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First Days of School!

2011

Rebekah’s 1st Day

As you are well aware, Rebekah and Luke had their first days of school yesterday!  I was worried they would be too tired from jet lag, but God is so good and got them back on track just in the nick of time.  We had been waking Rebekah up between 9 and 10 am, and she was due at school at 8:55.  Hmmm…but, bless her heart, she went right down Sunday night and slept straight thru until 6:45 when she turboed into our room from a bad dream, cuddled up with me, and went back to sleep for another 30-40 minutes.  She woke up and said, “Mommy, I think it’s morning!’  I didn’t have the heart to tell her it was morning the first time she woke up.  ;)  Luke was still asleep, so Josh and I got some wonderful snuggle time and giggle time with our big girl.  It was during this time your prayers and mine must have kicked in because I just felt a sense of peace and purpose.  I realized it was my job to make this as exciting and fun for my kids as I could, celebrating their big days and welcoming a new era {versus feeling sad that these first 5 years flew by without me realizing it}.

Rebekah was soooo excited to put her uniform on  {which she picked out Sunday night after laying EVERY piece out to see what looked right with what} and get ready for school.  She never quit smiling- saying that she was beyond thrilled to start is an understatement!  Our only hiccup was Luke.  I had to awaken him at 8;30 {remember, jet lag} and he was super- confused why only Rebekah was going in the morning.  We tried to sort it out, that he would start after lunch, but he would have none of it.  Finally, packing him a lunch for breakfast seemed to satiate him, and we all set off to drop Rebekah off.  Having the whole family there and watching the kids, Rebekah’s good friends, pile in and greet her so enthusiastically really lightened my heart.  I loved seeing all the kids in their routine and being so responsible.  I also enjoyed seeing her teacher again {tho we touched base the night we flew in for Open House}, who really seems wonderfully patient and perfectly suited for this job of tending our little ones.  It was truly much less traumatic than I pictured.  It also helped that I chatted with Christy over the weekend and saw how excited Joshua was and all that he was already learning!

{The pics are reversed…sorry!}

While Rebekah played it down and focused on some of her less than favorite parts of her day {not getting to wear the pink vest to play outside, being told she needed to start drawing arms and legs in her pictures, saying she thought it would be “funner,” etc.}, after eating dinner, she pepped up more and supplied more of the fun details.  I knew she would do this, as it’s her custom to build things up in her mind in such a way, nothing short of spectacular could actually meet what she pictures.  However, I really believe she had a great day and will continue to have great days.

As for me, it reminds me of when I started teaching {I was 21 and my students were 15-18}.  There was sooo much build-up for that first day that when I finally made it through and celebrated with my parents at an amazing restaurant {Josh was out of town}, it hit me I had to go back the next day….and lots of days after that.  I felt that way last night- we made it!  Wait a second…we’re doing it again tomorrow!….Thus, I am learning a new routine: going thru her school bag that afternoon for homework {!?}, packing a lunch the night before, laying out clothes, preferably out of the room since Luke might still be asleep when she has to get ready, then Josh takes her to school at 8:50.  I tell you, it’s fairly intense…we already had to make a sock snake yesterday afternoon, and evidently, “some of the moms” sewed buttons on for eyes…you better believe I did too.  And this is just the beginning!

Luke’s First Day

Fiiiinally, it was time for Luke to start!  I say finally because I think he felt left out, though we very much enjoyed our time together in the morning.  Josh came home to drop him off with me, and Luke never looked back at us as trotted off for “Nursery1.”  It’s really just called nursery, but since Rebekah is in P1, Luke decided he was in Nursery 1.  Precious.  He only got to stay for 40 minutes, but I had to tear him away- he was not at all ready to come home.  Figures.  We came home and made cookie dough for cookies later to celebrate the kids’ first days!

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Rebekah’s Sports Day

2011

Rebekah was so excited for her nursery sports day this year!  I stayed home while Luke was napping, and Rebekah was so, so thrilled that Daddy got to come see her run the races.  Precious.  She and Josh even practiced the day before because, you may recall, my girl was a little too aware of the crowd last year and stopped racing to pose for pictures.  We told her we didn’t care if she came in first or last, we just wanted her to participate.  That she did- she had so much fun with her friends, too.  Here are a few of the better shots.

{p.s.  Rachel brought the kids flowers, and Josh brought Rebekah this cute little pen she has been dying for.  She told me at bedtime what a special day it had been.  :) }

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Rebekah’s Concert

2010

Singing

And I do use the term “concert” very loosely.  Thursday, the day before school was out for the summer {a 6-week break}, I was invited to attend the last half of Rebekah’s nursery class for them to sing their favourite songs.  Mike stayed with Luke who was sleeping, and Phyllis and I got to go!  I was glad we did.  Always fun to get to do mom-stuff.

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I went to “skewl” with Rebekah!

2010

Hey- my mom is hosting a pretty sweet Giggle Give-Away!  Make sure you check it out!

