Second Week Smooth Sailing

At least thats what I am hoping for. It will be the the second full week of school for the kids, and last week it finally felt like we were getting into the swing of things. Good thing because it looks like I might be starting a new job this week if all goes well.

Philip has settled into school and now runs to the door each time I drop him off instead of clinging to my shirt. It didn't go so smoothly for him at our first Awana club of the year, but that he can take his time settling into. I won't push it too hard. I am glad to see that his confidence is growing and he is finding his way around in the big school. He goes through the lunch line on his own now, it may sound like a little thing, but believe me it's a big milestone. He rides the big, very full, bus home with Sadie, and doesn't even insist on sitting next to her. He has made some friends and seems very happy to be a big kindergarten boy.

Addie and Carter started their very busy schedule of all day school. They attend CTS in the morning with Teacher Kathy who they just love. In the afternoon they catch the bus and head to Sunnyland for the special needs preschool with Teacher Su who is amazing. There are 12 other kids in their morning class and 9 others in their afternoon class. That is 21 new kids for them to get know, and considering how long it takes both of them to warm up to other kids, I think they are doing great. However, it has become more apparent to me and the teachers as to why they are still enrolled in the special needs preschool. Sometimes it feels like they have caught up with other kids and outgrown all their quirks, symptoms and sensory issues, and other times they are so very visable. The past week would be the later. Addie has had no impulse control whatsoever. There have been messes, tantrums and dangerous decisions galore. Carter has been much more timid and fearful, as well as a little obsessive, compulsive and anxious.

Sadie is harder to read. I think she likes her teacher, I know she is glad to be back in class with her friends, but beyond that it's a toss up. She had an embarassing situation happen and that put her in a bit of a slump. Then she had somehow missed the homework papers for the week that the teacher handed out, so this weekend she got to pull a catch up session before going to play. She had a good attitude about it, but she seems a little down and I don't know if itis just start of school stress or something more serious. The teacher told me she has a focusing problem, that she frequently misses the directions and instructions and often looks like she is daydreaming. Nothing I didn't already know, but just confirms that it's time to talk to the doctors about it again.

Anyway all in all it is a great start to the year, but a little tiring adjusting to the new schedule. Transitions are not an easy process for any of my kids, but then again are they for anyone?

Back to So Cool

Today my little baby girl entered the third grade. This year is sure to leave it's mark on her life. She will be in school only one extra hour, but the expectations increase far more than that. She loves school and I know she will do great, but part of the mom in me doesn't want to see my little Sadie-bug pass these milestones. She enters a new phase in school of tests and more homework, the pressure from teachers and peers increases and the responsibilities grow. It is an exciting time too... as she blossoms into a young lady, grows in spiritual depth and gains understanding. Still, I can't help but want to protect her even more so now. Maybe it is because she thinks she knows it all, and I know just how much she doesn't. Maybe it's because I still remember the 'tween years... caught right between childhood and the teen years. Maybe it's just because I feel like time has flown by so quickly. Whatever the reason, I want to hold her precious face in my hands and pause right here for just a moment. I want to surround her with all the people who love and adore her and want only the best for her, and I want to push the rest of the world away, if only for a day.

As for Sadie's first day of school, she did great. She was a little timid walking into school. She actually wanted to hold my hand the entire morning. I thought she might not want me to leave. But when she saw her best friend they ran to each other and embraced in a full body hug. Thankfully they are in the same class. Sadie felt much more at ease with her friends by her side. Her friends are such nice girls and the parents are great too. I can't wait to see what the year holds.

My Little VP

Sadie worked so hard on the walk-a-thon for her school that even though she was not the grand prize winner, her Principal granted her a special award of Vice Principal for the day. She and a friend helped with the end of year awards assembly handing out programs and then displaying the posters and awards during the principals talk. In the picture they are showing all the students and parents what the new playground will look like that the walk-a-thon raised money for. Sadie was pretty comfortable in the limelight and really enjoyed her day as VP.

Sweet Rewards

These are the happy faces you see before the consumption of the schools largest banana split ice cream sundae.



This is the face you see after an ice cream over indulgence.

Too much of a good thing!