Project 52 - 1st day of School - Week 35

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Riley was supposed to start school on Monday, but we planned our vacation thinking that school wouldn't start until after Labor Day. Turns out we were wrong. I wasn't about to incur the fees to change our flights so we sent Riley to school on day 4. Last year, I would have freaked about this, but this time I didn't really care. I'm glad we didn't make any changes, and as far as I am concerned, our vacation had a lot of education opportunities that she wouldn't have had in school.

More to come on the vacation, but for now I can report that starting late didn't seem to impact her in the least. Riley was happy to see some of the school staff and her friends as I dropped her off. Her new teacher, Mrs. Thomas seems super nice and I'm confident that she'll have another good year.

Haha. I was trying to replicate a picture I took the last 2 years, but she complained that the sun was in her eyes.
I told her to close her eyes and then open them so I could snap a quick picture. This was the most natural one I got. 

I've informed her that dad and I are her homework buddies (the school asked us to establish this with her), but Riley told me she didn't need our help as everything is so easy. Ha. While I'm glad it's easy for her, I do hope that she is challenged throughout the year. I can't wait to see how she grows and the new friends she'll make.

Her school has 4 classes per grade and they mix the kids up from year to year. There are about 5 kids from her last class - some of which were her friends, but she's missing some of her other friends. Her closest friend moved and no longer goes to this school so I'm interested in who might fill that spot.

Riley gets her own desk this year which might have been the highlight of her first day. She thought this was the coolest thing.

It seems so weird to say I have a first grader since she was just a little toddler the other day. Wasn't she? Time is moving too fast!

Last day of Kindergarten

Dear Riley,

Friday was your last day of kindergarten. I'm not sure how that happened as it it seems like you were just starting school yesterday, but here we are. You're older and I'd say wiser. You've learned a lot in this past year, made new friends, and experienced all sorts of firsts.

It seems impossible that you could look so much more grown up, but you do. I'm not sure I would have realized how much had it not been for these pictures. In the fall, I didn't think you had much 'baby' in your face, but now I see it in the pictures. Now you look like a little girl - I see more and more the woman you'll become, not only in looks, but in personality.

You can be quiet at school and in groups, but you talk and sing nonstop when with dad and I and your grandparents. You have a huge heart and care deeply about your family. You always want to do what's right, and sometimes you beat yourself up a little too much when you don't think it's just so. We try to assure you that it's ok, and while I don't think I act that way in front of you, I see myself (or my younger self) in that same behavior. You are goofy in the best kind of way (I'm going to credit your dad mostly for that) and you make us laugh daily.

The last day of school was a happy day for all of us, but I think you were especially happy. While you'll still go to child care each day, you know it will be less work and more play. I know you are looking forward to that break, but I know that you will still do what you can to keep learning. You are as inquisitive as most kids your age. Your favorite thing to do (besides the Kindle) is to read and I look forward to all the books we might read together over the summer.

(And then all the excitement caused you to sneeze...)

You have many dreams for the future. At the beginning of the school year, you aspired to be a princess which slowly evolved to a swim teacher, a singer, and eventually an author. You still fluctuate in what you think the future will hold, but you seem to take the author suggestion quite seriously since it was suggested by your teacher.

We enjoyed eating lunch with you at your school today along with all the other parents on your last day. Dad and I will have to make sure to do this more often with you since you enjoy it so. I love that you are at the stage where you love spending time with us so I want to soak that up as much as possible. I hear there's a day that won't be so true. 

As we waited for you to get off the bus on your last day I had a bittersweet realization... this year we had to be at the bus stop when you were dropped off, but next year they'll let you off on your own. I'm ok with that since I can see you from the kitchen window, but it's a tradition we, or mostly your dad, quickly adapted to. Who knows, you might still find us waiting at your stop next year.

This year reminded me of how fast time goes and how well you adapt. I know you aren't always comfortable with change, but you are strong and willing to try... and trust us when we say that you will like school. And you did. A lot. I know that you will love your summer, but I'm sure you will be excited to start first grade in the fall.

As always, I was very proud of you this year. I can't wait for what the next year will bring.

Love you kiddo,

Mom

Project 52 - Field Trip - Week 11

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I'm not one of those mom's that can participate in a lot of Riley's school activities so when I told Riley that I would attend her field trip to the Minnesota Arboretum, her face lit up and she practically jumped into my arms. For two weeks she counted down the days until the field trip which finally arrived this week. She was very excited.

There were a few other mom's there and you could tell that a couple of them were able to do this on a regular basis with their kids. In some ways I wish that was me, but it's not and I'm ok with that too. I have to work and I like to work, but when I see how excited my kid is for me to be a part of her school life it makes me momentarily wish things were different.

