Simon's First week of preschool

The first week of Simon's preschool was a transition time for everyone. Jessie and Lillian got to spend some quality time together and work on getting into their own routine. Alan and I had to get used to not being able to check on Simon during the day or be as intimately involved in his activities. And Simon, well he had the biggest change!

Simon did great his first week. He was fine getting dropped off in the morning and the first three days I had to drag him out of the sand box to go home because he didn't want to leave. So far he will not answer many questions about school, though he will sometimes jump into conversation with something random that we realize came from school (ex: "Turtles like pizza!" Ah, they must have read about teenage mutant ninja turtles).  Friday was the only morning he had trouble getting dropped off: He got caught up in the morning routine and I started to leave with just a wave and a 'bye' and he came running after me yelling "You forgot to give me a hug!"  Even on Friday when I picked him up we had a disagreement - I told him he was coming home with me, he told me he was going to the playground with his friends (and the sandbox). 

The drop off routine: When he first gets to school at 7:30 he is one of the first kids there. He washes his hands (make a soap glove, then rinse and dry), moves his attendance magnet to 'in school' and his lunch magnet to 'school lunch' then get gets to play while the rest of the kids come in. Everyone is at school by 8:30 and they start their class. They do classes with other teachers: music one time a week, art two times a week and gym once a week. In addition they have playground time two times a day (in the gym if it's rainy or cold), they have a library and reading times, they have so many toys and paints and colors. It's a pretty great classroom. The teacher sent us some pictures of the first week. Here are the ones that have Simon in them.

Breakfast, lunch and snack are part of the pre-k tuition
so Simon will often have second breakfast when he gets to school. 

They have nap time every day and kids that don't nap have quite play.
He took his first nap on Friday and was such a happy boy Friday evening.

More after the jump:

Simon serenades Lillian

Some happy sibling time. He sang her songs and she clapped and clapped for him. 

Simon's first day of PreSchool

Simon is going to Hamilton Elementary for preschool. They teach PreK-8 so if all goes as planned he will be at the school across the street for eleven years. Pretty amazing to think about. Today he was awesome. Jenn and Colleen came to see him off and we all took pictures on the front steps. On the walk to school he told everyone we passed that it was his first day, he was so proud! When we got into the classroom we dropped his clothes off in his cubby, put a picture of the family on the window sill and then hung his back pack up on a hook (that he chose!). The whole time we did all the getting ready tasks I had to keep pulling him away from playing. When I finally stopped restraining him he was off to the sand table! I went over to say goodbye and while he definitely knew I left he was much too interested in the sand to be sad. He will have a great day!

Full Size, for folks who want to print it out.

Labor Day Baseball Game

On Labor Day Simon and I went to the baseball game. For all we've got season tickets, we really haven't been to many games. That kid loves his baseball and he barely took his eyes off the game the entire time. The Cubs won so we heard Go Cubbies Go for the first time (usually we leave before the end of the game).

We arrived during the 1st inning, so I never got him to look at the camera.

The batter broke his bat!

Breanne and Matt were also at the game and we went up to see them.
Note that he is still watching the game.

Family Photos Fall 2014

Simon starts preschool tomorrow and one of the things he needs to bring is a family photo. Unfortunately we haven't actually taken a picture with all four of us and just all four of us since March (!). So we set up the new camera from Kiki and practiced the timer photos. They came out pretty well! I let Simon choose which of the best six that he wanted for his class photo. He never wavered - he wanted the one where Lillian is crying.

Almost her first word

Lillian makes the p noise for up. We don't count it as her first word quite yet but she is getting close!

New Nanny: Hello Jessie!

Today Jessie started with us as our new full time nanny. She will be spending this week with both kids and then watching Lillian full time while Simon is in preschool. 

Welcome to the family, Jessie!