Preschool Holiday Party

Got to have a little fun with Palmer's classmates and teachers today.   As a bonus, Connor left school early to be able to share in the fun. 

Party snacks!

Palmer and his best friend

They just love each other. 

Field Trip

Palmer and I had a fun time at Ticonderoga Farms with his pre-school class on a great field trip. It was a beautiful day and we took a hayride to the pumpkin patch, played on the huge slides and of course, hit the pillow bouncer a few times. Simple fall fun!

Middle School Prep!

• Got the supplies.  Around $120 including tissues and baby wipes.

• Got the locker setup. Learned the combo.

• Got the class schedule.  Did a walk through.

• Got the ridiculous amount of binders ready.

• Now we just need a haircut and a good face wash and we he's off to a new normal tomorrow

I love that Connor is resilient and always ready to move on to the next thing. He squeezes the most of of today and then he's done with it.  That is a great way to be and its something you either have in life or don't.

He didn't go to orientation because we were out of town.  He didn't go to summer's "Bridge To The Ridge" program.   He learned his locker number and combo in 5 minutes.    He ran around showing all the other kids how to open theirs as if he were a teacher.  When he found out his math class was in the 7th grade house, he said "Oh, good.  Some 7th grader might try to beat me up and get the shock of his life." He has virtually no anxiety about it that I can detect.   Maybe he'll freak out in the morning...but I suspect not. 

The First of Fourth

 Last Monday, we went back to school.  Connor was very excited to go and ready to spend a great year in fourth grade with Ms. Cash.

Third Grade Graduation

This year really sped by. The fastest ever.  Like a superconductor train in Japan, it sped by. I can't believe the school year is over. Connor was recognized for his special achievement in public speaking. I love that. So many kids struggle with confidence in that area. It is truly a gift to just be born that way. Being able to express yourself and command a room is a life skill that is invaluable. If you have to learn it, it is much more difficult.  He is amazing, my boy.  He's socially fearless...which kind of makes everyone fear him.   I can totally identify with this challenge as I have the same affliction. 

  

We love you for how smart and special you are, Connor. But we also love you for being such a goof ball. Congrats!

Little Art Work

Every little bit of artwork that Connor did came into our house like a treasure...for the first few years. Then, slowly, you get less sentimental about the unrecognizable globs of paint or macaroni collages. Then, the second child comes and they are somehow in that shadow. Poor babies. Palmer has done a few cute things at daycare and here is one of them---along with a picture of him making it which they usually send along as well. I love that their smocks at daycare are big persons t-shirts. You should see what 12 toddlers in giant t-shirts look like all gathered around the table. Its pretty hysterical.

Simple Machines

Connor has had a great school year so far.  His first report card was "straight A's" with only one little tiny comment about having a bit more patience when working in groups.  Shocker.  Most of his papers come home looking like the one above. This was a "pop" quiz in the middle of their Simple Machines module.  I don't think I learned about simple machines until 5th or 6th grade. 

Connor--Dad an I are so thrilled with how you are doing.  Keep up the good work!

The Bus Incident

On Thursday morning it was apparent right away that something was amiss. 

We normally leave for the bus stop at 7:27am and the bus usually arrives between 7:34am and 7:35am.  On this day, we left about two minutes late and when we arrived at the bus stop it was 7:30am and the bus was already there.  Facing the wrong direction.  With a different driver.

Connor jumped out of the car and was one of the last kids to board and the bus pulled away.  I headed straight to the office with Palmer and didn't stay to see how many kids showed up only to find that the bus had come and gone.

It would be reasonable to think that's the end of the story, but that afternoon things took a turn.  Pun intended. From here, Connor tells the story:

"The driver picked us up and turned the wrong way on the big road (Claiborne Pkwy.).  He drove us to the top of the hill and then down into that neighborhood we go through when we go to football practice (The Villages at Waxpool).  When he made that first turn, Mom, kids were confused.  By the time we got down to that neighborhood, kids were screaming 'You're going the wrong way!  Its the wrong way!' "

"Then the driver turned around and headed back the right way and the kids got quiet again.   But then, Mom, he turned into the Nature Center.  Why would he do that?  Then 'cause its small in there he couldn't turn the bus around and he hit the Nature Center sign.  Then, Hayes started screaming  'We're going to juvy!  We're going to juvy!'  After that, every kid on the bus was screaming and yelling that we were all going to juvy.  Mom, it was the loudest place I've ever been in my life."

As he recounts the events, he is laughing hysterically.  I think some of those kids had the most exciting bus ride ever.  I can't imagine how the little ones felt, though.  They must have been horrified.

Connor's final words on the incident:

"It wasn't the driver's fault.  He was really really old."

and

"What's 'juvy'?"

Pumpkin Routes

Connor did a fantastic school project where a pumpkin subbed for a globe and the routes of the explorers were detailed. Our great white Cinderella pumpkin from Wegmeyer's proved a great fruity world.

Best School Picture EVER

Usually, these pictures are a disaster.  Hair unkempt.  Food around the mouth.  Crooked shirt.   But this is spectacular.  And he so does not look like an 8 year old.

This Is Me!

Connor's "Me" for the first day of school this week.  Too cute.  Even if the helmet makes him look like Magneto.

