Mr. T's first day of Kindergarten

EAch of the kids has been in some form of preschool for 3 years now. True, when they were 2 it was 2 days a week for a few hours each time but still, some form of preschool. Each year in September they have had different first days or one or the other of them will have what I call a "no big deal" 1st day. Low anxiety, familiar teacher something like that. This year for the first time both the kids started school on the exact same day at the exact same time and these were BIG DEAL first days. I won't lie, it felt stressful navigating them both through the first day and week of school but so far (fingers crossed) everything is going great.

He was pretty excited about his first day and a little bit nervous since it was going to be a new teacher. Peter dropped him off since I was dropping off Miss E and he only took one (one!) dark picture of Mr. T in his classroom. I haven't been back in to take another one because his teacher, while totally and completely awesome in every way, does not want parents in the classroom this first month. Something about the kids being independent or some such idea....   The other morning my toe crossed the threshold as I said goodbye to him and she cheerfully and immediately directed Mr. T and I to wave goodbye to each other. Yes, I have been 86'd from a kindergarten classroom. 

 The kindergarten bus brings the morning kindergarten kids home and drops them off directly at your house. The bus driver (Jase) was Miss E's bus driver from last year. He's awesome. And last year as he dropped off Miss E on the first day of school I mentally freaked out that someone I didn't know was driving my daughter around. This year Peter and I were happy to see him and chatted for a moment about how our summers had been. Mr. T was super nervous and excited about the bus. Since then it's been one of his favorite things. "It's like a car mommy but bigger and you don't have to wear seatbelts!"

After school of course there were freshly made cookies. I think this whole kindergarten thing is going to work out alright. 

September 11

Each year, this day becomes more of a question mark for me. Remembering fills me with a deep sense of sadness, mournful that our world changed on that day. For Peter, he both likes and hates working on this day. This year he's working which means participating in 3 different September 11 memorial events. It's hard for the guys to do this every year, but they also know that it's important and are glad to do it. I think if he went to work and there were no September 11 events scheduled he would be simultaneously relieved and deeply disappointed.

As for me, my question each year becomes - do I tell the kids? I know many fire families have told their kids about this day early and often in their lives, without creating fear and instead crafting pride and respect for the fire service. I have chosen not to tell the kids yet because I don't want the thought to even cross their mind as they board their first plane flight that something bad might happen to the plane. I don't want them to hear about actual events where firefighters have died and buildings have collapsed. They know Peter's job is dangerous but right now it's in the abstract. They know there are bad people in the world but somehow this crosses the line from "bad" people.

But as Miss E gets older and is more aware of her surroundings, each year I find myself asking, is this the year? Right now I'm pretty much waiting until they ask about it - which has pretty much been our policy on most parenting things so far. We don't let them watch the news and when Miss E is obviously reading the newspaper I give it a quick scan to make sure there's nothing really bad on the page she's reading. She'll pick up on something eventually I'm sure but I'm unsure as to whether I should help that along.

10 years ago I woke up on a week-long bike ride in the middle of nowhere in Eastern Oregon. I was with my mom and my sister and Peter was at our home, working for the ambulance company and as a volunteer. There was no TV or radio where we were and as we are eating breakfast a woman on a bullhorn announced out of the blue that our country was under attack and that all national guard troops would be supplied phones to call in and assistance returning to their bases. We had no idea what had happened. As we rode our bikes that day a few folks with radios would pass along brief snippets of information. A plane flew into a building. A plane crashed into field. There are fighter jets patrolling over New York City. 20 firefighters died. At the time I thought - 20? There's no way that many could die in an incident. And then, I wonder if there were people on the plane? It wasn't until that evening at our rest stop in another location that we were able to call home. They brought in extra phones so people could call relatives on the East Coast. I finally got ahold of Peter and he told me what really happened.

At this point he had just been hired by the fire department.

So every year I wonder, is this the year? And then - should I have told them last year?

Week 1

Whew. It's been a crazy week. Miss E started 1st grade, Mr. T started kindergarten, my sister had surgery, I had a 4 day long migraine and Peter and I celebrated 9 years of marriage. Mix in some work, a few tantrums, a million errands, soccer and the start of football season and there you have it. It's been busy and hard and wonderful - just like life with 2 little kids normally is. I'm going to do individual posts about each of the kids starting school because this is such a big year for both of them but haven't had time yet. I can't wait to start another 365 because for some reason blogging one picture a day seems to come easier to me than this blogging randomly.

