable
- Pleasant

3 things you should listen to:
- My laugh
- Emily's silly voice
- Tyler's endless stories

3 things I want to do before I die (in other words three things my mom wishes for me):
- get married in the temple
- be a mom
- gain a testimony

3 things I love to eat:
- pancakes
- ice cream
- macaroni

3 things I'd like to learn:
- how to drink from a sippy cup
- how to walk so I can keep up with everyone else
- how to eat with a fork

Bailey's One!

My little Bailey turned Wednesday. The first thing Tyler said on Wednesday was, "Mom, she's one, why isn't she walking?". The day was complete with presents, merry-go-round cake, and ice cream - her new favorite treat! All of the toys she got quickly got taken by her older siblings - and she hasn't even seen them yet. She did get her first pillow - we put her to bed on it but she never stays there long.
The big day does come with some milestones - the pacifiers have all been thrown away, we're done with nursing, and we're trying to phase out the bottles - but she hasn't mastered the art of the sippy cup yet! Any suggestions on Sippy Cup 101? My Bay is growing up.

The Summer of Swimming lessons!

This has certainly been the summer of swimming lessons for my kids. Last year Tyler, who was 4, had swimming lessons. I had him in 2 sessions - for a full 20 lessons and I'm not sure we had a day without tears. Every lesson began with bribery and every lesson ended in saying, "maybe tomorrow you'll get the M&M's (our family's favorite bribe). So this year I went to the pool dragging my feet, three kids, a stroller and an overstuffed beach bag. I signed Tyler, now 5, and Emily, who's 3, up for the same class. I felt that Tyler couldn't hurt from being in the beginning class again and maybe there's strength in numbers for my kids. This year has been such a wonderful surprise - no one cried for the whole month's worth of lessons! Tyler and Emmy both did great - Emily could just jump off the side and Tyler could do it with only holding one of his teacher's fingers. It was so fun to have them in the same class and see them be such great friends. Today was our last day, and though I'm thrilled Bailey and I don't have to sit on the side and cook to death anymore, I'm sad to see such a good thing end. On the way of the pool today Tyler asked me when he'll do swimming lessons again - next year almost seemed too far away for him.

Adventures in Blogging

I've decided to join the 21st century and start my own blog. Why? Honestly, because my sister-in-law talked me into it. She has one and I love reading hers. It's a great way to keep up on things in her family - so maybe someone will feel the same way about mine. If nothing else, it gives me a place to write down all of those things that you think, "I've got to write that down!" and then never do. This could be the closest thing to journaling I've done in a while - so with that said, let the adventures in blogging begin!