Kindergartener

My first baby is no longer a preschooler! I can't believe she'll be going to kindergarten next year. The last day of school, they combined both the preschool classes and had a fun day outside. There were 3 different "stations" set up and the kids rotated: kiddie pools, playground and a bouncer. They went inside to get lunch from the school because of state regulations but then came outside and had pizza and juice. Becca had a lot of fun playing with her friends but we were ready to come home because it was HOT and Barrett missed his morning nap.

The little boy in blue in the pool is one of her best friends; they fight and get along like brother and sister. I hope they're in the same class next year but for the teacher's sake, maybe that's not a good idea.

Her other best friend graduated kindergarten and had a sleepover at her house last night since it was the last day of school for them. Becca has never done a sleepover but I wasn't too concerned for 2 reasons: first, she's pretty self assured and second, this is a friend that we hang out with A LOT. (we trade date nights with them so they're at each others houses several times a month; as a matter of fact, this summer we have a great deal worked out, she'll have my kids one day and I'll have her kids one day so we can do things we need to do or want to do without them.) I love friends like this. They had such fun with games and fun little crafts to do. They went to bed at midnight and got up around 7:00, so I'm thinking a nap will be in order. Just like I suspected, she didn't have any problems. Darren, Barrett and I went to a late dinner and then Wal-Mart and didn't get home until 9:00, so we hardly knew Becca was gone. The only thing that hit me was after Darren and I went to bed, I went back in the kitchen to get my phone and the light was on; (we leave it on in case Becca gets up since she doesn't like the dark) Darren had forgotten that Becca wasn't home so he left the light on for her.

Barrett is beginning to catch on to things, still no real words but we communicate. He's learned to shake his head and let me know he doesn't want something. He will, at times, throw himself on the floor and scream when he's not getting his way. He goes to get the kid stool and put it wherever he needs to reach something he can't. He loves to sit in my lap and get book after book, pointing at things; I must admit I like that part as well. He has been a pretty picky eater, rarely eating fruits or vegetables but I try to put 1 or 2 on his tray so he can get used to them; they say it takes 12-15 introductions for kids to like something. We may have had a small breakthrough. Becca wanted carrots, so I put 2 on his tray thinking he'd just smash them like always, which he did. But then, he picked one up and didn't spit it back out. He finished them and did the sign for "more", so I put 5-6 more down and he ate them all. Now another day, he may not have anything to do with them but we had a small victory at least.

Getting older

There are several things that make me realize that my daughter is getting bigger. This both saddens me and makes me proud. It's simple things but it has really stuck out to me lately.

One day we were coloring a picture of someone who was holding something in one hand and had his arm around something else...I know, I have a very detailed memory. I just remember being impressed that she realized the partial hand you saw on the other side of the page was the same hand and to color it the same color. She's also doing really well staying in the lines and does a good job using different colors.

Another thing she can do now is when she hears the clock start to chime the hour, she can count to see what time it is. If it's 9:00, she'll count the roman numerals until she gets to 9 and tell me what time it is. Now, she has no idea what the roman numerals symbolize, she's just counting.

She's reading more and more of her sight words and doing a great job. The sheet has 57 words on it and she can read almost half. Her teacher said if she can read all those words before kindergarten, she'll be on top of things.

Barrett has a funny way of standing. My family said he'll either be a general or a butler....you decide. I think he might lean towards the general because he also likes to stomp his foot and talk loudly while waving his arms.