My Many Colored Days

First up: Ban on Bands (or Bandz). These multicolored offenders have been banished from kindergarten at Ian's school. It's a good thing Lilly isn't there yet. She's pretty attached, most specifically, to these Strawberry Shortcake scented pretties.

Are Silly Bands all the rage where you live, or is this just a local craze? Do tell.

Speaking of multicolors . . . ever feel like your life is summed up in Dr. Seuss's book, My Many Colored Days? :
"You'd be surprised how many ways I change on different colored days."

The beginning of kindergarten for Ian has transformed our lives in so many ways. In EVERY way, it seems. I've (we've--okay, mostly I) had red days, blue days, black, orange, yellow and pink days.

Today is one of the first days Lilly and I have just hung out at home. We painted and read, played with toys and watched videos. We rode bikes and sang songs. We put ribbons and feathers in our hair. Life as it was pre-August 24 (except with one instead of two).

This Mega Block Cloud City was constructed Saturday morning by Nathan and the kids. Oh yeah. It's still sitting right there where you see it. We now especially TREASURE those quiet Saturday mornings together, and those silly weekend nights . . .

And as long as Ian still searches for that Lovey each evening, I still feel like he is little. MY little fella. Maybe kindergarten hasn't changed everything after all.

Speaking of changes, I have my first job interview in YEARS tomorrow afternoon. I am returning to teaching--well, just substitute teaching. I can't complain: I've been able to be home with my children for five years.

Life is changing, but in the words of Dr. Seuss,
"But it all turns out all right, you see. And I go back to being . . . me."

Here's to feeling like ME again soon! How is your life changing right now?

Pants

Ian's kindergarten report so far--"awesome."

On day 1 he told me:
"Mom, if you have a bus sticker on your shirt, you ride home on the bus. If you have a smiley face sticker, you ride home with your pants."

On day 2 he chose a wife and crowned himself captain of the "good" boys.

Heaven knows what day 3 will bring.

How is your school year shaping up?

First Day of Kindergarten

Doing the first day of school breakfast at our house was a lifesaver. Ian sat up in bed at 6:30 a.m. and said, "Are my friends here yet?" The breakfast made him excited about the first day of school and made for a lightning fast getting ready process!


He did great at kindergarten. We did alright.




I was fine until he stopped coloring, looked up at me, and put his hand to his cheek for a few moments. If you've read The Kissing Hand to your child then you know what that means and what Ian was communicating to me. (and you know why I almost fell apart right then and there)

ONE.

TWO.

THREE.

Already making friends. Already finishing his first kindergarten drawing. My hero, once again. Daddy and I made it out the door before we cried. Nathan said he planned on being in a low-grade weep all day.

I am proud and thankful, but--is it 2:45 yet?

A Thousand Ian W.'s

Ian's new kindergarten teacher has but one test to pass when we meet her tomorrow:

This is the note Ian made for her, and if her answer is yes, it is going to be a good year.

Yep. Tomorrow is Meet Your Teacher, in preparation for the first day of school on Tuesday. I spent the afternoon labeling school supplies. Lilly's preschool requires her name on every single marker and crayon (Meet Your Teacher is Thursday for her).

Seriously.

It wasn't all the Lilly W.'s I wrote today that sunk my ship--it was all those Ian. W.'s I wrote on kindergarten school supplies. Preschool is cake. But, kindergarten. Whew. The note to teacher from Ian is written and packed. The first day of school teacher gift is purchased. The cutest little rest mat and lunch box are labeled with his name, as are 16 Crayola crayons, a watercolor set, glue, pencils and scissors. New school clothes are neatly tucked away waiting to be worn for the first time.

Everything is ready.

Everything except Nathan and me. We are blubbering messes--true Kindergarten Babies. We're going to make it through Tuesday, right friends? RIGHT?

Encourage me, please.

Lightsabers on the Cheap

Supplies:
mini-flashlights
colored paper
tape
younglings (children in jedi training, for all you non-Star Wars geeks)

Tape paper into tubes. Slide flashlight into one side.

This provided two hours of entertainment for my family tonight.

Countdown 6 days to kindergarten. Today the lump in my throat wouldn't go away. Darn you lump. Darn you kindergarten. Darn you guilt that comes with motherhood.

A fierce lightsaber battle helped me release some tension.

And yes, I am wearing a princess crown. In the realm of accessorizing, mama does what Lilly says. Period.

Any lumps in your throat today?

A Beautiful Place to Learn

Kindergarten Registration today. Hooray!

Beautiful child. Beautiful day. Beautiful new school. Beautiful memories.

We arrived ten minutes early to be the first family to register. I know--I can't help myself. We met the principal and the capable lady we hope will be Ian's teacher. Two darling fifth grade student council members gave us a school tour. We saw several neighborhood friends in their classrooms, and Ian was greeted with bear hugs. He took pictures along the way. It was a PERFECT day.

My kindergarten memories are lovely. My teacher had a fair, kind face and fiery red hair. A sock puppet named P. Mooney taught us our letters. We traced around classmates' bodies on huge sheets of paper. We colored. A LOT. We had earthquake drills and giggled all huddled in the corner, even though we were afraid. My kindergarten teacher's son was my best friend. He and I square danced together in P.E.

Ian--you have so many memories waiting to be made! I love you!

What is YOUR favorite kindergarten memory?

One Year Away