Today was Bud's first day of kindergarten. He was so excited to start. Heck, we were all super excited for him to start. Having to wait an extra week after the girls had their first day has been hard for him. But he very patiently counted down the days, planning his outfit and deciding if he wanted to wear his brace to school or not.
He ended up wearing his brace, since we realized that it would be tough to fit in all the hours we need to since he starts tumbling tonight, too. Quite the day for Bud. He was ready for school about half an hour early, so when we went out to take his first-day picture the sun wasn't over the mountain yet. And he insisted on being in front of the house where it's darker, so it would look more like he was going somewhere. Makes sense, but hence the dark photos.
I asked Bud if he was excited to be going to kindergarten, and he did this:
Then he laughed.
Rophone was the one who got the privilege of dropping Bud off and picking him up today. Not that it meant much. Bud wouldn't even let us walk him into his classroom-- he explained to us very patiently that he is quite old enough to do it on his own, and it's not like his classroom is hard to find or anything. So Rophone dropped Bud off with Ginger in the church parking lot next to the school and sent him on his way.
No problems cutting the apron strings there, I guess. It reminded me of last year when Bud started preschool and I had to ask as he walked into his classroom, leaving me in the dust, "Aren't you going to say 'bye'?" At least I got a wave over his shoulder as he continued on. It's nice to know I'm raising such independent children, I suppose.
Bud really loved his first day, I think. Maybe. For the first few hours after he got home, he just wanted to sit and make a book and play with cars. I managed to get a few details out of him, but for the most part I'm still in the dark about what went on. I'm afraid that we built it up so much that maybe he was a tad under-whelmed.
Oh, well. He seems game to go back tomorrow, I know that. And that's a good thing.
It's amazing how doing the photo challenge has continued to benefit me. Bud starts kindergarten tomorrow (I can hardly believe it!), and one of the activities they'll be doing this week is creating a page of their favorite things. It was so easy to just take a look through my gazillion photos to find shots of the things he loves. It's almost like having my own stock photos to pick from!
I easily found a picture of a Hot Wheels car, Bud at the beach (his favorite place), Bud swinging, playing with Trio... the only thing I lacked was a photo of his favorite meal, and he really wanted to include it on his page. So, I whipped up a pot pie tonight and snapped a photo as we ate. Problem solved.
I really don't think that any of us minded having to solve the dilemma.
I can't wait for Bud to go to school tomorrow-- he is so excited. I'll let you know how it goes!
Another school year started for the girls today. Pen started 7th grade (crazy!) and Ginger is in 4th. Bud is anxiously awaiting the start of kindergarten next week. The wait is tough for him. He really loves school.
The girls had a great time and can't wait for day 2 tomorrow (I really hope this enthusiasm continues for a while). They survived intact and happy. And, yes, I know I should have had Pen take her glasses off.
On to tomorrow!
It's been a while. I really haven't known what to say. Big has been having a really hard time being 3, and I've been having a hard time with Big having a hard time with three. He's frustrated, to say the least. The poor kid is an adult stuck in a kids body.
I think the happiest day of Big's life so far was when he got to be in our friend's movie-- he felt like an adult hanging out with other adults, just as it should be. He loves his peeps. I know I've said it before, but the guy just needs a job.
Big is constantly talking about the construction business he's going to own someday and assigns us work vehicles we're going to get to drive. On the days the two of us are struggling, he lets me know that all I'm going to get to drive is something little, like a mini-loader. On good days, when he likes me, he tells me that the full-size excavator is all mine. A dream come true.
He always likes Ginger. They're pals. Yesterday Big said to her, "Ginger, when I have my construction business, you can drive an impact hammer!" as though he were bestowing on her the best thing she could ever hope for. She replied, "Thanks, Big! (and then under her breath) Whatever that is."
I'm really hoping that things between Big and me will get better. I need them to. Right now I feel like I'm on a one-way trip to crazy. I want Big to tell me that I get to drive an impact hammer! That would make my day.
Oh, in other news-- I showed Pen how to shave her legs tonight. I promised her I'd let her do it for middle school, and school starts next week. Ginger watched every stroke of the razor, so when it comes time for her to mow her own she should be an expert.
Rophone is having a hard time with the whole thing. More so than with the boobs Pen's getting (and Ginger, too!). Not me. The hair she's had all her life. The boobs are new. Yikes!
Pray for us.
This is a little out of order, but on the way to our family vacation in California and Arizona we made a little stop at the home of an old friend of mine. I say 'old' because I have known her since birth (literally) and because she's older than me. Way older. By a whole two days. We have another friend and she was born the day in between us, so she's an old friend, too.
As the true legend would have it, there were 3 couples that were friends and all 3 of the wife-part of the couples got pregnant at the same time. Then the 3 women had me and my two friends 3 days in a row. In fact, the first two women were sharing a room in the hospital and my mom came in and kicked the first one to give birth out so she could have a bed.
In a way, it was our very first triple birthday party celebration-- a tradition that would continue until we got much older.
Here's a picture of the 3 of us at our triple birthday party when we turned 5, standing in birth order (I'm on the right):
I'm being kind here. There are a lot worse photos out there of the 3 of us, believe me.
Anyway, the last time we were all able to be together to celebrate was at the wedding of the first of us, on her birthday, when we turned 23. Needless to say, it's been a while. Last year the other two of our threesome managed to gather on my birthday and they kindly put a picture of my head on a stick so I could be present for the blowing out of candles and picture taking. It was almost like I was there.
My friend (the really old one of the 3 of us) blogged about it, so if you want to see my head on a stick you can do so here. She also blogged about the Story of Us and you can read that here (My friend has triplets, fittingly enough. See if you can tell which one I am in the photos).
So, when the firstborn and I were able to get together on the birthday of the other of our threesome, it only seemed fitting that her head should be put on a stick for the celebration.
It was so good to see my long-time friend-- I only wish that all 3 of us could have been together! Next year is THE BIG ONE (gulp), and I'm hoping that we can manage it. All in person, no sticks involved.
Big and I were snuggling and hanging out yesterday afternoon when we had this conversation:
Big: "I want to change my hair."
Me: "What do you mean by 'change'? You want to get it cut?"
Big: "No, I want to make it a different color. I want it to look like yours."
Me: "Why would you want to dye your hair to be dark like mine? I think your hair is a really nice color."
Big: "Yeah. It's the same as your teeth." (as he reaches out and pokes one of my front teeth with his finger)
Lovely.
Then, this morning while we were out weeding along the front walk Big issued me a warning:
"Now, don't go out in the road and get squashed by a gardening truck, Mom, because then you'd be dead and I wouldn't want to play with you anymore."
I guess he thinks playing with the dead is boring. He's probably right about that.
