Mom's Day Out

After almost a year of isolation, Alan started a Mom's Day Out program today. He will be attending the same school big brother Kevin went to last year for a summer fun program, and it will be the school he will be attending in the fall. We were lucky they had someone moving so soon after Alan was given the All Clear by the oncologist to be in a daycare-type situation. He is starting off slow, just a half day once a week, but this summer both Alan and Kevin will attend the summer fun program twice a week. Then Alan will be going twice a week on his own once Kevin goes back to school.



Alan was so excited when we got to the classroom. We were pleasantly surprised to see Mrs. Huddleston, who was one of Kevin's teachers last summer. He got into the paint right away and was happily making a mess. No tears here... See ya Mommy!



When Mommy came to pick him up, Alan was pooped but content. He had lots of fun on the playground and was draining his milk. Here he is with his teachers Mrs. Curtis and Mrs. Huddleston. He only got cranky when the milk ran out. What a successful first day!

Now I'm off to the washing machine to see if the paint stains came out of his shirt sleeves!

Preschool Christmas Party

Today was Kevin's preschool Christmas party. The teachers ordered pizza and Mommy finally got a chance to use her Wilton Gingerbread Man cake pan. Kevin decorated the cake with M&Ms for his little friends.






He turned out pretty good looking! Too bad we're going to EAT him!

The party started with Pizza! Alan didn't care for the pizza, but he was pretty fascinated with all that Kevin's school room had to offer - computers, big sunny windows, interesting cubbies full of stuff!









After lunch, we went to the other classroom to decorate cookies, dance and exchange books.


Ms. Anna shows off Kevin's cake


Alan takes a break in the middle of the dancing


Kevin and Alan boogie


Books!


Alan and Kevin at the Lego table

After the book exchange, it was time to head home for Alan's nap and for Kevin to finish his day at school. What a fun party!

Going back to school

Kevin heads back to school. This year, he is in the afternoon class, so we don't have to be up at the crack of dawn to catch the bus.


Ready for another year!


Here comes the bus!


He's a big boy now!


Kevin's home from his first day.

Kevin's First Last Day of School

How time flies! Today was Kevin's first last day of school. It's hard to believe how much our boy has grown from his first day of school and the first time he took the school bus. When he started in September, he was the only first-timer and the youngest in the class. They have helped him learn so much and become so independent. After the Christmas break, two more little boys joined the class, and Kevin was the old hand showing them what to do. We're so proud of him!

Mother's Day Tea

Today, we had a Mother's Day Tea at Kevin's school. We mommies put on our lovely paper tissue corsages and waited while the kids came in from the other room.



We gathered for Circle Time, where Kevin was the helper. First, he held the flag for the Pledge of Allegiance...



... then he pointed to the month and day.



After Circle Time, the kids sang a couple of special songs ...



... and then were dismissed with the Rolling Ball to serve refreshments and sit with their mommy.



My place setting was marked by a plate that Kevin had painted and a cookie he had decorated. Ms. Anna had been hinting at all the surprises Kevin had been working on for me all week!



What a lovely morning!



As we were leaving, Ms. Anna gave us a basket from PPCD, Ready Set Go and the Hardy Oak PTA. It was a bouquet of hand prints from all of Kevin's classmates and teachers and filled with gift cards to help out our family from their families and the PTA. What a wonderful school and community!

Happy Valentines!

On Friday, Mommy, Daddy and Alan went to Kevin's preschool for a fun Valentine's party!



The boys had fun "decorating" cookies with frosting and sprinkles. Of course, Alan got more frosting on his face then anywhere else.



He finally got to the cookie once he licked off all the frosting.



Today, we went to playgroup buddy Emily's 2nd birthday at our favorite place, Dynamoze!

Rudolph's Apprentice

Last week, Kevin made a reindeer t-shirt in school, and today he came home wearing the shirt and a little red nose action. His teacher Ms. Anna told us he was entranced by the choir recital, loves the gingerbread man and that he likes to say "Ho ho ho"!

School Spirit

Kevin's school t-shirt came in last, week, so this Friday was the first time he participated in School Spirit Day. Even though it was the smallest size they had, the shirt was HUGE on him! Mommy had to tuck it in all the way.

Kevin's First Trip on the School Bus

Now that Kevin has settled into the routine of going to preschool everyday, we started him on the school bus this morning. Bright and early, Mommy sang "The Wheels on the Bus" while walking Kevin down to the big yellow school bus at the end of our driveway.



Miss Rachel met him at the door, and Miss Shirley was driving.



After a little hesitation, Kevin went with Miss Rachel off on his next big adventure.



Mommy and baby Alan were left behind, with Mommy a little teary-eyed about her first baby growing up so fast. She went inside to text Daddy about Kevin's latest milestone.

Later that morning, another bus brought Kevin home. Yay!





Miss Sharon helped Kevin grab a hold of the rail, and he walked down all the steps like a big boy! Miss Sharon and the driver Miss Lucy were so proud of how Kevin had got up into his seat by himself!

Kevin goes to the Book Fair

Now that Kevin is going to preschool, we're experiencing a lot of firsts! Today, we went to the Scholastic Book Fair at school and got the Curious George dictionary. How fun!

First Day of Preschool

Mommy and Daddy were sad and proud at the same time for Kevin's first day at preschool. It was an early morning for everyone, since we had to drop Kevin off at 7:30 for breakfast. We got Kevin dressed, including new shoes and a new backpack with his name embroidered on it by Auntie Karen H.



The whole family went to drop Kevin off. He was doing fine, carrying his backpack like a big boy, until he saw his teacher Ms. Anna.



Mommy and Daddy went home with Alan and waited, wondering if the phone would ring. Ms. Anna called at 8:30 to say that Kevin stopped crying as soon as she took him inside and was doing great!

Mommy picked Kevin up at 10:45, and he was excited to see her through the door. What a much happier boy than this morning!



Kevin had a lot of fun on his first day, including a trip to the playground, playing with glue and meeting a very pretty 4-year old girl! But he was still pretty tired. There's a whole new routine to get used to.



It's nice to be home!

Meet the Teacher

Kevin starts preschool on Monday - our baby is growing up! Tonight we went to Meet the Teacher night. Kevin cried at first, but after a while started exploring his soon-to-be school room. Alan joined him and Daddy on the circle time carpet to play with the toys.