On a side note: This evening, Miss E threw a huge tantrum. She is tired and still adjust to full day school and we have had some....behavior. Anyhoo, there was a huge tantrum with yelling and telling me she hated me and on and on and on. About an hour after this kind of ridiculous tantrum her teacher called us at home just to tell me that Miss E was an "angel" and how glad she was that she was going to get to be her teacher for 2 years. She went on about how smart Miss E is, what a great attitude she had and how "whatever we're doing at home must be working". I swear, not 45 minutes earlier the girl had kicked at me and told me I was the dumbest mommy ever. Ahh...motherhood. In the midst of the negative there shines a light of pride and positiveness. I'm so proud of my kiddo, I know this a huge adjustment for her and she's doing the best she can to make it work.

The Beach - Part 2

Seeing as we started school today, I should probably post the rest of last weeks beach pictures already. I can't say enough how lovely this trip was. Yes, there were a few tantrums and a few "moments" and Mr. T did wake up at 6:15 and immediately started calling for Miss E to wake up but overall, it was one of the best mini-vacations we've ever had.

 The second day was much more cloudy and overcast than the first - still warm but not sunny. We also had a crazy high tide that came up and over that little bridge leading down from the hotel. Mr. T and Miss E played and played in the sand though and this picture it the only photographic evidence we have of Mr. T's guy that he "catapulted and then buried" in the sand. He was not recovered.

 Miss E was thrilled with the water coming in so far. Normally I wouldn't let her stand on a drift log with the tide coming up around it but we were so far back from the actual surf that it was OK. That bridge was swamped over the bottom step on the highest waves. Our hotel room was on the bottom, second one in from the right. It worked great for quick clothing changes, bathroom breaks and snack re-fills.

Peter and Mr. T built a huge mountain of sand and then Mr. T had a great time throwing his body into it to knock it down. Boys.

 Sunset walk on the beach after the tide had receded.

 Miss E and I playing Bananagrams in the condo.

 On the last day we'd had enough lazing around so we went sightseeing on the way home. When we made our list at the beginning of the summer of all the things we wanted to do this summer, Miss E put "lighthouse" on it so we stopped at this one.

 She climbed all the way up with me. At the top they wouldn't let you go outside or into the light area so it was a little anti-climatic but she was happy anyway.

Last stop was the aquarium. Touch tanks, sharks, snakes and sea birds. Then home again home again jiggity jig.

Overall it was a great summer. The completed tasks on our list included:

Booby traps,
Camping
Smores
Sleep in a tent (I know, this is pretty much the same as camping but the kids were in charge of what went on the list)
Waterfall
Hiking
Fishing
Swimming
Berry picking
Festival or carnival
Go to a farm
Go to the beach
Ride bikes
Movies
Play outside
Get pool out
Lighthouse
BBQ
Make berry desserts
Eat outside.

Done all around and that's a wrap on the summer.

(although truly, we are having our hottest weather of the year now, for the first week of school)

The Beach - Part 1

Earlier this week we spent 3 days at the beach as a family just enjoying the last trip of summer. I had planned this trip on my own and it was a surprise for Peter and the kids. They knew we were going somewhere but they didn't know where.  I intended for the trip to be easy, fun and relaxing (i.e., not camping or far distance or busy travel). I also have this thing about going to the beach (must be done at least once a year) and ever since we've had kids I insist on oceanfront accommodations, I think because for the past 6 years we've spent a good part of the time in the hotel room with a napping/early to bed kid and really, if you're at the beach you have to see the ocean. 

We tried out a new beach and a new place to stay and it was beautiful. The best beach area for kids we've been to and the weather was gorgeous. I split this into 2 posts because it's so picture heavy but I couldn't resist. It was so lovely all around. 

 First stop, lunch. Clam chowder at Mo's and Peter and Mr. T wanted their picture taken in front of this FDNY sign. (Side note - I have not told my kids about September 11 yet. I just can't bring myself to do it. It's so horrific and with Peter being a firefighter, I just can't. Last year I actually started to - in an age-appropriate way- and couldn't finish. Maybe this year.)

