First Grade

 

 Two years ago, this happened and I thought "I can't believe my baby is such a big kid."

 



 

Last year...same thing!

 

 

 

Look at him now.  First Grade!!  I have so enjoyed seeing everyone's first day pictures on Facebook and via email.  I want to freeze time because I know that I will blink and he will suddenly be a high school graduate, or college graduate for that matter, and I will wonder where the time went and how we got to wherever it is we will be then.  God has a plan, and I pray that he continually reminds me that right now that involves first grade.  Everything else will happen when it is supposed to happen.

 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Jeremiah 29:11

Quick Kindergarten wrap up

 

 

I know this is a bit late, but what else is new with me these days...

 

First Day of Kindergarten

 Last Day of Kindergarten

(disregard the pink writing...my printer is out of color ink...)

 



This kid learned SO much this year in Kindergarten.  I am amazed at how he has grown in the 9 months.  He's always loved books, but now he can read on his own (when he focuses).  He learned math and science, music and art.  He is so much more independent--walking from the crosswalk all by himself, managing the lunch line with no problem, etc.  He participated in programs, went on field trips, and made a bunch of new friends.  I know this all seems like common sense, since we have all been through it.  But, it was an enormous growing time for us as he transformed to more a little boy than my baby.  We were so blessed with a wonderful teacher and fantastic school.  Yesterday, he asked me why he can't go back to school until August.  I think it's more than just missing his friends.  He really liked it!!


He was even patient enough on that last day to let me get a few pictures of him...and, then he stopped paying attention to me because he was excited about going to a swim party and I was keeping him from that.

Watch out, First Grade! 

Here comes Justus!

Wednesday's Winning Words

Sometimes we just dig in our heels when it comes to our kids.  And sometimes, it's not the right time to do it, but it's done so you can't go back.  You KNOW you know what I'm talking about.  So, yesterday was the day that my husband decided that Justus needed to watch the news in the morning, rather than whatever cartoon he wanted to watch (like he does every. other. day).  Yep, yesterday....the day after the EF-5 tornado reigned down and destroyed Moore, Oklahoma.  The day that the news was still talking about 24 children missing and 91 people dead.  That was the day he thought Justus needed to watch and learn about what was going on in the world.  Now, I agree that it's not a bad idea for kids to watch the news from time to time and I even understand that he was wanting to watch it, so for Justus to change the station would have meant that he couldn't keep up with what was happening. 

What neither of us was thinking about at the time is what that meant for me in taking Justus to school that morning.  It is a short one-mile trip from our house to where I drop him off for school.  Usually, it's a mile filled with whatever song Justus wants to listen to, and made up stories of Jedi Knights or warrior ninjas.  Yesterday, it was literally one of the most excruciating one-mile trips of my life.  So many questions, and because of our "daily grind," so little time.

"Mommy, did God make the tornado that destroyed all those homes in Oklahoma?"

 

"Mommy, why did God let all those people get killed?"

"Mommy, did you see that there are still 24 people they can't find?  Are they under all that trash?  Why did God do that?  Did he just mess up and make a mistake?...."

With the little bit of time I had, we talked about God's plan and how we don't understand it but have to have faith in it and you have to see Him in the aftermath rather than in the midst of the tragedy.  But seriously, how do you get a 6 year old to buy into that?  You would think, having experienced the death of a parent at his very same age, and somehow finding my way back to God, that I could explain these things to him.  I have never felt more useless as a parent.  All I could do after he left the car, seemingly satisfied with my answers, was get teary and pray that God would provide me with the words to answer and comfort my child(ren) when these horrible tragedies, which seem to occur all too often these days, happen and strike his heart.  I wanted to sit and talk with him for however long it took to get him to understand, but maybe the beauty of the moment was that is was just that--a moment.  One brief chance to hit the overall theme and then let him go on his way and either think about it more or not.  How much more explanation would have sunk in anyway?  I am certain had I had more time, it would have been much too overwhelming or he would have just tuned out. 

There are so many tough parenting moments and often, like yesterday, they just strike out of nowhere.  We want to be able to make the most of a teaching moment, but it's just not always possible.  Let us understand that, not beat ourselves up about it, and continue to do the best we can.  After all, we are all just fine and we know our parents didn't always have the right answers...

Wednesday's Winning Words: First date

I don't mean to sound like a high schooler, but I have to say that I am pretty excited about my date tonight!!  The good news is that my date is excited too, albeit a bit nervous, I think.

