Graduations

The past couple of weekends were filled with graduation parties and gearing up for the end of the school year. Today's the last day for Shara - she wears her special t-shirt of her classmates' hand prints. A great souvenir to remember kindergarten. Alan & Shara had a Wendy's night while mommy went out with the girls. Shara's still dining at her own table in the dining room. She got a certificate for participating in "field day" - likes going in the bouncy house now.

She also seems to like church now. Yesterday was the end of the religious education program for the year. The unit was Celebrating Mother Earth and the kids learned about Native American beliefs. Shara's class mostly did art projects. Well the end was celebrated with an inter-generational service where the kids showed what they learned. Since I've been attached to Shara each class, the plan was for me to be there with her. I really didn't like that idea, but the deal is that I'd stay with her until she is six, then she's on her own. We get to the church, get her mask and sit in the back with her class. Then the kids have their procession, carrying their masks, to the front of the sanctuary. I went with her, but when they lined up at the front, I left her there and sat in the front pew. Then the kids sang a song, the teachers taped up their masks and then all went to sit in a couple of other pews together. So basically she was off with her class, and not attached to me any more. She seemed to have a good time. They went up again later in the service and did their poem with movement and Shara did great. Then they gathered around Tom to hear a story. After that they came back to sit with their families and we both joined Alan in our usual spot. A bit later the congregation stood around the sanctuary in a big circle to sing a song of mother earth and pass around a blow-up earth ball. Throughout the service, a local flutist played wonderful Native American music for us. What a great day for all of us - really felt like Shara came full circle and into her own. We're so proud of her!

Teacher Conference

The other night we had Shara's conference with her KED & Kindergarten teachers. Both had nothing but wonderful things to say about her. They love her and think she's the funniest thing. Mrs. Cordeira said that sometimes when she's giving direction or telling about rules and she's done, Shara will start, "weeelll there's another choice. You could also do ...". And Mrs. Cordeira said, "I just sit back and say ok Shara, you have the floor". She finds it very amusing. Good thing because someone else could find it precocious and not so good a thing.

Last weekend we went to TJ's party and had a good time. I only had to play with Shara for a short while until she went exploring. She even tried out the rock wall! I was so proud that she gave it a shot. They put her in the harness and helped her up a few holds, and then she was up high enough and they jumped / swung her down. She didn't like it too much but said she may want to try it again to get used to it.

She's very excited that I'm signing her up for golf. She'll have 3 classes at the country club and learn the etiquette of the game and do some putting. She loves golf!

Holiday, It's a time to celebrate

Another case of "we've been doing so much there isn't time to talk about it". But actually, I had been planning Thanksgiving and not writing about what's been going on in our lives. Shara's still enjoying Kindergarten and KED. She loves going to Tina's after school. She's more than happy not to have an activity other than those. She likes to relax and really likes playing games. I'll update her holiday list today as well. I know a lot of you are asking what to get.


On Veteran's Day we, along with 1/2 the kids in the area, went to the Boston Children's Museum for the Nutcracker Day. It was really fun, though Shara was disappointed we didn't get to see the whole ballet, just a little look at what a practice might be like. We also had a musical treat - some of the horns from the orchestra were there to play for us and explain the different types of music an orchestra may play and told about tempo. The kids also got to try playing different instruments. We took the train into South Station and it worked out great.




Thanksgiving was a lot of fun. Wednesday I went to Shara's school to help out for their Thanksgiving Feast. It was so cute. The kids were so well behaved! I took Shara home with me, earlier than her normal release and she was thrilled about that. We got home and she helped me cut up the bread for the stuffing and then was on her own - didn't want to help but found so much to keep her busy - most of it involving dressing up and playing with Brutus.

Shara loves having her family here and doesn't have one favorite memory, but loved it all. The food was quite good and I know a few will make it on next year's menu. But I'll be sure to crisp up the tart before we eat it, or bake it before we eat, rather than in the morning.




Friday Bubbe, Papa joined us in a trip to Jordan's for the Enchanted Village. It was very nice and we got there in time to miss all the lines! Shara even sat on Santa's lap.

Great weekend

We seem to be coming out of the funk we've been in - had to follow through on a big threat (if you don't go to bed now, and stop playing games, we're not going to Oma & Jidor's tomorrow) and poof - now we're all happy again. Saturday I took Shara to her dance friend's birthday party and she got to see another dance friend who was a former school friend. She enjoyed that, but the most fun was on Sunday when we went to the Tougas Family Farm in Northboro for apple/peach/nectarine picking. We went there last year and had a blast. We fed the goats, played on the playground, had a cider donut, and picked a peck of peaches.