 Second stop, beach. Well check into condo and then beach. This right here is why this beach is so perfect. The actual surf is a bit farther out but these rivers and pools fill each high tide. The kids could play in this water to their hearts content without the danger that the Oregon surf poses.

 I'm reading a book ON THE BEACH with my kids. First time ever. Normally near the ocean we are hyper-vigilant and near the kids. I've lived in Oregon my entire life and have a healthy respect for our ocean. Sneaker waves are for real people. With this place, we were set so far back the kids were able to play a bit more and I was able to relax (a little).

 Building a sand castle.

 Miss E spent her own money on a mood ring this trip. It was the most adorable thing ever. She believes in their power to tell her mood so all weekend she would look at it and then tell me how she was feeling. It was just the sweetest thing to see her so excited about the power of the mood ring.

  After dinner tide-pooling. The first night we had a crazy negative tide (the next day would prove to be a crazy high tide) and so we were able to see rocks that weren't normally exposed. Miss E collected all kinds of shells and crab claws/legs she found on the beach and commenced to call that orange bucket her  "bucket of body parts". As in "Hey Mr. T, do you want to see my bucket of body parts?". We even brought it home with us after I lost the argument that it would stink up the van.

Mussels and barnacles.

A conversation

Me: Mr. T, because we're having dinner guests tonight, I need you to pick up your Toy Story toys and magnetic blocks off of the living room rug in the next 20 minutes.

Miss E: And pants - he should put pants on too.

Me: Umm.. yes, put pants on as well.

Awkward

I've always been a bit socially awkward. Meeting new people, small talk with strangers, shallow acquaintances - none of those are really my thing. I'm not great at it but I'm also not bad. As I have aged, I have learned to own this part of my personality, to do the things I need to with grace and not just manage, but enjoy these niceties with people. Most of the time.

This morning, was the school "Meet and Greet" for the kids. This is where you go to school, meet your teacher and class mates and drop off your school supplies. I went with Mr. T and Peter was with Miss E. She was flipping out at the house a bit so they left early, Mr. T's stomach hurt (side note - the kid has not pooped in 2 years without crying and yes we've seen doctors but it SUCKS all around) and we ended up being late. Which was fine. I did this last year with Miss E, I know it's more of a social hour and there's no set agenda so it didn't matter that we were 15 minutes late.

However. All last year and this summer we have been talking about how Mr. T is going to be in Ms. Nguyen's class next year. She was Miss E's teacher last year and the only half day kindergarten teacher at the school. We know her, Mr. T knows her and at the end of the school year when I asked her if she would be back she said "yes, that's the plan". OK. Great. Ms. Nguyen it is. Mr. T is all ready to see her again as am I.

Then we arrive at the school, late, tired from getting home late from vacation yesterday, stressed (me) about Mr. T's medical issues and as we are walking in a smiling aide asks us if we are headed for the kindergartens and I say "yes, he's in Ms. Nguyen's class" and I am met with a "Oh, it's not Ms. Nguyen this year, there's a new teacher." OK, I think. I knew they did away with the afternoon kindergarten but I also knew that part time teaching positions are almost unheard of and was wondering what kind of shuffle happened.

Long story short, I am trying to be excited for Mr. T, we drop off his school supplies, head out on the playground and he introduces himself to his teacher then scampers off to play. I stand there like an idiot and as she greets me the FIRST THING I blurt out is "what happened to Ms. Nguyen?" and she very smiley and nicely explained that she moved to another elementary school to which I respond with "is this your first year teaching and what are you doing with your afternoon time"? SO RUDE. What I meant was, how long had she been teaching kindergarten and is she doing some sort of after care program or was the morning class her only class. Oh, and by the way WELCOME TO THE SCHOOL, WE'RE SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE. She continued to smile and be super charming and answered all my questions and I walked away feeling like an ass.

Sigh. First impressions are not my strong suit for sure, especially when I am tired and stressed and distracted. However she was just as nice and cute as a kindergarten teacher should be and she was not new and Mr. T loved her despite his belly hurting. Afterward I got to go down the hall to Miss E's classroom and meet her teacher who is the perfect mix of warm and calm and serious for Miss E. All in all it went great, I'm just going to have to do a little damage control with Mr. T's new teacher.

And he started soccer practice today which is a WHOLE other post but oh my the cuteness.