The Chick Fil A restaurant near our house is hosting a mother-son Date KNIGHT tonight in homor of Mother's Day, so Justus and I are going after taekwondo.  It's his first "official" date.  We had to make a reservation and there will be table side service.  Be jealous.  Pictures will should follow.

This morning, I reminded him about it and he reminded me that he knew he had to have a good day at school AND taekwondo to get to go.  He got very excited and asked me "Is it a real date?  Like the ones I will go on with my girlfriend???"  I said "Yes, it's a real date and maybe one day when you are older and have a girlfriend, you will go on dates with her too."  to which he replied, "but, I already have a girlfriend!  Addison."

PARDON ME???  As I picked my heart up off the floor, he gleefully rushed off to feed the dogs.  When he came back in, he said "Mom, this is the most excited I've been about a date in my whole life.  I love you!"  Heart mended.  Happy day!

Wednesday's Winning Words: Run for Boston

                                 
Monday during prayers, Justus said "...and please help the people who set off the bombs in Boston and don't let them hurt any more people."  Afterward, I told him that was a very nice thing to pray for and he told me "I don't like that all those people got hurt, mommy."  I know baby, me either.

I'm not even going to go into my thoughts and feelings about this whole thing, in part because I still haven't wrapped my mind around it.  The horrors of the mind that envisions setting of bombs to harm as many people as possible at the end of what is supposed to be an achivement of human perseverence... What I do know is that the innocence of a child's perspective always just hits me in the pit of my stomach.  They have no filter and are not yet jaded.  It's beautiful!

I ran for Boston this morning!  Unfortunately, since I have to run so early, I was alone; but I wore my blue and did it anyway!  I hope you consider being a part of this neat event.  Even if you are not a runner, just go to a local one and show support.   After events like this, people always question, "What's happening to humanity?"  My hope is that we see the humanity in the response, rather than looking at the tragedy as a means to question it.  Don't get me wrong--I am more than fearful about what has become an unfortunately more common occurrence (efforts to do mass damage), but I choose to focus on the goodness of people and how we pull together when something like this happens.  It is really amazing!

https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Run-For-Boston-417/613135315380603?fref=ts

Wednesday's Winning Words

I am without children for a few days, but fortunately I have a two-fer for you in the way of Winning Words.

Monday night, after Taekwondo, we went out to dinner.  As we are sitting there getting everyone everything they needed, Justus blurts out, "Mom....tell me what you want, what you really, really want." a la Spice Girls, circa late 1990s.  After I collected myself from the laughter, I said "I want to know where you heard that."  He said a friend he had played with a Spring Break camp that day had shared it with him.  It was a friend he's had for years (literally, since he was 1), so I texted the mom the next morning so we could share the laugh.  She said her son heard it from a cousin and swore the cousin made it up.  Thankfully for iTunes, she was able to quickly demonstrate that the key phrase was made famous by a great little girl group from the other side of the pond. 

I love when our kids take an interest in music that was meaningful to us at some point in our lives before kids.  We had a similar experience when Justus was VERY into Disney's Cars.  If you have kids, you know that Life is a Highway is the theme song.  I heard the Tom Cochrane gem at summer camp years ago and knew it well.  All of the sudden, here was my son begging me to play it over and over again in the car as he belted it out.  Old memories revisited, all the while making new ones.


Originally, this post was going to stop there.  Then yesterday happened.  Justus was riding to Taekwondo with a friend, so I needed to grab Delaney and get her there to meet them before it was over.  As you can tell, we spend quite a bit of time there.  Twice a week to be exact.  So, Delaney and I pull up to the building, and she immediately starts yelling and pointing "Justus go Hi-ya in there, Hi-ya, Hi-ya..." while simultaneously, throwing front punches and kicking her legs.  She was getting into it!!  Aaahh, my little ninja in the making.  She may be out on that floor before we know it.  Daddy couldn't have been happier---a daughter as a black belt?  Go ahead and try to make a move on her.

Wednesday's Winning Words: Parental Advisory Warning

Justus got his first "incident report" from Kids Klub (school district after school program) last Friday.  On the one hand, I am shocked and thrilled that it took him until March to obtain said report. On the other, I'm a little floored at the nature of the report.  It lends itself to both an opportunity to share a funny story and ask for input from my parent friends.