Parent/Carer Day

Last week, I had the privilege of attending the first hour of preschool with my sweet daughter.  Ever task-oriented, I struggled giving up that hour of work as we had just gotten back in town and I was hosting or coordinating several events that week that were also quite demanding time-wise.  However, Josh insisted I go, knowing I would deeply regret it if I didn’t.  I was so glad I did go!  Rebekah was delighted I got to, and told everyone within ear shot {and a few that were not}, “This is my mom!  See, my mom is here!  This is my mommy!”  Precious.

Rebekah showed me around, introduced me to everyone I already knew :) , sat me down to do skewl work with her, and then we were off to crafts and snack.  It was an intense hour, let me tell you.  We were hard at work.

In the play "school"

Rebekah was the teacher, and I was her student

Their art work {Rebekah's is to the left from the middle- on purple paper with a brown trunk and lots of pink petals}

Rebekah & Mrs. Muldoon

Proudly displaying her umbrella!

You may recall that this time last year we were still contemplating our decision to even put her in.  I eventually deferred her original start date of September to January when we would get back from a 2-month holiday to the US.  Waiting a little longer allowed Rebekah to fully drop her nap, Luke to drop his morning nap (thus making drop-off and pick up, as well as my work time more do-able), and it also afforded me time to prepare myself.  Rebekah loved it!

After visiting, I feel confident Rebekah is very happy and well taken care of.  From her report card, I know her teachers know her well and enjoy her.  I now have a better feel for what they do.  This program really is play-centered and individualized.  Each child can choose what they want to do when.  There is little structure except for snack time about halfway through, story time at the end, and various excursions, such as recess, gym, or music.  As children get involved in an activity, teachers come and go in aiding them and providing extra learning opportunities.  They might ask more pointed questions, or have the the child count or describe what he or she has done.  Plus, each week there is a different theme- they might have a nursery, or a kitchen, or a restaurant, or a pet shop or as in this week, a school.  Each theme is carried out in the role-play they do, including dress-up.  For the school, there was a student and teacher desk, and a mini-classroom, complete with uniforms.  For Rebekah, this is fantastic!  I loved seeing her pretend and be creative so much that I started doing the same thing in her room at home!

All in all, I like it.  The children are just that- children.  They have the rest of their lives to memorize and have uber-scheduled classes, so I enjoyed the lack of structure.

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Long and mostly lean

2010

I am so excited about the CD give-away- remember that you still have the weekend to enter!

In other news, I took Rebekah to the health visitor to get her 3 1/2 year jabs (aka shots).  They told us in the fall of 2008 when we moved here that she wouldn’t need more shots until she was 3 1/2.  I remember thinking “She’ll never be 3 1/2…that means Luke would be close to 2!” My word- it’s here and they are.

Anyway, poor girl- she and Luke got their first H1N1 shot 2 weeks ago and will get the second and final one in about a week (the day before we fly to Paris).  So, after a year and a half of no jabs, 4 jabs (2 today) in 3 weeks!!  We have learned that talking about what’s going to happen works best with Rebekah.  I was totally honest that she would get 2 shots,one in each arm and that they would hurt for a little bit but then be fine (like Curious George) and would get a sucker.  Sure enough, she pulled her dress off to bare her arms, watched the needle, turned her sweet, scared eyes to me and winced.  Seriously.  That’s it.  What a stud!!!!!!  The health visitor was amazed!

Her amazement continued as she measured Rebekah.  She weighed 17 kilograms (37 1/2 lbs) and was 107cm (42 in). That places her in the 75th % for weight and she said the 91st % for height.  I told her I had a hard time believing that 9% of girls her age were taller than her.  She looked back and realized she has read it wrong- 98th %.  That’s what I thought.  The 75% for weight would have surprised me except that Rebekah eats nonstop.  Seriously- she is starving all the time!!!  Her nursery teachers remark how most children pick at their snacks, but Rebekah happily eats every bite of everything and is “desperate for more”.  Good grief- like we don’t feed her!  I figure all that food has to add up somewhere, though where I’m not sure.  But, they did say to feed her as much as she wants- all the length needs a little meat, I suppose.

They also assessed her speech and movements and deduced that she is quite a talker and very advanced.  That’s my girl.  ;)   I had no worries in that regard.  The health visitor even told me that Luke seemed pretty chatty for his age.  Yea!  All in all, they were very pleased with her development and was glad to know she was in and enjoying nursery.

As for me- I am fighting one of the worst colds I’ve had in a while- lots of congestion, achiness, and headaches, not to mention fatigue.  Unfortunately, I am still a mom and online worker even when sick, so we’ve been trying to take it slower, but I am worn out.  Plus, I’ve been trying to work ahead for our Paris trip b/c we won’t have computers, but I still need to post work blogs.  I am almost finished with that.

I have been meaning to show you these pics of Rebekah and her pal, Joshua, who lives a minute from us and goes to school with her.

Excited that our buddy, Joshua, is also an "Owl" at nursery. You can also see her hair is about 5 inches shorter. It would be longer, but she wouldn't quit squirming. :)

Just in case there was any confusion, I am a "girl."

Yesterday, I decided to be a fun mom and build a fort. It was a big hit.

side note- Luke may or may not have worn that outfit yesterday, slept in the onesie, and be wearing it and the same overalls today…did I mention I am sick and lethargic (plus, I LOVE this outfit)?

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