Luckily, I can take some time off occasionally and be there for Riley. It was fun to see her interact with her friends and also keep a close eye on me. I'm not one to be on my phone texting much (partly because my phone is annoying for texting), but I couldn't help but send updates to Jesse throughout the afternoon.

Riley was delighted that we could sit next to each other on the bus and that we got to be in a group that included her best 'boy' friend. I saw signs last year of her being a little boy crazy, but it really became apparent this year. This is her second 'boy' friend of the year and I'm not sure how I feel about it. At first, it was fun to watch them play rock, paper, scissors on the bus, but later when she insisted on sitting next to him and holding his hands... well that was another story.

After sharing that with Jesse, he suggested I take more time off to spend at Riley's school so we could get the scoop as to what really happens during the day. So yes, I was delighted to spend a few hours of the day with my kid for a school activity, but this whole boy thing - that I'm not ready for. Was I that way at her age or is this a thing now? I actually remember spending one year running away from a boy during recess who kept trying to kiss me. I hated recess because it was a fight for my life (ok, it wasn't, but it sure felt that way at the time).

On the way back to the school, Riley and her friend sat next to each other while I got to sit with another little boy who informed me that Riley and her friend were boyfriend and girlfriend and that he had his own girlfriend as well. Apparently, it is a thing.

I know this may be innocent enough and I may or may not joke that I should start homeschooling Riley, but I think a bigger issue keeps running through my head. Why is she doing this? Is it just because she's found a good friend? Is it because all those silly princess stories tell her that she'll find value and happiness with a handsome boy? We recently read Chick 'n' Pug:The Love Pug and I immediately wanted to burn the book. I was disgusted at the message that the book relayed... girl pug going out of her way to impress boy pug who wanted nothing to do with her. Just a super gross message. And a message that I feel I see all over. I'm frustrated by a world that expects different things from boys and girls and then continually sends messages to reinforce that. It's hard to counter that.

I worry about these messages way more than I did before I had a daughter. I see them everywhere... I recognize them in my own childhood and it makes me sad/mad, as Riley would say.  Ok, I've gotten a little off track with this post which was originally a post about what a delightful day I had with my kid... let's leave it at that before I continue on about any other injustices out there.  :)

First Day of Kindergarten

It seems like it's been such a long time leading up to this day. I can't believe that we have a kindergartner in the house. We've been talking about it and preparing Riley for it for some time so I'm glad it is finally here. The Friday before Labor Day we had to drop off school supplies at Riley's school. This was Riley's first time meeting her teacher and seeing her classroom. She's always expressed excitement about going to kindergarten (with a couple comments about how her best friends are not going to her school), but we weren't sure how she would react once she actually had to attend. She was pretty quiet the morning of the visit so we assumed that it was all starting to sink in with her.

Later that same day her teacher, Mrs. Carlson (who has been teaching for 43 years), came to our house for a brief visit. It was nice to have some one on one time before Riley started school. While the rest of her school started on Tuesday, the kindergarten class didn't start until Thursday. 

We made some last minute changes in Riley's transportation so we ended up driving her to school on her first day instead of putting her on the bus as we'd planned. Our work schedule will only allow us to be at the bus with her two days a week so we were going to drop her off at a friend's house a few blocks away on those other days, but we felt like we were imposing on them (even though they assured us a million times that we weren't). Then their daughter (Riley's friend) got in to the Spanish Immersion school nearby (her brother would still be at Riley's school) and it felt even weirder. So now we plan to drive her each day, but will drop her off at the before school child care for a few days a week. She will take the bus home each day so she will still get that experience. On her first day, grandma Suzie came over and we took a bunch of pictures before heading off to her school.

Once we got to the school we met up with her teacher and her class outside. We wanted to bring grandma into the classroom and I wanted a picture in front of her locker, but we were told the room was locked. The plan was to wait for all the kids and then bring them in for breakfast in the cafeteria.

Chasing bubbles while waiting to go inside.

We saw one girl from Riley's preschool class so it was comforting to know that she will know someone there. They weren't close friends, but I wouldn't mind if they became friends since this other little girl seems so sweet and we like what we know of her parents. Anyhoo, the teacher finally said they would go inside and stated that the kids should get in line behind her. I didn't think Riley was paying attention, but she got right in line without giving us a look. She was on her way!

We did decide to walk inside and watch her get settled with the other kids. A few minutes later we said our goodbyes. She did looks a little nervous, but she'd never admit it if you asked her. Oh, at one point while we were just hanging out outside I crouched down to talk with her and she came over to give me a hug. I was totally cool, not even thinking about crying, until she did this. I think grandma might have made some "awww" noise too and there I was fighting back the tears.

So then Jesse and I went to work and were all like "what do you think she's doing right now?" and "what if my phone's not working and they tried to call? You better check your phone." sort of nonsense via emails during part of the day. 