So, Friday, the Kids Klub counselor approached me with her duplicate form report and said, "Ms. Royal....we had a little incident today.  Justus said the word penis."  She practically whispered it.  I think my response was displeasing to her because when I simply said "ok," (as if to say, "and?") she said, even more hushed, "and other kids heard him." The horror.  I am certain my response at that point was displeasing because as I *kindly* took the report and signed it and gave her back her yellow copy while retaining my white one, I said "Here's the thing:  We teach actual names of body parts in our family because if someone were to, heaven help them, go all Jerry Sandusky on my kids, I want them to be able to report to the authorities what ACTUAL body part was impermissibly affected without using the cute-sy, less offensive, pet name for said body part.  Why did he say PENIS?  Was he injured there? Was it hurting him?  What would you prefer he call it?  Never mind, I will just teach him that at Kids Klub, he must point to it and call it his private part because that is deemed less offensive.  I'm sorry if other kids heard him, but they do in fact have them and I doubt they've never heard it before."  Visibly uncomfortable with the direction the conversation had taken, she went on to nervously tell me that "It's not a Kids Klub-appropriate word."  Noted.  About that time, Justus walked up, and knowing that he had a playdate scheduled for that night, had a sad look on his face and asked me if he was in trouble.  I told him that no, he was not in trouble for calling a body part exactly what it is!

Now, before you get all worked up about us allowing our child to walk around saying "penis" at his discretion, we did discuss why he said it and that it was probably an unnecessary part of the conversation.  We also talked about the public's general sensitivity to the word and how, although he wasn't in trouble with us for using the word, we would prefer that he only use it when necessary.  Also, we clarified that he would be in trouble if it happened again at Kids Klub or school because now we know it is a rule that he should not say it there.  The trouble would be for not following the rules. 

And for the record, he does not go around just talking about it. 

But, this all raises a question--do you believe that young elementary-age kids (K-2nd) should have alternate names that are "more appropriate" for their "private" body parts or do you teach your kids the real name.  Either way, what is your reason?  Clearly, I have an opinion, but I definitely want to hear different people's perspectives on the issue.

Wednesday's Winning Words

I have been on this unintended, yet self-imposed hiatus from most social media and it's killing me...but not as much as the time vacuums that are keeping me from it--you know, work, life, meetings, etc.  Regardless, know that I am working on re-entry, but it is a slow process.  If only I could quit everything else and surf the web and write all day....but then I wouldn't have much to write about, I guess.  Anyway, I couldn't pass up a quick opportunity to share Justus' latest obsession with you all.

A few weeks ago, we were discussing his spring sporting activities.  We have a rule--one sport per season per kid.  This obviously doesn't affect Delaney yet, but it matters to me that we set the ground rules on this issue early.  I refuse to have kids spread all over the place all the time, any more than it will already happen.  So, here's how it went down:

Me:  Justus, do you want to do spring soccer, basketball, t-ball....?
J:  Mom, I'm going to be a ninja.  I NEED ninja training!

So, I present to you, the world's newest ninja-in-training.

 

And little sister, "Ninjina" (according to brother Ninja)

 

Now, I don't want to get too far ahead of myself, but after 2.5 weeks at 2 lessons a week, he still loves it and is convinced it is his life's work preparation (although you wouldn't be able to tell based on the way he acts in class), SOOOO, if you are in need of a ninja in, say, about 13 years, you now know who to call.

How have SIX years gone by???

Dear Justus,

Six years ago today, about this time (lunchtime, the day before my due date), I had a strange-yet-inappropriate-to-describe-in-a-G-Rated-blog feeling, and told my secretary I was going to head to the doctor's to get checked out, but assured her I would be back shortly because I was sure it wasn't labor.  It was twelve of my most life altering weeks before I would return to the office to work.  The night before, you had been attempting Olympic style gymnastics in my belly and sprung a leak.  Not so much to send me into labor, but enough to make me wonder what was going on.  I learned then that mother's intuition is a real thing and I shouldn't ignore it.  Although you seemed to want out, you were in no hurry.  Again, for the sake of everyone else reading, I will spare you the details of the hours of hard labor amidst an epidural that didn't work, the nasty wintry weather that almost kept your dad from making it to the hospital in time (this was the only time I was really happy you were taking what seemed like forever to do something), what became serious concerns about your safety, and all the other "fun" details of your special day.  At 11:48 that night, Dr. Smith finally drug you out, literally kicking and screaming and a little blue in the face.  You changed our lives forever, in that moment.

