Kindergarten Open House

Eve had her kindergarten Open House on Thursday. I’m a few days behind on the blog but I figured I should get this posted BEFORE the back-to-school posts in two days! The event was the usual chaotic mix of nervous new parents and kids, and old hands like me and Eve. :) She didn’t even really care to go. I said, “You’ll get to see the classroom and meet the teacher,” and she replied with, “I know the classroom and the teacher.” I tried several things, finally just resorting to “Well, we have to go.” She went happily enough.

She did a great job sitting quietly while the teacher, nurse, counsellor, bus driver, and principal all spoke. By the end of the nearly 45m of talking most of the kids were bouncing and chattering, but Eve and her friend/neighbor both did a great job being still and quiet. I commended her on it later and she said, “You’re supposed to be still and quiet and listen to the teacher in school.” Like I said, she’s an old hand at this. :)

crowd

A crowd of kindergarteners. I wasn’t at a good angle for pictures of Eve, but that little girl in the pink hammed it up for me, thinking I was taking pictures of her. :)

on the bus

On the bus, taking a ride around town with a lovie tucked under her arm.

friends

Eve knows a few people starting kindergarten this year, but only one other kid in her class (there are three kindergarten classes this year!). This little girl is our neighbor and Eve’s new classmate. Eve showed her all around the classroom. :)

One thing I did learn is that her class only has 13 kids this year! Lex’s K had 19 kids, mostly boys. With three classrooms now the class sizes are much smaller. I love that.

Diamonds

Eve was telling Alan about small, tiny things at dinner tonight. She said, “as small as a diamond!”  Alan tells her that diamonds come in all different sizes so Eve grabs my hand and says, “See, as tiny as a diamond!” and points to my engagement ring!  We all had a good laugh, though I don’t think the kids really knew what we were laughing about. 

The Game of Life

We played Life today, per Eve’s request. For some reason she loves that game despite the fact that it’s for ages 9 and up. At one point, while trying to explain lawsuits to her, she interrupted with:

“I don’t think someone could sue me because I have lots of dollars and a spin-y wheel!”

The “spin-y wheel” she referenced was a Spin To Win card that has absolutely nothing to do with lawsuits. She did have lots of dollars though, and big numbers on the spinner. She zoomed through the game, rolling in her money (literally!), and got to retirement while Lex and I were only about halfway across the board. Good times. :)

Teacher assignment

We got Eve’s teacher assignment today!  She has the same kindergarden teacher Lex had.  I’m happy, though she seems rather indifferent about it (and school in general).  The buddy she was hoping would be in her class is not, but when I mentioned it Eve just shrugged her shoulders.  I have no doubt she’ll make friends! 

Wisdom

My daughter is wise. I was feeling a little cranky this evening (neighbor gossip for another day!) and I apologized to her, saying I was feeling a little sad and cranky. She said, “I’m going to look into your brain and see why.” A deep sounding concept that she got directly from A Wrinkle In Time. The wisdom came, however, when she said, “Mommy, you are feeling sad because you aren’t taking very good care of yourself lately. Your brain wants you to take better care of your body, then you won’t be sad anymore.” An idea that I’m sure she got from me along the way, but it sounded so wise and so entirely true that I couldn’t help hugging her and thanking her. The neighbor situation put me in a cranky mood, but the food choices I made to curb the cranky mood were really the problem. Hello marshmallow fudge! I told her she was one hundred percent correct and she said, “I know because I looked inside your mind. It was hidden in there.” I love that girl!

Dancing and other summertime fun

Eve attended dance camp this week. She had a great time, though she came home exhausted each day. On Wednesday she even took a 2hr nap after lunch! It has been quite awhile since she last took a nap.

Today was the last day and they had a little performance at the end for the parents.

Afterwards we had lunch at a diner nearby. The kids had waffles, I had grilled cheese, and Alan and his dad had something meaty. Everyone enjoyed.

tic tac toe

Playing tic-tac-toe with silverware and sugar packets.

waffles

Yummy waffles!

It was just after 1pm when we got home, well over 95° outside, and I was ready for a cool house and some quiet time. Unfortunately the crowd in my driveway was not! Both neighbor kids and a parent were walking up the driveway, ready to invite my kids out to play. Of course they wanted to play! We spent the rest of the afternoon in the kiddie pool, washing rocks, and riding a skateboard. A good time was had by all.

four in the pool

Summer time fun in a kiddie pool.

watermelon

Watermelon!

rocks

Scrubbing rocks from Ruggles Mine.

rocks p2

More rocks. They were all very proud of this hard work they were doing. :)

eve with rocks

This girl loves her rocks!

eve in the water

I love a good splashing water picture!

skateboard lex

They had fun riding the skateboard down this steep driveway.

muscle man

This looks like a muscle man picture! Look at those… umm.. ribs?!

skateboard eve

Eve eventually got out of the pool and joined the boys on the skateboard hill.

When the neighbor left to get ice cream and I denied my poor children (I really didn’t want to be out in public with them, for fear of an overtired meltdown!) we came inside, showered off the sweat and sunscreen, and settled in for the evening. Lex finished his thank you notes and got his birthday presents back and they were content for the rest of the evening.

thank you notes

Lex finished his thank you notes! On his own terms. As he prefers life in general. :)

Running

image

After a rocking family game of Sorry (Eve won!) and a wild silly round of tickle tag, Alan and Eve set off on a morning run. She made it a full mile, with only a short period of walking after she fell and scraped up her toe and knees. She came home tired and happy. Alan went out again for a longer run. :)

Gardening

Eve and I planted cherry pits and popcorn kernels this morning. I will have one very excited girl on my hands if they grow!

eve

I made her wear her boots so she didn't get all dirty before school, and she chose her raincoat over sunscreen. :)