Party time

We had a busy September.  Two daycare friends had birthday parties (sugar! musical instruments! whee!).  Mummy also had a birthday.  Pops and Grammy came down for the occasion, and we celebrated with photos at Duke Gardens, brunch at Elmo's, and a beautiful cake (decorated with love by Louise and Alex).  Cameron Park Elementary also held its annual Fall Festival, with food trucks, a bouncy castle, and lots of games and goodies.  Yesterday, neighbor Neepa celebrated her birthday by pouring Mentos into bottles of Diet Coke (whoosh!).  With every new version of "Happy Birthday," Charlotte is sounding more and more like Tom Waits - we're not sure why.

Mummy got lots of great stuff at the Mothers of Multiples sale, including a Spiderman outfit for Claire.  Claire wore it for nap one day, but took it off before a trip to the library, saying "I don't want to get books on it."

There hasn't yet been a frost, so the bugs continue to bite.  Louise has a new strategy, however.  "I keep flowers near me to fool the bugs.  They bite the flowers, not me."

Claire (aka Dash Incredible) and Charlotte continue to do better at daycare, since Charlotte moved into a separate classroom.  It's made them a little closer, and the behaviour is much improved.  Louise says she dislikes Kindergarten, but her actions belie her words.  She has already had her first "report card" and is doing fine ("meeting expectations" in all areas).

Zoo

We enjoyed a long weekend together (3 days for Louise, 4 for the rest of us.  The Big Event was a trip to the Zoo, where they have a temporary exhibit about dinosaurs.  Overall, the fake animals (dinosaurs, carousel animals) made the biggest impression. 

Then back to reality...  Louise boarded the bus without tears today.  When we can't see her, she seems to be doing well.  She has made a couple of friends (Araya & Payton), and her face lights up when she talks about "reading time."  Her teacher told us: "She is adjusting well to our classroom routines and seems to fit in with her new friends. She played with friends on the playground at recess, volunteered information and answered questions during circle time, and never complained about anything that I can remember."

Claire has also done a bit better this week.   She earned a sticker yesterday for the first time in a while, and there were no reports of aggressive behaviour.  (Charlotte consistently earns stickers, and Mummy and Daddy continue to earn salaries with sticker-buying potential).

To boldly go, where innumerable children have gone before...

The first day on the bus was a success.  All the Kindergarteners from our street boldly boarded the bus on Wednesday, without a tear in sight.  Thursday and Friday were a little bumpier for Louise, who is frustrated that she can't read yet (!), and that she was picked up from after school FIVE MINUTES after Alex.

 Louise with Alex, Sammy, Owen and Lily who all live on our street.

 Friday was yellow day and C&C wanted to see Louise get on the bus for the first time :

Claire and Charlotte's daycare was closed today, and they enjoyed a trip to the Museum of Life & Science with Mummy and Daddy. 

First Day of Kindergarten!

6:30am: Good morning, Kindergartener!  "Go away."

6:40am: Good morning, Louise.  Time to get up.  "Go away."

6:50am: Good morning, Louise.  Put your clothes on and come downstairs.  "I want Mommy."

6:55am: Louise, you'll be late for Kindergarten.  "I'm scared!  I don't want to go.  There will be new people, and a new class, and...I'm scared."

7:00am: "I'm a big girl.  I can do this."  Dressed, cheered  by the prospect of an egg for breakfast.

7:15am: Terrified again:

7:35: in her classroom, slightly happier:

3:30pm: Pick-up.  Big smiles.  "We didn't do much art, but we did make a Kissing Hand - see?  And I made some new friends.  There was one boy I was friends with, but then he was kinda annoying.  I saw Alex at lunchtime, and we ran around the oval together at recess.  I also made another friend in the cafeteria.  Mommy made too much lunch for me - see?  ...I want to go back!"

One door closes...

On Thursday, Louise, Mummy, and Daddy attended an Open House at Cameron Park Elementary.  Louise coloured whilst Mummy & Daddy filled out forms and listened to a presentation by Mrs. Curran.  Louise apparently listened too - the next day at daycare, she told her teachers she would "have fun every day," "make lots of new friends," and "do lots of finger painting."

For her last day of preschool, Louise brought popsicles to share with her friends, as well as small gifts for everyone.  Her sisters also joined in the fun (and enjoyed the thrill of sugar AND a room full of unfamiliar toys).

To round off the evening, we went to the museum of life & science to ride the train, gawk at butterflies, and eat dinner.