Day 1

1st birthday

 

2nd birthday

3rd birthday 

4th birthday

5th birthday

 

 



6TH BIRTHDAY!!!

 

In keeping with our traditional milestone blogposts, your stats:

 

Weight: 49 lbs. (69th percentile)

 

Height: 48 inches (90th percentile)

 

Clothes Size: 6.  As has been the case your whole life, you are long and lean.  Size 6 pants are too baggy on you, but you have to have them for the lenght.  Some thing with the tops.  The 5/6 tops are usually long enough, but a plain 5 is definitely not ok.  I'm pretty sure you'll still be wearing your size 5 shorts this summer.

 

Shoe Size:  1W.  You are officially a big kid in the foot department, and I think you can ALMOST tie your shoes.  We all got lazy with this one, thanks to the fabulousness that is velcro, but we must conquer the tying.  I refuse to send you to high school and college in velcro shoes.

 

Loves:  Your Sister!!  You also love Angry Birds (all three varieties--regular, space, and Star Wars), Ninjago, Skylanders, your Leap Pad 2 (which you call your "iPad for kids"), your new taekwondo class, talking, pretend play, KidsKlub after school program

 

Food:  You still love blueberries the most, hands down.  I'm pretty sure you could eat them at every meal.  You definitely still prefer fruits over veggies, but will eat broccoli and peas.  Sometimes you eat what we eat for dinner and sometimes you don't.  It varies, but is getting better.  You are still pretty leary of anything that looks like a "plant." (i.e.--is green and is not aforementioned broccoli or peas).

 

You are an amazing kiddo and we love you more than words can describe.  We hope you have the best 6th birthday ever.  We are looking forward to celebrating with you tonight and this weekend!

 

I LOVE YOU, BIG KID!!

Wednesday's Winning Words

I know I should go into a long explanation of why it's been so long since I've posted, but basically there are two words:  work, vacation.  Combined, it just didn't allow for blog updating.  My apologies, but I'm trying to get back in the saddle.  I hope to get pictures posted soon.

As you can imagine, there's been a lot of talk about college football in our house lately.  Justus is still determined to be an LSU Tiger.  When we ask him why, he has come up with various reasons....but most often comes back to "they beat the Aggies."  Harumph.  We expect to resolve that issue in the fall of next year.

Yesterday on the way home from school, he said he was going to go to LSU, but would live in Texas.  We discussed the logistics of that a bit and why that might be difficult even with the advances in online distance learning, and then he followed up with, "Mommy, does Louisiana have a LegoLand?  I'm not sure if I can go to LSU if there's not a LegoLand near there.  I guess I could go there and then come back to Texas to go to LegoLand.  When I get big, I'm going to go to LegoLand all the time."  He also pointed out that he would buy all the Legos that we didn't buy when we were there in December. 

I can't wait until he's 18 and I get to tell him about how he was determining his college choice based on its proximity to a LegoLand!

**On a side note--his trip to LegoLand was intended as an added bonus to the NorthPole Express adventure weekend.  I guess we see what carried more weight.  He hasn't mentioned the NorthPole Express more than a time or two since we went.  Hmmm....

Wednesday's Winning Words: Picket Fence

Picket Fence Teeth, that is.

 

That's right, the FIRST TOOTH!

 

Justus was so excited, and has been talking for days about this first tooth coming out.  It's been loose for some time.  The one right next to it is loose too, but that's only almost as exciting.  This morning (since I was gone last night), he tells me The Story of How it Happened.

 

Justus:  Mommy, I was at lunch and was eating my orange skin...

 

Me:  Wait, why were you eating the orange skin?  You know that's not to eat.

 

J:  Well, because I wanted my tooth to come out.

 

M:  Oh, ok.  So you've just been going around chewing on hard things the past couple of days in effort to get that tooth out {reflecting on the fact that I noticed he packed a fruit roll up for his snack on Monday}?

 

J:  Uh huh.  THEN, when it came out, I went to the nurses office and she put it in a special case, and took my picture for the tooth wall, and was really excited for me too! (Kudos to the school for making a big deal over lost teeth!)

