A Carousal Ride

A Carousal Ride...interesting. I must confess that I have been very consumed with thoughts of Gavin going off to Kindergarten. There have been intermittent thoughts about this event's effects on Nora. She will definitely miss having her brother at daycare. They spend quite a bit of time together at daycare. Lunch sometimes, playground time, activities, etc. I think that she even relies on him being there. I think that she will transition especially as she herself starts preschool on Monday. Exciting stuff!

With that said, we have been enjoying Dylan a lot lately and I am loving being able to talk to him. He is saying more and more that is recongnizable. I love it. So, it isn't that I haven't noticed that he is growing, getting bigger and changing but there are moments like today that make things very evident. Pete took a picture of Dylan last year at the Westmoreland Co. fair that I love. He was 6 months old and we rode the carousal. He was so sweet. Such a good boy that day while the big rode rides and had a ball. Well, we returned tonight to the fair and rode ride including the carousal. What a big boy! Doing it all by himself.

Dylan and Mommy, 6 months old, Aug. 2008

Dylan, 18 months, Aug. 2009

Lots of Pictures!

"I'm a big kindergarten kid"

Phase 2 complete, Kindergarten staggered start day was Thursday. Pete went with him (10-12:30). They visited his class (in pictures), spent time with his teacher and worked on a few projects. He visited the bathroom which Gavin was impressed by and he learned about his locker. He can open it now...

Well, I almost made it out the door with the little kids that morning without breaking down but I had to go back into the basement and grab something and Gavin hugged me again. It was all over. I cried and he asked me why. I told him that I was proud of him and very excited that he was going to Kindergarten. He asked me if I was faking it. I told him no. He said ok. I told him to have fun at school as he ran back up the stairs to the kitchen. Gotta love it!

Phase 2: Staggered Start for Kindergarten

I have actually been avoiding the blog lately - sorry. It has been an emotional avoidance and instead I dove into the archive blog (http://growingvitales.blogspot.com/). I am only a year behind now (posts up to Aug. 2008 included) and I am looking forward to completing this project. Actually, I am thinking that I will go through and fill in some gaps when there were longer periods of time missing. I have lots of pictures and I can tell the story. Cool.

But, again, back to the avoidance. Why you might ask? Kindergarten...today...

Gavin has his first day of Kindergarten today. It is a staggered start day (He will attend one out of the first three days of school and then full time Tuesday Sept. 1.) So, no bus until Tuesday and he is taking Daddy with him. It is taking A LOT of will power to not attend myself. I think that it will be to Gavin's benefit that have Daddy there - less clingy to Dad. They are driving there today (now) and be there from 10-12:30. They get to see his room, go through some routine, visit the bathroom, etc. Then drive home. I can barely manage to think about this happening much less deal with the reality. So, I guess at this point, I am telling myself that this is Phase 2 of the startup process and it is still a guided tour until Tuesday. Phase 1 was last week.

Once the guys return, I will report back. Pictures, any details I am able to obtain (few expected from a tired, working night shift Daddy) and little boys that is very excited yet intimidated. More to come...

Phase 1 of Kindergarten: Meet and Greet

Pete and I took Gavin out to lunch for a treat. We don't have many opportunities to have one on one time with our kids often so we took advantage. It was nice. I met them for lunch and then we went to Kindergarten meet and greet. We drove together to the school, Heritage Elementary of Franklin Regional Schools, and went in the front door. This is were Gavin dug his feet into the ground. He made it in the front door but no further. He had no interest in going into the gym where people were gathering. He told us no, repeatedly. His teacher, Ms. Weaver, gave it a try. She knelt down and talked to him. Told him that he could go in with other parents and kids and that it would all be OK. Pete tried. I choked back tears. Ms. Weaver tried again but Mr. King, principal, was starting introductions. I knelt down, nearly choked, and told him that it was OK to be scared but that we were going in together and we would be with him all the way. He conceded and we went in the gym. We sat for a few minutes and then split up into classes with the Kindergarten teachers. Gavin will have Ms. Weaver through December 1 and then his full-time teacher, Mrs. Martz, will return from maternity leave.

We toured the cafeteria - snack included - the playground and had a bus safety demonstration. Of course it was 90 degrees outside, but Pete and Gavin toughed it out. Gavin did pretty well starting to talk to some of the kids. He was pretty quiet though. I was very proud of him though because each time Ms. Weaver asked them to line-up or gave directions, he did a great job (credit goes to Salem Crossroads Daycare and his wonderful experiences there!).

The only disappointment of the day was not getting to see his classroom. He has been trying to visit a classroom since orientation in the spring. Actually, now that I think about it he did to a Kindergarten visit day with his preschool class. Either way, I see it as motivation for Phase 2...

For the rest of the afternoon, I picked Nora up early and took Gavin and Nora to see G-Force. It was pretty cute but everything these days is in 3D. It is pretty cool but way overplayed and in this case, completely unecessary. Movie companies are purely in it for the extra $2-4 surcharge for the glasses which they promptly ask you to "recycle" -> clean and reuse/recharge somebody else!! OK, soapbox is over...

It was a nice day to spend together but really tough to accept that my baby is going to Kindergarten! I love you Gavin. I am very proud of you, you are bright, energetic and sensitive soul. I pray for your health, safety, education and happiness as you begin this next phase of your life. Another step into childhood. I am enjoying the journey, even it is not right be your side. I'll always be there when you skip off to the bus. I'll always be there when you come home. Go out there and be extraordinary!!