I have a new work schedule which allows me to get off work at 4:00 and her bus is supposed to drop her off at 4:07 at the end of the block so you can bet I bounded out of my basement (my office) to get to her bus stop even though I was prepared that the buses would likely be late the first week or two. I didn't care. I didn't want to miss seeing her get off the bus and wanted a picture as well. About 15 - 20 minutes late she arrived...

She was neither quiet nor overly excited about her day. She said she enjoyed it and that her favorite part was music class, but later said she liked lunch and playing with blocks and cubes. She didn't have a lot to tell us, but said she wanted to go back.

About a half hour after she got home we turned around and brought her right back to school since they were having an all school BBQ. Sort of seems like an odd time to have it since I'm sure many of the kindergartners were beat. Earlier she exclaimed "we didn't even have rest time!" so I wasn't sure if she would be extra beat or not. She didn't seem too tuckered out and played pretty hard at the BBQ. Her summer preschool program was filled with tons of activities, but they still had nap/rest time and it was my understanding that Riley was still sleeping during that time. She used to go to bed at 7:30, but often stay up reading until 9:00, but this summer she started going to bed at 7:30 so perhaps we were already seeing some of that change so it didn't seem significant with starting kindergarten.

We ran into Riley's friend and her family (the ones that were going to take Riley three mornings a week) so Riley was excited about that. She and Sylvia get along so well we plan to continue play dates even though they won't be at the same school. After getting our fill of food and the playground we headed home for bed. Surprisingly, Riley stayed up and read a couple books this night, but probably crashed by 8:00.

Overall, a good day. The next day she even shared that she played with a new girl, had Spanish class, and got to play on the play grounds twice! Our only hiccup was when waiting for her to get off the bus on day two she didn't... well, not right away. It was a long enough wait that I thought my kid might still be back at school, but this was a different driver than the day before and she still needs some prompting. All was good... we had our kid and we know that she (and us) will get a hang of this kindergarten thing.

Project 52 - Milestones - Week 35

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I can't believe this day has come. Riley wrapped up her preschool program earlier this week and will be starting kindergarten next Thursday. In the meantime, she's spending some time at the in-home daycare she used to go to a couple years ago. Some of the same kids are there so it's been a fun change of pace for her.

The night before her last day at preschool Riley wrote letters to each of her teachers letting them know why she likes them and then she decorated each envelope (and we added gift cards). She was so excited to give these to her teachers that she would not let go of them... they went to bed with her and they were by her side as she brushed her teeth in the morning. They meant so much to her.

She's very excited to start school next week. She almost seems too comfortable with it, but we'll see how it all goes down when she starts. We've been making some last minute changes when it comes to her transportation to school and we just found out who her teacher will be. It's all falling into place. We will soon have a new schedule and a new normal. In fact we just made our first rookie mistake and planned a long weekend up north next week... until I realized that just because I have a Monday off doesn't mean that she can just take any day off (well, she could, but it's not like in preschool).

This weekend we plan to do some last minute prep - hair cut, get new lunch box, etc. Then we will get to have a one on one with her teacher early in the week... and then I will have to try to hold it together as I drop her off on her first day of kindergarten. I swear she was just a baby the other day and now she's this little person going off to school.

Project 52 - Family Fun Night - Week 28

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Riley's preschool has a Family Fun Night each summer which is usually outside, but due to rain we were relegated to the school cafeteria. It was a lot of fun, just like last year, but this time Riley didn't cling to me the entire time. She can get that way, but last year she was especially clingy.

This year she was initially reluctant to advance toward the dance floor until she was sure she saw one of her friends. Only two of her classmates showed up, but she did see some kids from her class last year (that are younger than her) and her favorite teacher ever who is also from her class last year.

Dancing, games, and all around fun was had. Many necklaces were 'caught' as the DJ was throwing them left and right. We brought a picnic dinner (Jimmy John Jones as Riley likes to call it) and an ice cream truck came at the end.

Riley and her friends, Greyson and Sarah, from her class won the 'toilet paper' contest which totally made their night. Greyson's mom was an awesome 'model' for this event.

Actually, I think the highlight of the night was when the DJ played I Like to Move it and Riley totally lost it like she was an awestruck teen at a New Kids on the Block concert in the 90's... screeching in a high pitch tone "I LOVE THIS SONG" over and over. The hysteria had reached it's peak with this one.

Side note: Riley caught me taking her picture and ran over to see what I captured, and then her friend came to see, and then some other kids all started running over to see the pictures. Lol. So vain, these kids.

This will be our last Family Fun Night at this school and most of her friends are heading off to different schools in the fall, but I'm sure we'll be participating in many more of these types of events at her new school with her new friends. I can't wait to see how these sorts of things excite her in the future.