 

It was precious how excited he was.  So, the picket fence teeth begin in the Royal household and we have one very excited little boy.  Thanks for the input on Tooth Fairy's current payout, Facebook friends!  Some of you have a VERY generous Tooth Fairy.  We settled on a note from the tooth fairy, sugar free chewing gum, and $5.  First tooth only, the rest will each earn $1 gold coin.

 

*  For those that can't see the picture enlarged, the note from the tooth fairy says:

"While you were sleeping, I came in the night.

Under your pillow was a marvelous sight.

Your very first tooth had come unstuck.

Keep it forever, it will bring you good luck."

 

Thank you, Pinterest.

Wednesday's Winning Words: Election Edition

In the spirit of the election, and an effort to benefit from a teaching moment with my son, last night on the way home from our daycare's super fun Fall Fest, I talked to him about the election and that it was the day all the votes were to be counted, etc.  It went a little something like this:

J:  I voted for 'Okabama' (not even kidding) today!
Me:  Really, how come?
J:  Because he's probably going to win.
Me:  Insert not-too-long, yet meaningful (or so I thought) explanation about how the majority concept works and how voting for someone just because you think they are going to win anyway is not such a fantastic idea, how it stifles change, etc...
J:  Who did you vote for, Mommy?
Me:  I told him.
J:  Well, I vote for whoever you vote for because you are pretty smart.

{Flattered}  I talked with him about how we hope to raise him with the same ideals that we have, yet when he gets older and can get all the information possible, he should choose who he wants to win elections, based on that research and not just based on what we do.  I think too often, we aim to perpetuate our opinions and beliefs through our children.  Although I would love it if our children come to the same conclusions we have about what we want for ourselves, I expect them to question all along the way and not just accept status quo because it's what they know.  I hope that they search for and find their own ideals that shape their participation in our wonderful democratic process.  I am certain it will make parenting more difficult--encouraging them to question and challenge the establishment--but I think they will be more fulfilled individuals for having done so.  Ultimately, isn't that our goal as parents?  To raise free thinkers and positive contributing members of society.

It was kind of a deep teaching moment about our democratic process, and I can't say that it will stick with him, but it was a moment in which I realized more about myself and the way I choose to parent.  I really do want more for my kids, than to just do things the way I want them done.  But, please don't tell them that just yet...

Wednesday's Winning Words: A kind heart

I can't believe it's been a whole week since my last post.  Wait, yes I can.  Sorry!  I'm still coming off the blood pressure spike from the Aggies' late night football antics in the wee hours of Sunday morning.

I digress.  This was such a sweet thing my boy did, I just had to share.

At the soccer game Saturday, one of the boys on Justus' team was not feeling well.  His tummy was upset, but bless his heart, he was trying to play through it.  His dad said that he had mentioned before the game he wasn't feeling well, but wanted to try to play.  Despite his best efforts in the first half, the poor kiddo permanently came out of the game vomiting after just a couple minutes of play in the second half.  While I was very concerned for the boy and simultaneously privately stewing with my so-help-me-if-he-has-a-virus-and-now-our-kid-has-it-and-we-have-to-keep-him-home-this-week thoughts, Justus interrupts my internal dialog with: "Mommy, I think we should pray for him during prayers tonight so he gets better soon."

 

God, I love that kid!

Wednesday's Winning Words

Today's winning words post is more about a new habit Justus has, rather than one individual conversation.  I'm hoping that it is an age-appropriate thing and he will grow out of it.  Otherwise, he's going to be "that guy" and let's just say, mama ain't gonna let that happen.

So, it goes something like this (examples are ficticious because I can't recall any specifically off the top of my head):

Me:  Hey, let's read this book tonight, Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm.
Justus:  I knew you were going to pick that book.  That's the book I wanted you to pick, so I knew you would pick it. (Note--there are about 100 books in Justus' book shelf to choose from.  There's NO way he knew which one I would pick).

OR this

Justus playing in his room in the morning, not at all aware of me standing there...

Me: ahem, shouldn't you be making your bed and brushing your teeth.
Justus:  I was just about to come tell you that, that I was making my bed and brushing my teeth.

OR

Justus:  What is that, mommy?
As soon as I tell him...he says, "I knew that, that's what I was trying to tell you."  Really?!

These are probably not very good examples, but everything lately with him is "I knew that" or "I told you that" when he didn't.  At all.