Monday morning Shara and I cleaned the peaches - she was a great help. I blanched them and she peeled while I got out the pits. We then made another batch of Nana's Southern Pickled Peaches. After peach making we took a quick bike ride to the bus stop and then off to the crowds at Wrentham! We went through Gap Kids and found some nice pants. This was Shara's first time in a dressing room and good thing because she's small! All the pants that should have fit her were too big but we found some that fit very nicely. It was fun but tiring and by the time we were done at the Gap, Shara was ready for lunch. We went and got pizza at the food court and had a lovely lunch together. I convinced her to just go into Carter's for a quick look around, but she was done with shopping so we went up an exit to the Spruce Pond Creamery and got Chocolate Peanut butter Oreo frozen yogurt (Laurie) and lemon sorbet (Shara). We liked both very much but the yogurt was the winner. It was the best shopping day ever!

Shara's second day of school sounded like it was fun. The best part of the day she said was going to Tina's after. All the kids sat on the porch and had water (Shara got an orange cup) and cheez-its. We didn't hear much about her school day, but I did learn that she's going to have to eat much quicker - she wasn't able to finish her lunch, but, "mommy, it's fine. I'm okay." So she's fine and I'm not going to worry. I like Alan's idea of putting on a Shara-cam because I'm dying to see what's happening with her all day!

First Day of Kindergarten

Well she's officially a big girl now. Shara had her first day of kindergarten and did great. We got ready on time, got to the bus stop in plenty of time, though we weren't the first ones there. We met up with a 1st grader and her mom asked Shara if it would be ok for Anna to sit with her on the bus because Anna remembered how scared she was on her first day and thought it would be nice. Shara gave a big smile and nodded her head yes. At the bus stop we reintroduced ourselves to the other kindergartener who lives just a couple of houses away from us. She's going 1/2 days and not in the same class, but we'll need to get together to play sometime. So the bus finally came and Shara followed Anna on. I finally saw her at the window and she smiled and waved goodbye. We turned around, shed some tears for being proud and happy and went off to work.

Alan picked Shara up from the bus when it finally got there around 4:10 PM. They'll get their schedule down soon - it's supposed to come about 3:30. I didn't get home until around 5 and Alan didn't ask too many questions but either way, she wasn't talking much. We did get out of her that duckie & giraffe stayed in her backpack the whole day. I was supposed to send her with her KED folder, she had plenty of food (she hardly ate anything), snack for KED was provided (I totally forgot), the teachers in the lunch room helped her with her PIN & milk money, they had different flavors - regular, strawberry, and (wait for it) chocolate! Which did Shara get? Recess wasn't so good - the swings were all taken, the kids stayed on them a long time. She did draw a great picture from memory of the playground - the yellow slide, the monkey bars that no one's supposed to go on, the climber.

She was very tired from the day and a real bear. Alan & Shara made a great pizza and after dinner we were going to go for a bikeride and there were a couple of times before that she just lost it. We did go on the ride but the evening wasn't too much fun for any of us. While I was laying with her at bedtime she started talking more about her day and the bad things came out; she was scared to go on the climber because kids were running around so fast all over, she didn't talk to anyone, all the kids from KED already knew everyone and she was too shy to talk to others, she really wanted duckie and giraffe all day, she was bored on the playground, she missed her friends from her old school. I tried to tell her that she was at her old school her whole life, thousands of days, and at her new school only one. That it would take a little time to get to know the kids and she should start getting to know the KED kids first because that's who she will be playing with the most. I know she'll be fine. I'm also going to remind her that she didn't have her old friends right away. It took time to become friends with them. She also has dance to look forward to as well as a birthday party and playdate.

She's fine today. No signs that she had any trauma and we did get to start a great project from KED. They have to talk about how they got their names, so we told her how we came up with her name and she found that interesting and wants to have us read her a Pern book. I'll have to see if there are any for littler kids. They have the YA series, but I don't know if they have any younger.

Kindergarten!

Today's the first day of Kindergarten. Shara's very excited, but also a little scared, as am I, but for different reasons. We talked about being scared and we're going to find her a buddy at the bus stop to sit next to on the bus. She's all set with more food than she probably needs, shoes to change into if she still wants, her new princess thermos, backpack, and lunch box.

