Kindergarten Art

Art by Novak

Back to School night

Look who is a kindergartner!

He has been waiting for this day for several years. 

The icing on this cake?  He is sitting right next to his best preschool friend Lyla. 

I feel like a warning to Mrs. Chaney may be in order. 😳

Zoo Round 2 (same place, different child)

On May 20, I was able to go with Nile's kindergarten class to the zoo for his school field trip.  Originally this was scheduled for April, but it was 40 degrees and a rain/sleet/snow mix that day.  Not such a good zoo day...Monday was much better!

I was ready to chaperone my "small group" of children, so I was surprised when they said all I had to be responsible for was my own child!  I was even more surprised (and happy) when Nile said he didn't want to go around with any of his classmates, he wanted to go with "just you, Mom."

Like I was going to argue with that!

We had a blast exploring together, even though we had only about an hour of time to do so.  We even found some tiny tamarin monkeys we have never seen before.

On the train.  

Outside the zebra enclosure.

Measuring up against the falcons.  (despite his expression, he made sure we did this)

On a rock. :)

I guess now I just need to take Nate to the zoo and the trilogy will be complete. :)

Cursive trials

Nile wrote his name in cursive today...almost. I thought it was pretty impressive...

What really makes me smile is knowing that Nate has been trying to show him how to write in cursive. :)

Nile Voted!

Today Southwest School had an election. (I'm really posting this to show you the voter registration card...what a typically Nile-like picture!)

First book

We've entered the phase of kindergarten where Nile gets to start bringing home books to read each night.

I'm so excited, this is his first "real" book to read!

Hot lunch fun

Nile has been enjoying cold lunch, but on the first day of school he told me, "Mom, if they ever have corn dogs, I'm eating hot lunch!"

Today they had corn dogs. Doesn't he look happy?

Kindergarten = fun!

Tom snapped this photo of Nile on his first day of kindergarten.

Have I mentioned how lucky we are to have Tom be the principal at their school? It definitely takes away any stress or concern about sending the kids away to school. Today I had no issues waving goodbye to Nile as he stepped on the bus. I remember feeling distinctly different when I watched that same bus pull away with Nate the kindergartener inside.

The boys are playing happily together, so I haven't gotten a chance to ask Nile how school went. But I'm not worried.

Edited to add: Just now, as I tucked Nile in to bed, I asked him what was his favorite part of the school day. He said, "PE with Mr. Moe."

First Day!

Today Nile starts kindergarten and Nate starts second grade. This is the day Nile has been waiting for for almost 6 months.

He is so excited to ride the bus this morning. I have time to post this because we are at the bus stop 15 minutes early.

I think these two are ready for school to start!

kindergarten visit

Nile got to experience a little bit of kindergarten today. After picking him up from preschool a little early, we headed to Southwest to have lunch with Nate in the cafeteria.

After parking in the school parking lot, it was all I could do to hold Nile back.  Well, who am I kidding?  I didn't hold him back much at all.  He hopped/bounced/skipped/ran through the parking lot into the school.  If the front door hadn't been locked (it is always locked, you have to buzz in), he would have been in the cafeteria before I got onto the sidewalk.  Luckily I caught up with him at the front door.

As we entered the school, Nate's class was walking past on their way to lunch. I couldn't have timed it better if I had tried!

Nile quickly fell in line with Nate, and they went to wash hands.  Mrs. Strafford did a great job helping explain to Nile the process of getting a hot lunch.  (Nate was super excited to have us join him, in his excitement he forgot that he had to teach Nile what to do.)


We got our hot lunches (soft pretzel with cheese, cucumbers, rosy applesauce, yogurt, fruit crisp, and milk), and sat down.  I could tell that Nile was having a blast.  He was positively glowing all through lunch.  Then after lunch Nate headed out to the playground, so we followed behind.  Tom showed Nile the playground and we spent just a few minutes out there before I could tell we needed to get Novak home.

As we walked to the car, Nile asked me, "Mom?  When is summer?"  "In a few weeks, buddy, school is out in two weeks." "Then I'll be a kindergartner!"

All the way home Nile talked about kindergarten.

"Mom, next year Nate will be in second grade, Emma will be in first grade, and I will be in kindergarten."

"Mom, do 10 year olds go to Southwest?  I think 10 year olds are too old for Southwest."

"When Nate is in 5th grade I will be in 3rd grade."
"Novak will be in kindergarten then?  No way!"

This child is ready for kindergarten.

(sorry for the lack of pictures with this post, I had Novak in one hand and my car keys in another, so there was no room for a camera)

A half decade

I got this email today.

Anyone else think its just wrong to remind a mom her baby is heading to KINDERGARTEN in the fall?

Not to mention that he is a half decade old...

I thought I had a few more months before having to start facing this fact. :(

Soloist

Last Friday (May 13), we got to see Nate's class perform at his school's Spring Concert. This year's theme was "Going to the Movies."

Nate had a "solo" during the concert, and luckily, one of our friends sat closer to the front than we did and got a few great shots of him singing!  I was so proud of him I felt like my chest was going to burst. He's such an awesome kid.

Love. Defined. Kind of.

Kindergarten teachers sure know how to get at a mom's heartstrings.

I'm wondering if I should be worried about number 1, though...

Chinese New Year

Nate's class celebrated the Chinese New Year last week at school.  His picture made the Southwest school home page!

 

Chilly mornings

Now that it's cold out in the mornings, we have been driving up to the bus stop. It feels a little silly to drive a half block up when we are perfectly capable of walking, but it's cold. That, and most mornings we are barely making the bus. If we were to walk we would probably miss the bus. That or I'd actually have to get us moving a little faster. :)

Herky the Turkey

Nate has a running joke with his teacher, Mrs. Chaney, and a few of the other staff members (and some of the moms) at his school. All of these ladies are Illini fans. We, obviously, are Hawkeye fans. Nate enjoys wearing his Hawkeye shirts to school, and showing them off to the teachers. So far I've heard from two teachers, a few moms, and one husband - all commenting on what a great sense of humor Nate has, especially when it comes to the Illini and Hawkeyes. He's gone so far now as to refuse the color orange - I have had to remind him that orange is also the color of the Chicago Bears. Otherwise I might not be able to convince him to wear his orange jacket, or use an orange marker. This week he refused to let me buy him an orange shirt.

About a week ago, Nate brought home a big piece of brown paper with a turkey printed on it. Attached was a note. Each student had been asked to disguise his turkey so that it could make it safely through the Thanksgiving season. The note also requested that the turkey be disguised as a member of the family - or in a way that meant something to the family.

So what do you suppose Nate picked?

Introducing...Herky the Turkey!

He can not wait to take Herky the Turkey to school and show him to Mrs. Chaney.

I love that I am able to share my son and his crazy sense of humor with the world.

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!