School Days

Parker's kindergarten year is now in full swing.  Despite having none of his pre-k friends in his class this year, he seems to have transitioned wonderfully.  He comes home with stories of who said and did what at recess every day.

Leah's first ride in a big kid shopping cart.  AKA "cool cart."

The transition has been a little rockier for the rest of us.  I avoided being home with Ryder and Leah on Parker's first school day.  Instead, we loaded up and made the hour drive (yes, we drive an hour to eat and shop sometimes) to Ryder's favorite breakfast place, Jimmy's Egg.  Then we shopped at Target and grabbed a Starbucks drink on the way home.  (A favorite of both Ryder and myself.)

It is strangely quiet on weekdays when we are at home now.  It took me a couple days to figure out that the constant chatter and playing (okay, sometimes fighting) of Parker and Ryder had become the soundtrack of my daily life.  That sound track has now changed.  Ryder has quit asking to pick up Parker early.  He has accepted our new routine.  He also looks forward to his couple days a week at preschool more than usual.  He mostly just looks forward to 2:45 everyday when we are waiting in pick up line to get his brother.

The nice weather last week allowed me and the youngest two crew members to schedule in some fun activities like a walk to the park.  These activities are good for all of us.  I recall a stage in Ryder's life when we affectionately called him the "Ryder Monster."  It seems that Leah has entered the "Leah Monster" stage.  This stage tests my patience when trying to accomplish simple tasks at home.  Load the dishwasher?  Leah climbs in.  Ryder wants to do a puzzle?  Leah destroys it.  Folding laundry?  Leah removes every folded piece from the basket and has a party.    Boys want to color a picture?  Leah grabs the crayons and dumps them everywhere while finding a few to eat.  Turn my head for a few seconds?  Leah scales the stairs.  (Repeat this one 15+ times a day.)  I know this stage is like any other, and will end.  I must say, I look forward to hearing the playful chatter some day of my littlest man and little lady.

Oh, Parker had but one disappointment regarding his first day of kindergarten - The teacher DID NOT teach him to read.  He was very exasperated that the "learning to read" process was going to take more than one day.  It seems our education system has let him down.