Tech Guru

Nile loves technology, and so do I. Today Nile is getting to use Tom's iPad to do simple math and learn to write his letters. It's amazing to me how quickly kids pick up these skills. And how much more readily they will do this when it's on a screen instead of a piece of paper.

Bike Paradise

This may sound weird. It sounds weird to me. But here goes. I wish we had more concrete at home. Or even blacktop. You see, right now our street is gravel. Before it was gravel it was blacktop covered in potholes, ruts, and grooves.

Not very good for learning to ride a bike. With the old blacktop, the kids basically got their wheels stuck in all the uneven spots and constantly needed to be pushed out. Now, with the gravel, it's too hard for Nate to pedal (at least that's what he tells me) so he won't ride on it.

Yesterday Nile and I found a new place to ride bikes: the parking lot at the park at Richmond Hill. This parking lot is not very commonly used, and there is no through traffic - so it's perfect for bike riding. No cars, and no potholes. So today we packed up Nate's and Nile's bikes and headed to the park to play. I was amazed how well they did when they had a smooth surface.

Nile's biking skills have been helped greatly by the fact that yesterday my dad realized that the tires on his little bike were both flat and needed air (as in they had no pressure - didn't even register on the tire gauge!). Dad aired them up, and he took off and hasn't looked back - before he could hardly pedal the bike and I thought he was just having a hard time. I really should check Nate's tires too. I'll probably find out that his are incredibly low too, since we haven't ever aired them up.

The boys rode around for over a half hour. Nile kept telling me that he was on the "Number 5 Bike" and Nate had the "Number 1 Bike" - in fact, once he asked me if I could see the number 5 on his back...I'm not sure where that came from. Then Nile told me that his bike was from Chicago, and it was really fast. And Nate's bike was from Iowa. Hmmm.

Fragile Butterfly

Today at the park, the boys found a butterfly that had just emerged from it's cocoon (at least we think that's what was going on). It was slowly starting to stretch out it's wings, but was still very fragile and sensitive.

My two beautiful boys were so careful - they didn't touch it, didn't even try. They ran to get me and show me what they found!

Luckily it crawled up the tree and was out of reach before a 5 year old human tornado came over (another child, not mine)...otherwise I fear what would have happened to this poor butterfly!

Nate's new trick

Nile's new trick

Miss my big brother? Who, me?

Today is the first day in three years that I have spent at home with Nile, but without Nate. Nate is off at kindergarten, loving it, and Nile is home, loving it. Today, it's just him and me.

I realized this morning that I have NEVER had a day like this. When I was home on Mondays and Fridays with Nate, before Nile was born, I was working from home. So I would sit on the computer all day, working, while Nate played around me. I was still there with him, but I wasn't always WITH him, you know?

So today, Nile and I walked Nate to the bus stop, then came home and ate breakfast together. Then we headed to the gym. I got to the gym earlier than I may have ever gotten there. It was about 8:30 AM. After the gym, we ran to the store and then came home.

Then Nile and I baked banana cake. My mom has been training him well, he's really a great helper! He didn't spill a thing and was an excellent stirrer. We're going to have banana cake for our snack when Nate gets home from school.

After we put the cake in the oven, we played Candyland. Or, maybe I should say I got schooled in Candyland by a 3 year old. It was amazing how well and how nicely he played the game when Nate wasn't there. After Candyland we played Connect Four - well, at least we filled it with checkers...

We took the cake out of the oven, had lunch, and painted with watercolors. Then Nile found some toys and started to play. He really enjoyed being able to play with all the things that Nate usually won't let him touch (shhh...don't tell Nate!).

Here he is fixing a road, wearing Nate's new construction hat.

But the best part? Getting to play with Transformers! Nile is hardly allowed to look at these, let alone touch them or play with them. And he was so good - careful and gentle!

Right now Nile is napping, and I've had two hours of quiet. That alone is wonderful. I took a shower, frosted the cake, and have posted two blog posts. In about 40 minutes, Nate will be home from school, and I'm sure that chaos will begin. But, maybe not. Hey, a mom can always hope!

In two weeks he will start preschool. And in about six weeks, I won't have these quiet times with Nile any more...I am going to enjoy them as much as possible while I can.

Going to Kindergarten!

On Tuesday, August 17, Nate started kindergarten. A big step for him, for sure! But he's doing awesome. He loves school and is enjoying every part so far.

Our week started on Monday, when we attended "Backpack Night" to introduce Nate to his teacher, Mrs. Chaney, and to take his school supplies in to the classroom. I dropped off Nile at Becky's house and Nate and I headed to school. We were supposed to meet Tom there at 4:15, but we ended up arriving closer to 4. Nate couldn't wait, so he and I headed in.

We got started unpacking his school supplies as we waited for Tom. Not long afterward, Tom arrived and was able to help Nate get situated. Here's a picture of Nate with his school backpack, in his new classroom.

After getting unpacked, we toured the school, introducing Nate to the music teacher, art teacher, PE teacher, and the librarian. He was too cute - he stuck out his hand and, shaking hands with each one, introduced himself. I was pretty proud of him.

After the tour we took his picture outside the school.

The next morning was it. THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL! Nate was excited. I was nervous. We had decided to drive him to school the first day, and walk him in, but after the first day he would be riding the bus every morning.

Here he is outside the front door just before we headed off to school.

Tom met us there, so we got a picture of the two of them outside the school.

And how was the first day of school? He absolutely loved it. He came home glowing, and exhausted. It's going to be a bit of an adjustment for this kid - but he will be fine.

Every morning this week he has gotten out of bed, gotten himself dressed, and has been in my room by 6:10 AM, ready for breakfast. Then we've had time while he eats to sit and talk - and this has been my absolute favorite part of every day. Just a few minutes of "Mom and Nate" time.

Today marks another new chapter. He's riding the bus all the way home from school. On days I work (Tu, Wed, Th), Nate gets off at the middle school where Tom works. Today he will ride the bus all the way home, and I will be waiting for him at the end of the block. I, for one, will be so excited to see him!

Math Whiz

Lately, we discovered that Nate can do simple math in his head. Addition and subtraction both! So we have been encouraging him by giving him simple problems to work out in his head, and he's been doing a great job.

This morning, Tom decided to try and write down the math problems and see how he did. Now, before this morning, I don't think I have ever seen Nate write a single number. It's not that he can't, it is more that he hasn't been interested in trying. This morning, it was totally different.

Here are the problems he was doing (the one with the circled 6 is the first example Tom did to show him what they look like).

Now, if I could just figure out how to make words and letters as interesting to him as math problems, he might actually start to write!