Riley random

I haven't really written a post that was devoted just to Riley stuff in a while. This will be a bit of a dump of all things Riley, but I'd like to get this down to be able to look back on later. I actually started this post long ago and stopped writing mid-story and when I came back to it I couldn't remember the rest of what happened. Meh. I guess I better document these things a little better than I have been.

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Riley is very interested in words and while she reads quite well there are still a lot of words she doesn't know. She'll often stop when reading a story to ask us what something means or if she can't quite pronounce it she'll try her best to figure it out. Often, she likes to tell us made up stories and will occasionally include made up words. She'll stop the story and say "do you know what xxxx means?". Of course, we say no (because you can't say yes - never say yes) and then she proceeds to tell us what it means. She does this all the time, but I thought I would try and capture at least a few things she said in a recent story telling. Also, not sure if I even remember the original word she came up with, but you get the idea.

octps means healthy food.

garlinchery means when it snows and then melts really fast

(And this is where I totally forgot the other thing she came up with that was hilarious and super clever so you'll just have to imagine something.)

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Riley has been really into writing stories lately. I found an old small unused notebook in the closet recently and gave it to her to write in. She's written multiple stories and has thanked me many, many times for giving her that notebook. She knows how to spell a number of words, but often asks us how to spell other words. We try to get her to sound them out on her own, but she doesn't like to be wrong so she asks sometimes when I know she knows the word. She's also working on her punctuation and likes to add the exclamation point when effect is needed, only she can't seem to remember that it's called an 'exclamation point' and I don't blame her. Instead she calls it a 'shout' - "Mom, I need to put a shout at the end of this sentence". In fact, when I am reading to her she will correct me if I don't yell or aren't excited enough when I read a sentence with an exclamation mark. She's also been creating stories on our computers and the last time she did this she made me add pictures and then print it out. She brought her 'book' to school and read it to her class. That's my book nerd.

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Riley did not get into the local Spanish Immersion school. She's actually 68 on the wait list so we aren't holding our breath. It doesn't matter since we really like the other school option and one of her best friends from preschool will be going there too. In fact, we might be dropping Riley off at her friend's house a few days a week before school so we don't have to pay for extra care. Should work out quite nice. We went to the recent Kindergarten 'round up' to register Riley and saw a couple of her other friends from preschool and my co-worker's daughter as well. Riley's quite excited about it, but it will be a big change of schedule so we'll see how it all plays out in September.

Poorly cropped photo... should be "class of 2028". And, whoa, 2028! (shout)

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Recently, Riley requested 'wiggly' hair all over so I braided her hair and let her sleep in it. She has super fine hair so I wasn't sure the waves would stay all day, but to her delight they did.

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Riley was also invited to a Saint Patrick's day party by a school mate where she made a Leprechaun box. I'm sure it's called something else, but this isn't really a holiday I get into so I really don't know. I'd never heard of it before, but it's a cute idea. Basically, you create a box and put it out for St Paddy's day to catch a Leprechaun. Of course, you don't catch him, but he leaves some goodies behind. We were given a pot filled with chocolate coins and other treats... oh and one real coin too.

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Riley got to go see Cinderella with grandma and grandpa and was so excited. She loves hanging out with them anytime so it didn't really matter if they went to this movie or not, but it was a bonus. She decided to wear a princess dress naturally, and her princess shoes.

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Jesse and I were working on finally getting a curtain on our new deck door. It's all glass and walks right into our bedroom right in front of our closet... where I usually get dressed so I'm super happy to have a curtain again. Anyhoo, one of these days I will show our house updates, but while we were drilling through our new door Riley decided to hang out on the new deck. It was a bit chilly, but she didn't care. She wants to hang out on the new deck as much as I do. She bundled up and then started bringing her furniture out there as she said it was another living room for us and needed furniture. That it does, kiddo. I eventually bundled up and joined her while she read me and some stuffed animals some books

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I was recently preparing Riley that she needed to get her teeth cleaned. She asked me if they would be all shiny so I assured her they would make her teeth clean and shiny. Then she said "even the front ones?" Well, yeah... oh wait. She was actually asking if she would get caps on her front teeth like she has in the back. So I explained that she would not be (and crossed my fingers that no more teeth issues would show up), but it got me to wondering if any of the kids at her preschool ask her about her teeth. Turns out they do, but not in the way I was afraid of. I worried about her getting teased, but at this age it appears the other kids are just curious and ask things like "can I see your shiny teeth". Huh. Hopefully, they will fall out and be replaced with adult teeth before any teasing begins, but I know it could happen. She did go to the dentist last week and to my great relief everything looks fine with her mouth - no reports of new cavities or anything.

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And I don't really have much to say about the following pictures except that Riley and I were playing together. I was planning on using some of them as my weekly photo project, but I must have forgotten or something so I'm squeezing them in here. Enjoy.