Kindergarten

Paradise Education Center, Surprise, AZ.

My little boy is all grown up! With two days down of Kindergarten, I am still in shock that this is all happening. Am I ready for such a commitment to school? Just the thought of becoming a chauffeur is a bit daunting. That crazy parking lot had better calm down, b/c it's bad enough unloading with two kids in 115 degree heat, before adding a 15 min wait in line to even park!

We got Wes all dressed up in his uniform and headed out to school as a family. Because we had been in Cali the previous week, I missed out on the "meet the teacher" night. Not only did I not know what time school started, I didn't know who the teacher was, where her classroom was, or where to park! Boy did I feel incompetent. I also hadn't made bread that week, so my boy had to eat a protein bar for his lunch. Only for my first child in school would I take a picture of his lunch box. I am so silly!

Eventually we wandered to the right building and found the classroom. It was very chaotic with parents snapping pictures, backpacks being thrown around and announcements being made above the chatter. I was hoping in my heart for some grand "ceremony" to enter kindergarten. Perhaps the teacher would read us all a story and let us have a tearful good-bye, or a moment of silence so we could take one last picture of our baby entering the big kid world. NOPE. NADA.

We entered the madness alongside everyone else and did our best to figure out what to do. We found Wesley's desk, marked his attendance, found the lunchbox basket, and I figured the lady up front was most likely the teacher. We had been prepping Wesley for this day and he was excited. He has been to two years of preschool, and goes to Sunday School every week. So, this wouldn't be too big of a challenge...or so we thought.

There were so many little kids crying, that by the time it was our turn to leave, Wesley's little lip started to quiver, he quickly put up his hand over his face and started to cry! Break your heart! I wanted to cry along with him! Jared, being the great papa he is, sat down with him and talked with him about how it was O.K. to cry, how he also cried when he first went to school, and how he will do great b/c he has been to preschool before, etc. Wesley calmed down, we gave him a kiss, and off we went.

My baby is all grown up now. There is no going back. Here come the next 13+ years of education with no stops. Because I am a teacher, I have always enjoyed the first day of school. There is such an excitement in the air as new students enter in with their new shoes, new backpacks, new attitudes and new smiles. The expectations as a teacher are to create the rules together, gain respect for one another, and establish a safe environment for learning. Now that I am a parent of a student, I have a whole new perspective on the school years. Now I am worried about his lunch, getting to school on time, homework, grades, friends and uniforms! I think I would be much more understanding of a new student and a concerned parent, now that I am one myself.

It is now out of my hands. All I can do is hope that what we have been doing in our home will make up for any shortfalls that come at school. There will be many people along the way to mold my boy into a man, and although it is a bit scary to think about it, I just need to be strong.

Today after school, Wesley asked me why school was so much longer than his previous school (which ended at noon). He asked, "when I am older, will school be longer too?" (Like the older you get, the longer the school days are, etc). Yesterday he got home doing karate kicks and begging to go swimming. Today he was a tired mess who just bickered with Austin. He also told me how he didn't like the homemade bread I made him for lunch. Seriously? I was embracing myself for him to tell me how he wanted white bread like all the other kids. He then told me that some girl next to him said that she didn't like the way his PB & J sandwich smelled (she is allergic to peanuts). So, already he is insecure with even his lunch! He also was sad b/c he doesn't have any friends yet. How do you explain to a little one how friendships take time to cultivate? He has been used to the play dates I set up for him, and now he has to learn to make friends on his own. My heart strings are already being tugged b/c I want him to be happy and have friends, not feel alone and scared.

I also need to find some happy balance between after school activities, tv, homework, snack time and dinner time. AAAHHH! I am so new at this! I know Kindergarten is not a HUGE deal, but this is the beginning of the end of toddlerhood. Now comes responsibility, questions, curiosity and discipline...not to mention working on his reading and getting him to bed promptly at 7pm.

The Star Spangled Banner with Austin as we entered the classroom.
Wesley signs into the attendance with his dog bone. Check out Isaac's double chin!
We found his chair!
A quick hug good-bye to mom...

Then the tears begin...at first we don't know if he is crying or just feeling nervous...

I take a picture and this is the face Jared gave me... we laugh about it afterwards. He doesn't want Wesley to be embarrassed by any photos!