Yesterday we went to the open house and she got to meet her teachers again, do a scavenger hunt to learn her kindergarten room and some of the school. She's all set!

Bowling Trip

Sunday we needed to get out of the house and like good New Englanders, went candlepin bowling. It was Shara's second time, my first and Alan's first since he was a kid. Lots of fun. We all ended up with pretty much the same scores! After playing, we went down the street to Peaceful Meadows, where all weekend activities should end. In the barn they had a cute calf. Mommy got licked, Shara laughed, but didn't want to get licked herself. I can't really blame her!

Tomorrow we'll get school supplies and the backpack together for our first day at school on Thursday. We're going to do a dry-run as well and pretend school starts tomorrow so we can get our routine down. Don't want to miss the bus! We'll also go down and see the big kids get on the bus. How exciting!

Last Day of Kindercare

Well this was Shara's last day of kindercare, after 5 years! It was sad for me as well as her, but also a lot of fun. "My last day was so much fun. It was nice they had the party for Caroline & my last day" or something like that. It was actually the end of summer bash and they had a water slide (that she climbed up but went down the stairs - too high), moon bounce (that was fun), a picnic with Burger King and got a toy car from GI Joe! Last night Shara signed her cards and today gave them out. She got to bring 2 friends with her to give the plants - she picked Jessie & Julia. Caroline also brought in some treats for her friends on her last day. Alan & I both picked Shara up, cleaned out her cubby, gave some hugs and gave lots of thanks. Luckily I have "friended" one of the staff, so we won't loose touch and we also have several emails from parents, so play dates will need to be scheduled.

Tonight Shara got a bit upset. She mentioned that she couldn't wait to see the magician. Then quickly said, "oh yeah, I don't go to that school anymore" and started to cry. (As I'm trying not to do now). She asked if we could still go and I told her probably not, but bubbe would take her to the library, and they could go to the playground at her new school, and shopping. Basically telling her how much fun she was going to have. She said she wants to go to school with all her friends. I know once she gets to kindergarten, she'll know a couple of the kids and have a great time, but for now, she's feeling a lot of different emotions. I'm just glad we're able to talk about it together.

new catch phrase

Thanks to Miss. Lindsay, Shara's favorite saying is, "oh my-lanta". So funny. I'll have to record her saying.

Yesterday was her kindergarten screening. I didn't tell her that she had to go down to the room with just the teachers & kids, basically, without me. She cried and they had to carry her away, but when she came back, she was beaming. She was so cute and we were all very proud of her. Obviously she did fine. When we walked to the car, she couldn't stop telling me about what she did with the teachers and how much fun it was. When Alan came home, he asked her about a sticker she was wearing and she ran to get the folder with the stickers from the screening and again, recounted much of it to him.

We then had her dress rehersal last night. She did great. We had no problems getting dressed, but I didn't know if she had her dress on backwards or not (she didn't), and didn't know how to do the bow. We saw the others and got it all straight. She couldn't wait to go off with her class, without me! I mentioned that I thought the kids sat in the front with their class and the parents sat in the back. She said, "that's fine, I won't be scared." Turns out we could all sit together. They were very cute. Would like it better if they drilled them more about the steps, but she was very proud of herself and had a great time, which is all that really matters at this age. Right?

Kindergarten Orientation - Part 1

Well tonight Alan & I went to kindergarten orientation at the school Shara will be attending next year. We're hoping there will be room in the extended day kindergarten, so she'll be able to get the bus at home, then spend the day at school, then go to the after school program at the place up the road. I really think she'll love it. Once a week they go to the library and get to pick out a book themselves, they have music classes, art classes, field trips to Ward's Berry Farm, the Franklin Zoo, and Sheep pasture, she'll even have lunch and recess with the rest of the school (if she's in the xtended prog.) We even saw the parents of a girl she goes to dance with and I know there are a couple more kids she should know. I'm excited! I think it sounds like great fun! Now I'm laughing at myself - Shara would say, "calm down mommy, relax."

I do say "part 1" because we have registration day (which we need to reschedule because we'll be on vacation), screening day, week before school where they post the bus schedules and tradition has it all the parents line up to view the boards, though it's also available in the Journal, and Shaws, but now I'm really part of the community so need to be there too, right?, orientation day #2 (where Shara comes and visits the school), then we make it to the first day of school. That's not counting the extra few times we'll go when the weather gets better to play on the playground or see a band play. I have a feeling I may be at the school almost as much as Shara will!