Ballet

Samantha has wanted to take ballet for years, so last summer I signed her up for a class throught the city. It was sweet, and she loved it. So we decided to sign her up at a studio by our house. She goes once a week for an hour and LOVES it. Her teacher (Miss Megan-hee hee) is amazing. They even have a little ballet journal that they work in and bring in each week. Samantha insisted that I take a picture of her with Miss. Megan so she could put it in her journal. My favorite part-watching the kids learn leaps. So cute!


Samantha and Miss. Megan

School Update

Well, we've been in school for a month now. I think we're finally hitting our stride. I honestly think I had a harder time with the adjustment than the kids. They're up every morning, ready to eat breakfast at 6:30. I am still wiping the gunk out of my eyes and trying to get the coffee into my mug! Although it has altered our morning routine, it has been great. Samantha is growing and changing so fast. It's scary and exciting all at the same time. I love picking her up from school ever day and heading all about the details of the day. Right now her favorite things about school are: library, music, art, pe, workstations (especially smart board and computers), free play and writer's workshop. This week I started volunteering in her classroom. I get to go in once a week! I love, love her teacher, She's organized, friendly, sweet and great with the kids. Perfect demeanor for a Kindergarten teacher. No red flags when I was there-phew! It's hard when you've been a teacher not to judge! :)



Sammer gets these little books every week and brings
them home and reads them to Cole! So sweet.

I was super impressed by this. She drew this
all by herself! I don't think I draw this good!!!
~~~
Cole is also doing great at school. He absolutely loves it! He walks right in and is off playing. And last week he started going to "lunch bunch". This is on Thursdays-he gets to stay an extra hour and have lunch and more playtime with his friends. About five other kids from his class have been going, including his bff Tyler. He wants to eat lunch at school every day like his big sister but it's only offered once a week! Sorry bud.


After school he is pretty wiped out! Taking
this picture didn't even wake him up.

Preschool

Thursday was Cole's official first day of preschool. On the first day parents stay and it's about an hour and a half. His first solo day will be Tuesday. He did SO great. It was pretty easy for him because he had his best bud Tyler by his side. They are in the same class this year and are so excited about it. It was so sweet watching them walk in together and sit at the blocks to play like it was just another day. They are going to have so much fun. Cole was completely comfortable doing what Mrs. Roland and Mrs. ferris asked him to do. He should becomfortbale though because Samantha had these teachers for two year! So they've knwon Cole for a while:)
Here's to a fun year watching Cole grow. We love you Cole Train!

Aquarium

Last week Mary and I took the boys to the aquarium. This was the first time we've been and it was pretty cool. Waaaay over priced for how small it is, but what is there is very cool. Cole loved it. Everything he saw he got excited about. "A fish!" "A shark!" "A stingray!" "A seahorse!" This is what I heard walking through. We'll definately be going back.


Cole loves maps.

Love this one.

Sand shark.

In the tunnel.

Kindergarten

It's official, we have a Kindergartener! Samantha has now been in Kindergarten for TWO weeks! Can't believe it. She has been so excited all summer long and the night before, she couldn't sleep because she was so excited and nervous. I don't know who was more anxious, her or me! Here's how the night went:
7:15 "Goodnight."
7:25 "I can't sleep, I am too too excited!"
7:40 "Will there be teachers on the playground when I go out to play?"
7:55 "Mommy, what if I don't like Kindergarten?"
I thought it was sweet that it went from sheer excitement, to nerves, to fear. That's kind of the normal way we react to something new.
Well, when I got up in the morning I found her sitting on her bed, dressed for school, reading "Countdown to Kindergarten", a cute book her preschool teachers from last year gave her. It was a sweet moment.
The first day went great. I walked her in and said goodbye. She definately had a deer in the headlights look but didnt' get upset. And I didn't lsoe it either! Although the night before I did get a little choked up thinking back throughout all of the fun she and I have had together for the last five years. Now she's going to have a different kind of fun. When I picked her up the first day she was a little chatterbox telling me EVERY detail about her first day. She liked it all, except lunch. She didn't know that her teacher also went to HER lunch at that time and left them. Day two was easier though. She told me on the car ride to school that morning, "Mommy, now that I know Miss. Klein eats her lunch while we're at lunch I think I'll be ok."
The last two weeks have been great. She loves her teacher, as do I. It's so fun to hear about her days, all of her adventures, her new friends and on and on.
It is so wonderful watching her grow and learn. We're SO proud of you Sammer Jammer!!!

Ready for the first day!

A girl and her lil bro.

Her self portrait. So adorable.

By Thursday she was toast.