Charlie's Big Day!

Wednesday, August 12, was Charlie's first day of kindergarten. Such a big milestone for us and him! We talked school up all summer, and he didn't really seem all that impressed or excited for the big day. He was definitely more excited for the Scooby-Doo backpack! We all took him to school the first day. He didn't want to talk much about it, and there weren't too many smiles on his end. We took the madatory pictures in our front yard, and then took more as we got to school. Once at school all of the the teachers were outside lining their students up. We weren't to go inside with the classes. We had to say good-bye at the door and watch them walk in with their new friends.

We got there a little early and Charlie seemed a little nervous. He said he was tired and that it was going to be a long day (We had explained to him there wouldn't be naptimes as in preschool). I rubbed his back like he likes me to do and he just stood and waited patiently. He did stand in line by his new friend Collin and as his new teacher led the class inside, Charlie and Collin held each other's hands into the building. It was very cute. I didn't cry, but got a little teary-eyed. It wasn't that I was sad, but that I was nervous that he was nervous. He always does really well with new situations; he makes friends very easily. We talked all that up with him and in the end, he had a great day. When I picked him up that day, he said he had a great time!

Charlie standing with Dad and Jack

Charlie and Collin

I ask him daily how school was and I am learning the questions to ask that will elicit good responses from him. The first two days he said he didn't want to talk about it because he was too tired. Last night, though, he finally told us a lot more about what went on inside the classroom and the things they had done that week. For instance, the teacher plays a game with them where the teacher is on one team and the students are on the other. The student team is called the skunks. Also, that he gives the teacher a hug at the end of the day, and they get one Skittle if they are good that day. The teacher also has a huge stuffed bear with a Superman t-shirt on named Superbear! The bear is there to "keep his eye on the kids", Charlie tells me!

So, overall, it sounds like the first week of school was a success.

Last Week of Summer Vacation!

Ah, this is it. No more summer vacation after this week. Seems a little sad, but at the same time, I think we are all kind of ready to get back to the school year routine. We've tried to cram a lot in this week and last, getting in some more zoo visits, etc.

Last Friday we visited the Durham Western Heritage Museum and Kennefick park. The boys love looking at all the trains. The Durham had a neat exhibit called Moneyville to teach kids all about money. It was pretty interactive and you could even make money with your picture on it. They loved doing that.

Monday we met Charlie's preschool friend and his family at a park to play and then we went to The Amazing Pizza Machine, which is a place the boys love! We had a really fun time. The boys went on the bumper cars, rides and played the games. We ate a lot of pizza and dd not want to leave. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera that day, so I don't have any photos.

Today we went to Fontenelle Forest to see the new DinoQuest exhibit. This was actually pretty cool. All along the boardwalk were dinosaurs with some information about each one. They looked very real and the boys and I talked a lot about what each one ate and what they were like. It was pretty hot today and quite crowded, so we didn't end up staying too terribly long. I had promised the boys we could hit McDonald's on the way home and they are always excited about that.

Tomorrow we are heading over to Council Bluffs to hit a family favorite-Christy Creme. We love their sherbert, malts and fries! Then we are going to the zoo for member day. Thursday or Friday we will be heading off to Mahoney State Park to go swimming with some friends for a last hurrah! Then it's back to reality! It's been a great summer!