Another First Day!

Today was Maguire's turn to start school!  It was mixed feelings for both of us...sometimes he wanted to go...sometimes he was set that he was staying home.  For me it was more about sending my youngest off to school and being home by myself.  I feel like our little family just began...so how are we already at the point where they are both in school???

Maguire will be attending the same preschool that Ryker went to. I am so happy with this decision since I honestly can't say enough good things about it.  This year his class is full so there are even more teachers!!  They have a 1:4 ratio which is amazing...so it when we walked in the door this morning it seemed like there were tons of teachers there.  It will be interesting to see what it ends up being in the next little while.  It was a staggered start so we didn't get to meet everyone in his class.  

When I dropped him off he was hesitant to let me leave and since it was a bit crazy around there I went with him to check out the rabbit and play with the toys.  He wasn't having any of it...but Ms Cheryl came right up and swooped him off to the back and told me to leave and I was off.  Alone.  Not knowing what to do with myself.  I always love having breaks and know that it's important, but it felt so weird coming home to the quiet house with both boys at school.  I was a little lonely.

After cleaning up, doing some laundry and making a few phone calls I still had an hour and a half to kill so I headed to homesense to walk around.  The little trip sparked a cleaning frenzy this afternoon...hehe! But when I was leaving the store I saw this mom and son leaving at the same time as me.  All of a sudden the crazy wind blew her receipt right out of her hand so they tried chasing it down...leaving her cart to roll away.  I watched as they turned around and chased their cart down and kept thinking I should go help...but I didn't.  Rude I know...but it gets even better.  Then all of a sudden their whole cart tips over!!  I really did want to go help, but she looked like she had it under control so I made my way to my car.  And of course she just so happens to have a child in the same class as Maguire!!  Oh man...now I really feel bad for not helping.

When I picked Maguire up he looked so sad so I quickly went over and asked what was wrong.  Apparently he was quite upset that he had to leave his indoor shoes at school...and he cried the whole way home about it!!

Otherwise he had a great day and absolutely loved it!  He keeps talking about school and will mention little things they did...and tells me little things about his teachers.  I'm just so thankful that he had a good day and wants to go back again. 

I'm just not sure I'm ready to let my boys grow up!  But if it's going to happen anyway at least they are both completely happy!!  :)

K

first day of preschool....

This boy was beyond excited to start preschool!!  Of course I had to capture the typical first day school pictures on the front step...and looking through them I just can't believe how big this cutie is getting!  I wasn't really thinking that we would be doing preschool this year, but I should start the story at the beginning....

Back at the beginning of January I had started to think about preschool and what I would do with Ryker in the coming school year.  After our nightmare of a preschool experience though I was really questioning what I was going to do...if anything.  I had heard great things about the preschool I was trying to get Ryker into, but as the months passed I hadn't heard if he was in or not.

The teacher is nearly impossible to get a hold of.  Seriously...you can call and call...leave message after message and nothing.  In June there was a "meet your class" week and I hadn't gotten a phone call so I assumed that Ryker wasn't in.  Not a big deal.  But then I'd talk to my friend who's kids go to the preschool and she'd tell me that the teacher told her Ryker was in.  I was getting really confused.

It really wasn't a big deal if he wasn't in the class I just wanted to know.  I continued to call all summer and finally got through to the teacher about two weeks ago.  She told me she didn't have her class lists in front of her so she'd call me later (ya, right!) but from speaking with her I figured out that she has a wait list and if any child doesn't come to class or drops out then she fills the empty spot.  This meant that Ryker really wasn't "in" the class at all, but was really just on this "wait list".

It was going to be okay though cause I registered Ryker in a hip hop class and then he'd have his music class as well.  We'd just stay busy doing all kinds of other activities.

Not long after I was looking through the paper and came across an add for a preschool that was new.  There wasn't a lot of information in this add, but I noticed that it said there was a 1 to 4 ratio for teachers to students and I immediately thought that would be something good for Ryker.  

I eventually called and talked to the head teacher and the program sounded amazing!  I was excited.

There are 3 certified teachers, a speech pathologist and an occupational therapist that all work with the children.  They have all kinds of little pets that the kids get to take care of and play with.  They make their own snacks at school and learn about nutrition.  The curriculum is built around the needs of each individual child....  It's amazing.  Ms. Cheryl came to our house the next day to meet Ryker and took video clips and pictures of him.  We went through information that I had filled out about Ryker and just talked for a long time and then she takes all her information back to all the teachers and together they create each child's curriculum for the year along with goals....

It was seriously an answer to my prayers.  It's exactly what Ryker needs.  Their goal is to help prepare children for kindergarden...and Ryker needs that.  He's such a sweet boy, but he's busy.  These teachers are trained and ready to help him...and us learn all we can.