The 3rd Time's The Charm

For the first time ever, Loudoun County has started the school year BEFORE Labor Day. I don't like it, but I admit I have no good reason to feel this way. Its just not what I'm used to. It feels weird.

Notwithstanding that weirdness, it was great morning and a great first day of school. The boys looked smashing in their matching shirts and I love them both so much. Too think that last year on this day, Palmer was just a four month old...and now he's a mini-me of Connor.

Connor is growing into quite the young man. He's handsome, smart, and can be very charming when he wishes--which is usually when he wants something. I'm sure he'll be a success at whatever he chooses to do. And I hope that third grade is a total blast!

Check out the size of those feet!

How could they be any cuter?

This looks like a catalog shot for backpacks.

The Larchmont Gang--Blake's first day of Kindergarten, too!

Alone with my be-be!

New Desk

Connor got to check in on his new classroom yesterday. His teacher, Miss Fantaskey, seems pretty Fantastic. (I'm sure no one has ever said that before.). She was a sports broadcaster for 8 years. Pretty much a perfect match for my performing arts inclined athlete. Here's to a home run in 3rd grade!

Second Grade Ceremony

On Monday we had the absolute pleasure of attending Connor's second grade completion ceremony.  Each child gets recognized for an area in which they excel.  Not surprisingly, Connor received an award for public speaking.  He is just great at it.  During the Thanksgiving classroom presentation, he insisted on writing additional speaking points for himself during the concluding statement, and of course, there was that whole "lead in the school play" thing.   I'm sure the fact that he talks all day during class had nothing to do with it.  :)

Over In A Second

It really seems like Second Grade was over in just that long.  Wow.  It flew by.  And just like last year, it was a tough day for Connor.  Those are tears you see.  You're not hallucinating.  He told me last night that he really didn't want to go because he was going to "spend half the day crying".   Why?  "Because I'll miss my friends and Ms.Reed--she's the one who gave me knowledge."   Poor thing.   I get it.  Its like that song...every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end...and the end of anything can be sad.

And just like last year, sad or not, we're very proud of him.  Congrats, my number one son!  

My True Friend

Thanks, Evan!  Its nice for a mom to know that there are friends like you out there. 

Chicks Dig Him

Connor's class had some baby chicks hatch this week. It was fun to hear him talk about seeing them go through the process of breaking through their shells.

Permision Granted

We got some FANTASTIC news yesterday. Connor has been awarded the lead role of the Lion in his school's second grade musical. He'll be playing Maliki--an angry, fierce big cat. I have to make him a "simple" costume. That's frightening. But, I'll figure it out.

Congrats, Connor!

Tied Up With A Bow

This past Wednesday was Connor's school Thanksgiving event. It was insane, packed, crazy, and loud. I could barely stand it. But Connor was truly impressive and made it all worthwhile.

His class recited a little ditty on the "ABC's of the First Thanksgiving" (this is a rerun of first grade but with no cute indian headdresses). Connor's letter was "X" which included something interesting about how the Pilgrims were eXcited about something (not having smallpox or scurvy, I'd say). Connor also had responsibility for the conclusion and thank you speech, which I knew because he'd been rehearsing it...

C: Mom, want to hear my thank you speech for the "ABC of the First Thanksgiving"? I'm in charge of them you know.

D: Sure.

C: Okay. Watch. I stand like this. (puts his hands to his sides as soldier) And then I say..THANK YOU FOR COMING TO OUR CLASS PRESENTATION OF THE ABC'S OF THE FIRST THANKSGIVING. WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE SHOW. HAVE A NICE AFTERNOON. (takes a deep bow like a low level Japanese auto executive would when meeting Mr. Toyota)

D: Wow! That's awesome.

C: Did you like the bow?

D: Yes, I loved it.

C: Well, don't you think the other kids should bow too? Isn't that what you do at a show?

D: Sure.

C: Well, they won't. Only Evan will. I've told them that we should do a bow. But those kids mom, most of them, they stand there when it is over like they're on line to buy a hot dog.

This last comment, of course, cracks me up and sends me into hysterics which only serves to frustrate him further and we spend the next 5 or so minutes discussing why the other kids in his class won't bow. And, of course, practicing a real stage bow with hands clasped, swung high, and then brought down in a dramatic swoosh.

At the performance about 10 kids do the bow. Afterward his teacher tells me the following:

1. There was no conclusion/wrapup/thank you in the text of the presentation. But Connor ABSOLUTELY put his foot down about and she said since he felt so strongly she let him write it himself and was very impressed that he used the word "presentation" .

2. Did I notice the bow? (Of course-see above) Well, the bow was very important to him and he was very upset that the whole class would not bow--even though she explained to him many times that the kids are not all like him and many of them are shy and can barely get through their little piece, nevermind a flamboyant, physical demonstration such as a stage bow. Regardless, though, she said that he had been working the classroom like a politician for the past week-desk to desk-to try to convince them all to bow.

What does this say about my first-born? Many things, I think. But I'll let you decide. One thing I know for sure is that I am having the best time watching him grow and become the man he will be.

Hellen Keller

Sometimes, you just can't help laughing out loud at the things that come home from school. This was one of those times.

One other observation: Judging by Connor's response to the last question, my worst fear of child - rearing, that somehow I would not have or be able to create a child with self-confidence, appears to NOT be an issue.