I fear that without redirection, he may become the know-it-all or one-upper.  How does one curb these tendencies?  We touched on the fact that when he says he knew that or he was trying to tell us that when he wasn't is actually lying.  While that is true, I feel like that's kind of strong response to a kiddo who seemingly is just trying to exert a little I-can-keep-up-with-the-big-kids behavior.

I'm open to suggestions or similar stories of others around that age doing the same thing.

Wednesday's Winning Words: The hunting trip

Justus and Kidd went to Kidd's parents last weekend for the annual Dove Hunt trip (while I stayed home with little Miss Sick-ALL-Week-Long!).  They left Saturday morning, after we learned of the rain out for soccer.  Friday night before the trip, Justus says the following during prayers:

"...and God...please don't let Daddy shoot me after he shoots the doves and I run out to get them..."

WHAT????  Kidd and I both looked up at each other quizzically (ok, I may have looked a little accusatory).  I mean, really, where does he come up with this stuff?  Needless to say, I encouraged Kidd to have a long talk with him about gun safety on the way down there.  And while they were hunting.  And before bed Saturday night.  And on the way back.

Wednesday's Winning Words

As we almost pulled into church on Sunday, Justus said "Mommy, do you know why I want to go to the big Aggie School when I grown up?"

Me:  "Because you love me and would be too sad to move away from home because you would miss my hugs and kisses every day?"

Justus:  "No! {Ugh!}  Because Aggies are so nice!"


He must have read this awesome article by a Gator fan who came to College Station last weekend and had a great experience.  He should fit right in.  Saturday, as we were in various places Spec's, he insisted on going up and saying "Hi" to anyone wearing orange and blue. No, I didn't have the chance to discuss "Howdy" with him beforehand.  That's my little Aggie!

Wednesday's Winning Words--The {First} Note From the Teacher

My, oh my, how the "note sent home from the teacher" has changed.

Picture it: 1983(ish).  Sweet little brown haired, brown eyed, 2nd grader named Karen.  Daddy arrives home from work and she dutifully hands him an envelope and says "Mrs. Elliott [yeah, that's right, I remember you, Mrs. Elliott] said I needed to give this to you" as she hands him a precious envelope containing white stationery with red apples on it.  Poor little Karen--she had no idea what was contained in that letter, the first of its kind.  Little did she know that Mrs. Elliott was going to rat her out for being socially inclined at such a young age.  Mrs. Elliott reported, among other things:  "Karen is a sweet girl, but a bit...chatty."  WHAT????  NO!  Well, this was not shocking news to John Barger (or anyone else who's ever known me), and I'm pretty sure I didn't get in too much trouble, but I recall being so devastated that my teacher would disclose my school day activities to my dad.  What about "What happens at school stays at school."  Oh wait, that's Las Vegas.  Nevermind.  I'm pretty sure that note still exists in a memory book somewhere because of the impact it had on me. Because I got in trouble, not because someone thought I was too chatty.  Obviously I wasn't affected by that part.  I have no doubt there were other little notes that made their way home (probably also about my propensity to be friendly), but that first one was the one that stuck my like a knife.  Of course, the value was that was the point at which I realized that the parents and teachers were on the same team and I was on the other team.  Hmmm....

Fast forward to 2012, first day of the second week of Kindergarten for one, Justus Hayden Royal.  After a wonderful first week (from his perspective) and a busy weekend where we had several "calm down" conversations, I emailed  Justus' teacher to see how the first week went and to note that we are well aware of his excitement and issues with being calm, still, and quiet.  I provide her assurances that we will do whatever we can to help her, but I was curious how he behaved.  So, admittedly, I solicited the input.  She replies, in part:

 "Last week was eventful learning procedures and getting to know each other.  I have noticed that Justus has seemed wiggly at times and sometimes needs reminders during transitions.  Everything at Pebble Creek is new to him right now.  He seems curious to explore his surroundings.  As we settle into our routine, I will keep an eye on him and keep you posted."

Ahhh, the artful wordsmithing of a very kind and experienced Kindergarten teacher!

So, I talked to Justus about this, and of course, he wants to know how I know.  Justus, I'm Mommy, I know everything!  Don't judge.  It's like everything else with kids this age--you start with the overgeneralized rule so they get it, then you start to build in the exceptions as they get older.  He will learn of my many limitations in due time.

And...thank you technology age for allowing me to quickly communicate in writing directly with my kid's teachers, without his knowledge, and so I don't have to rely on him to get notes back and forth!  He is, by far, smarter than I was, and I'd probably never see half of what was sent home if he knew what it said.