Maybe I was just as excited about school as him!!  haha!!  Actually as excited as I was, I was super nervous to send him off.  This meant a new schedule for us and time away from each other.  I wasn't sure if I was ready for all of that, but that doesn't matter.  Ryker's the most important in this situation and he was ready.  He needs this.  

(I just had to laugh at his hair in this picture.  Haircuts did not happen before school started :))

Ryker love love loves his new school shoes and wouldn't even take them off when we brought them home!  He was really excited to carry them in his backpack...yes...I made him take them off after pictures cause they are his indoor shoes until we get another pair for that purpose!

And the back pack I ordered has not arrived yet, so we are making do with his little spiderman backpack!

Notice the little face watching us through the window??!  He was not impressed that he was inside and we were outside taking pictures!  haha!!

Ryker was so happy when I dropped him off at school.  They have a beautiful classroom...it's so nice and big and open.  He went right in and hardly even noticed when I left.  There were no good bye kisses...he was too interested in the fish!  I was sad to leave him, but seeing how happy he was confirmed that this was the right decision.

And when I picked him up he did not want to leave...and of course it wasn't perfect and smooth, but these teachers are fabulous and already have a love for my sweet little boy.  I stayed and they talked to me a bit about ways they worked with him today.  He got to be a special helper and feed the worms in the compost which he thought was great!  They're just doing what they can to help him with the transition of everything.  I think we both left feeling so much better and excited for the next class.  

This little guy is growing up so fast.  Oh how I love him and want the very best for him!  I feel so lucky and blessed to have him in my life and will miss him during our time apart.  He is so kind and thoughtful and has become the little peace maker in our home.  He always wants Maguire to be happy and will do anything to keep him from crying.  He loves to make funny faces (as you can see) and I'm sure he will be the class clown!  He loves making people laugh!!  He's so smart too and I'm really looking forward to seeing his learning grow.  

I love you Ryker!!!  xoxox

relieving some stress

Tuesdays are my stressful days.  I spend all morning getting Ryker pumped for his little preschool class and then I stress all afternoon about how he's doing.  I never know what it will be like when I pick him up...okay I do.  He's usually crying because he didn't get his stamps at the end of class.  I've been working so hard with him, but it doesn't necessarily feel like we're making progress.  I've been reading this book for the past couple of weeks and I love it.  It's making a lot of sense.  Ryker can be busy, but he is a great kid and I just love him sooooo much.  He needs a lot of structure and is a happier kid when we stick to a routine.  We have made an effort to stay on a bedtime schedule the past couple of weeks and that has really helped him.  He's always wanting us to lay with him at night when he goes to sleep, but lately he's been going to bed so easily!  It's great.

Today I had Cody pick Ryker up from school hoping that it might help him, but he ended up going into the class for the last 10 minutes cause he could hear Ryker crying.  Apparently he was really good during class, but he wanted to keep making crafts after the teacher had put everything away.  Part of the problem I think is personality.  I definitely wouldn't call his teacher the most patient and loving person I've met and today she even told Cody that she's loud...loud does not mix well with Ryker.  Yes, he can be a loud noisey kid, but he hates loud noise.  At this point I'm just a little stumped with the issues at school since every week his teacher tells me a different problem.  How can I help solve anything if she's always changing the problem.

My poor sister has listened to me talk about all this for hours.  Seriously...it's on my mind constantly.  I seem to eat sleep and breathe it.  I get that way though when I'm dealing with things.  And so when I'm not obsessing over it I'm scrapbooking!!  It's the way I relieve my stress...and trust me the past couple of nights I've been in my room for hours.  It feels good.

Some of my favorite products right now are....

Cosmo Cricket - Tiny Type Collection - Alphabet Cardstock Stickers - Turquoise
Scrapbook.com

Cosmo Cricket - Tiny Type Collection - Alphabet Cardstock Stickers - Yellow
Scrapbook.com

I love all these little alphabets!!  Super cute!

Studio Calico - Elementary Collection - Fab Rips - Sticky Fabric Strips, BRAND NEW
Scrapbook.com

These fabric strips are super fun cause you can tear them up and do all kinds of things.

Pink Paislee - House of Three - Parisian Anthology Collection - Clear Acrylic Stamps
Scrapbook.com

I'm in love with these stamps!  I don't get my stamps out nearly enough, but lately I'm attempting to use them more.

Sassafras Lass - Entwined Blooms - Turkish Turquoise, BRAND NEW
Scrapbook.com

I used every single one of these flowers on my recent layouts and I need more.  Seriously I've always had a hard time with flowers, especially having boys...but I used them!!  And Cody didn't even say anything about flowers on the boy layouts!  Score!!  haha!!


Okay...I could probably list a lot more, but I'll stop there.  I'll have more to share soon!  Every night once the kids are in bed I ignore everything else in the house and make my way down to my room.  Gotta take my mind off things ;)


K