Slip of the Grip

I am registering my baby boy for Kindergarten today! It feels like he has been around forever but he has only been on this earth for 5 years! He is more than ready for school. He loves preschool and playing with kids. He is by no means shy around other kids his age. I just remember the first day of preschool when he was so excited and ran into the building, hung up his backpack in his cubbie, took a look in the room where he was expected to go and got this look on his face that said "this is not what I expected, there is no way you are leaving me here!". He tried to hold back his tears and his chin was quivering. He kept saying no mama don't leave, I don't want to go here. I did leave him (after 45 minutes). He was crying. I called an hour later and he was fine. When I picked him up he didn't want to leave his friends so I was glad I didn't cave in and take him home with me that morning. He just needed that little nudge from me to let him go as painful as that was. Now I am so proud of how he has adjusted from being home with me all these years to making friends and being a good listener and learner in school. I know he will succeed just as well in Kindergarten. It is just that first slip of the grip that I dread, where he is just as scared and uncertain of the future as I am. The comforts of being taken care of turn into the gratification of taking care of yourself. It is a new comfort that brings even greater peace for me and..in time....him too.

How a 7 year old views the world

Ok, so Hali wanted to tell me what she learned about Martin Luther King Jr. Day in school on Friday....."See, the brown skin people weren't allowed to play with the white kids and they had to drink out of rock water fountains. A brown boy couldn't be friends with his white friend. Then the black man said "hey, that's not fair". Ok so now I am waiting to hear what she learned what he did and all that so I said then what happened. She says.."they shot him". Hmmmm....I guess that is what happened isn't it. Oh how a child can simplify the craziness in the world.

Ok, then Hali decided she wanted to get a head start on her homework for Wednesday. Her class had been learning about the arctic and the animals that live in the arctic. Her assignment was to pick an animal and answer the questions that followed. She picked the reindeer. Ok, do you see where this is going? The first question is what do they eat? Since we watched the movie Prancer over the holidays her answer was oats. Next question, how do they get their food? Answer: we leave it in the snow with sparkles so they can find it....or Santa. yah. Third question, where does the animal live? Answer: The North Pole. Fourth question, how do they get around? Answer: yup.....they fly. I did tell her that they do walk most of the time so she did put that down. Now this is a girl who will in no way let me tell her the answer or have me do her work at all so to get her to change any parts of her answers is a very difficult task. She was so proud of her work and to be done early I just let it be. Sorry Mrs. Englund! 7 is a delicate age......

Letting Go

Today Hali is going home from school with a friend from her class. She is also going to be having dinner with her family. As happy that I am for her (she was all smiles today and last night and the night before) I feel like my responsibilities are being taken away from me. I realized as I dropped her off this morning I will not be picking her up. After reminding her to use her manners and checking that she didn't wear her stinky tennis shoes I said my goodbyes, with extra kisses and hugs. I could tell she was a bit nervous but I didn't want to dwell on that because I knew she would have a blast. I watched her walk all the way into school, both doors, and then slowly pulled away realizing that I did not have to be responsible for her for roughly another 10 hours! Where does time go? Then I got home and was greeted by my little boy man sitting ever so patiently waiting for breakfast. Alas, I am still needed. As grown up as my kids seem around other kids and friends they are still my babies when we are at home. I can't wait to cuddle up with Hali tonight in our jammies and discuss her day.

Oh, and she finally lost the second of her 2 front teeth! Much better! Very cute.

New Year's party pictures

Here are some pics from our New Year's party. The kids had a blast until countdown at midnight (really 11pm) and were out soon after. Steve and I were able to stay up a little later and watch some new movies. Good times. Happy New Year and have a great 2008!