  Although, I do love personalized stationery and kind of miss the beauty of a handwritten note....just not that kind of note.

Wednesday's Winning Words

KINDERGARTEN!! 

I could stop there.  Really.  But, that would just be mean.  As you may know, Justus started Kindergarten on Monday.  Talk about one seriously excited little boy!  Don't fret, for those that aren't on Facebook, more pictures are coming in a subsequent post.  It's been a busy week.  We have heard about all of the wonderful things about Kindergarten and Kids Klub (after school program), so there could be a lot to share on this Wednesday.  Instead, I will share with you the conversation that I was never prepared for.

It's Tuesday morning (one day of Kinder under his belt):

Justus:  I have to go outside and check the weather!
Me (and Kidd):  Why?
Justus:  Because I'm going to run to school today.

We completely disregarded this because we had never discussed it...and frankly I figured he meant when we got to school, he was wanting to run in the building.

Then, a few minutes later when he and I were about to leave:

Me:  Justus get your things and let's get in the car, please.
J:  Awww, man.  (breaking down into whiny child) I was going to run to school today.
Me:  Justus, we live over a mile from the school and you are five.  There's no way you are walking or running to school by yourself right now....and frankly, probably not this year.
J:  I wasn't going to go by myself.  You could come with me.
Me:  Well, how would I get to work then?  I wouldn't have my car.
J: You could come back and get it.

Clearly, he overestimates my ability to walk in the August heat (even at 7:30 a.m.) and not get sweaty and gross...and he thinks I'm very fast...

To cap it all off, Little Mr. I-Can-Do-It-By-Myself insisted, this morning, that I no longer walk him in the building.  I have to drop him off. 

I. Am. Crushed. 

(all the while, truly appreciating his independence)

Three days?  I thought I could get at least a week of walking in with him. 

When did he become such a big kid??

Wednesday's Winning Words

Justus has been on this "take the easy way" or "settling" kick lately.  I guess ambition and motivation are not always intrinsic (or at least not at age 5), but I realize now, we are going to have to work on how to instill this in him.

After seeing The Lion King, we were talking about the production one day.  I pointed out the kids in the show and how they weren't but a few years older than him.  We were talking about what it must be like to get up on stage in front of all those people, sing and dance, remember lines, etc. I asked him if he thought that would be fun.  He started talking about all the stuff he would say and do, and I pointed out that they have to learn specific things to say and sing, and ways to move. 
He thinks for a second or two, and replies:

"Well, maybe I could just be a zebra." 

I see a long line of tree and rock costumes for school plays in my future.

As one only thinks to do every four years, we have been talking with Justus about the Olympics as we watch them (because we're kind of Olympic junkies).  He's been asking great questions about the teams and why only certain people get to go to the Olympics.  We asked him if he could be the best in the world at any one thing or sport, what it would be.  The answer: Soccer.  Without hesitation.

Fast forward to the next morning:
J: "Mommy, maybe instead of being the best in the world at soccer, I could just be an astronaut."
Me: "Sure, buddy, that sounds like a pretty awesome thing to be too, and it's a very important job."
J: "Do astronauts get to go to the Olympics?"
Me: "Well, no.  There's no astronaut competition."
Silence.  I could see the wheels of reconsideration turning....

Please don't misunderstand me.  No matter what he does, as long as does his very best and he his happy, we will be beyond proud of him.  It's just funny to hear what is or isn't worth the effort in the mind of a 5-year-old.


In other news, we have new words for Ring Around the Rosy:

She did this a million times the other day, when I didn't have my camera, of course.  It took her a few times this morning.  There was this waffle that had to be eaten too.

"....Ashes, Ashes...GET DOWN!"

Wednesday's Winning Words

On the way to Houston and back over the weekend, Kidd was playing a game with Justus in the car about remembering the names of the towns we drive through.  He would give Justus a dime for each one he remembered.  For some reason, Hempstead just didn't stick.  We must have told him a hundred times the name Hempstead and he just couldn't remember it.  So finally, we asked him why he was having such a hard time remembering Hempstead and he said (in a semi-whiny voice):

I don't know, I think my braind just doesn't like it.

Have I mentioned that I really, really love the way little kids think?!

On another winning words front, check this out!

Nothing like hearing your baby saying "I love you!"