Wipe those tears big boy. I start to cry alongside him. I love you Wesley! You will be O.K!

His first day of school lunch box. Trying my best to make it well balanced. I later learned that there was no need for hand sanitizer. Well, better to be safe than sorry with those germs!

Beach Bums

From my earlier post, you will remember that we were not able to go to the beach until evening time b/c Jared could not get off work earlier. With an attitude adjustment on my part, I still was able to snap out of my funk and have a good time.

Wesley and Austin were so excited to see the ocean! They immediately took off their sandals and started racing to the ocean front (that didn't last longer than 5 min. b/c they got so tired from running). Their raw excitement was so fulfilling to watch as their mama! They loved the touch of the sand in between their toes and they couldn't wait to jump in.

The water was soooo cold. I don't know how Wesley, Austin and Jared even touched it! Austin did not last more than 10 minutes before he had been dunked by one too many waves and had sand plastered all over his scalp and back. Wesley wanted to swim, but the evening tide was a bit too much for his body. Even the sand crabs didn't want to come out and play!

Isaac was crying to be fed, and so I juggled: an uncomfortable nursing with sand blowing in our faces, getting Austin dried off in a towel, peeling an orange for him, taking pictures of Jared and Wesley swimming, and trying to keep sand out of my purse. All in a days work, right? Wes was sad that we couldn't build sand castles or swim longer, but hopefully we will come back sooner than later.

Those freezing showers to rinse off are always the coldest part of going to the beach. I was shivering just watching Jared and Wes rinse off. Poor Austin was so cold that all he could do was cry. We then hiked back up to where we had parked to dry off a bit more and shake off those bits of sand that get everywhere. I wanted to snap more pictures of our walk back, but I became a human coat rack with Isaac on one side, towels/bags/flip flops/hats in another. The beach is such a great place for photography...but alas, I am happy with the few ones I took.

Papa John's Pizza is always a great way to end the night, especially with Tino and Tatia.

Los Angeles Zoo

We spent an entire week with Jared, but he had to work right after we got back from Disneyland. So, on one of those mornings before he left, we hit up the Los Angeles Zoo. I really enjoy seeing the animals, despite being in captivity. I try to remind myself that they know nothing different, so it is okay to see them at a zoo. I wouldn't say that a zoo is ever a "blast," but more of an educational experience. The boys kept fighting over who got to sit in the stroller, so we just made them walk the entire way...which made it a slow walk around the grounds!

The screaming monkeys were our favorite part. They sure did hoot and holler so loud! Not sure what they were so vocal about, but it was really fun to see them be so candid. I also loved the natural beauty of California, with all the lush green trees and huge palm leaves.

Disneyland

I remember Disneyland as a child as being a magical wonderland. Jared and I also came here on our honeymoon 7 years ago and had a great time being newlyweds and holding hands everywhere.

Then we grew up. Then we had kids. Now we know the truth!

A few words to describe our two days of Disney: water bottle refills, Buzz "Lightening Year," Potty breaks, Mickey Mouse and friends, corn dogs, lots of walking, fighting over who gets to sit in the stroller, naps for Isaac, Doritos, sweaty legs, picture taking, loooooong lines, Splash Mountain Broken for 1.5 hours (while Jared and Wesley waited at the front), more walking, Fast Passes, sneaking Austin onto Space Mountain where he was scared of the ghost music and thought of Jesus the entire time, popcorn, more walking, nursing under a tree and cotton candy.

Jared and I were exhausted after just our short walk up to Downtown Disney, pushing our heavy stroller of three, where the controlled chaos begins. You really have to be alert and aware of your precious cargo at all times b/c there are soooo many strollers, wheelchairs and people, that they could get lost within seconds.

The hot and steamy summer day added to the fun.






The pool at the hotel was a welcoming friend to cool off and Jared and I even showed the kids "Marri's Pizza" where we spent a few of our honeymoon dinners.



I really enjoyed watching our boys meet all of the characters. Wesley knows that they are not "real," but for Austin, he was so excited to give them "un abrazo" and high 5's.
















Overall, we are so glad we went. It's all about the kids and creating memories. The food is always so important to me! I enjoyed having Jared all to ourselves for two entire days without work getting in the way.