Zipline

One of our neighbors was giving away a zip line so naturally we took it. =) Here are the girls on Sunday. They have since become very proficient and only need help to reach the handle ... when they swing, they kick the tree to stop themselves and then drop to the ground. Two little Doras. =)

 

 

Boys

So I've posted about this before, but Kai really is different than the girls. They are both taking tennis lessons and he uses their rackets to, um, hit them in the head. I don't think I've ever been hit in the head by either of the girls. He does it frequently.

Two days ago, he kept hitting Audrey in the head with his hand. I tried to distract him, move him, tell him no. He kept doing it. Finally I put him in the corner for about 3 seconds. When he came out, he walked straight over to Audrey, hit her in the head, then walked himself right back to the corner, turned around and grinned.

He also likes to throw things in the trash can. Yesterday, he brought me one of his shoes. I put it on his foot then started looking for his other shoe. Couldn't find it. Avery and I looked all over and couldn't find it. He had to go barefoot yesterday. This morning, I started thinking, "hmmmmmm, yesterday Kai brought me one of his shoes. That means there's a good chance he was holding the other one. Which means there was a good chance he threw it in the trashcan."  So I started digging. Under fish cartons. Through cantelope slimy seeds. Around broccoli stems. And yep, sure enough, there was his shoe. I was tipped off that it might be in there after I first found one of my own good shirts in the trash. Nice. =)

This morning

Watching "I Stink" together ... Avery's new favorite movie. =)

Random thoughts by Avery

Yesterday we were playing airplane and Avery said to Kai, "Kai, we are about to land. Where do you want our home to be? Florida or Idaho?" Um, Idaho? Kai wisely chose Florida, but I am still cracking up about Idaho as a choice.

Garteners

On Friday, Audrey's school had an assembly and all of the classes did a short performance. As Audrey was telling me about it, she said, "First, the 5th-garteners went, then the 4th-garteners, then the 3rd-garteners, then the 2nd-garteners, then the 1st-garteners, then the kindergarteners!"

Kindergarten Update

Audrey has finished 3 days of kindergarten and, by most of her accounts, is having a good time. She still says each night that she's not going back the next day, but all stories between the time we pick her up and bedtime are full of, "...and Mommy, do you know what else, ...."

She starts her day in English, then moves to Spanish, and then has her specials in the afternoon. Music, Library and PE are in English and Art and Science are in Spanish. On Tuesday, she followed directions well in art class and got to be the line leader to leave class, so she was happy about that.

I have asked her many questions about lunch. Today, she told me the cutest thing:

Audrey: Well, you know, I sit in the same seat at lunch every day and it's the perfect seat for me. It's on the corner of the table and no one else ever takes that seat so I sit there. The wall is painted black behind that seat.

Me: What makes it the perfect seat for you?

Audrey: Well, you know, it's on the corner. That means there's only one seat next to me. That way, in case a boy sits there, there's only room for one boy to sit next to me. If I sat somewhere else, maybe a boy would sit on both sides of me and, you know, boys might be crazy at the table, so this way only one boy can sit next to me.

Me: Did a boy sit next to you today?

Audrey: No, it was a girl. The same girl sat next to me every day. I guess that's the perfect seat for her.

Me: What do you talk about with her?

Audrey: We don't talk. We have to eat our lunch. We have a lot to eat and not much time. But we did go to the bathroom together in music today.

Me: Super. What's her name?

Audrey: I don't know.


While Audrey was getting the full interrogation after her first day on Tuesday from Iain and I, here is a little excerpt of what was going on with Kai and Avery.

Audrey's 1st Day of Kindergarten

Um, is anyone else as shocked as I am that Audrey is starting kindergarten today? Does it seem to anyone else that she was only recently born and learning to walk and talk? These 5 1/2 years have flown by, and we are so proud of her!

I was a blubbering mess last night as Iain and I were going to sleep, just wondering if we had prepared her well for this day, what should we have done differently, will she make friends, will she like school, will she remember to choose chocolate milk since she doesn't like regular milk, how am I going to manage every minute of her life if she's not with me every minute? You know, rational kinds of things like that. =)

Iain was fine until after we walked out of her classroom, where she happily put her backpack in her cubby, found her name at a table, and started coloring on the contruction paper shirt at her spot. She barely looked up to tell us good-bye. As a matter of fact, I don't think she ever said good-bye. She was completely happy and content (I know this because I've been managing every minute of her life for 5 1/2 years and I know her very well .... see above). Seeing her happy was such a relief and joy to us. Iain expressd his with tears all the way home. =)

Here are some pix of the big girl this morning. We took many more pix so if you'd like more let me know.

Guess who knows how to ride a bicycle!

My dad died 13 years ago today. He was an amazing person and the best of the best in the dad category! Dad, I miss you! I wish you were here to see this ... you would love it! I can even hear your laughter and see your smile, as if you were standing on the street to watch it.