Thursday, September 17, 2009

Too Smart

School Day 2 complete and he is still very excited. He went inside without so much as a goodbye or even a backward glance. I managed to slow the tornado down enough to snap a couple pictures of him today, though.


I love that he's going too school, but I think he's already too smart for is own good in some ways. We went to a little buddy's 4th birthday today and so I sent the kids out to the car while I grabbed my bag and got my shoes on. In that time, Benjamin popped the trunk, got out the stroller, got Bella in it, and took her down the street to our neighbor's house (2 doors down) who was redoing his driveway. I came out to find him chatting away with him while Bella sat contentedly sucking her thumb. I didn't know whether to be proud or terrified. You really have to keep that kid in your sight at all times!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

The First Day

After much anticipation, preschool began today. Benjamin was so excited. He asked me over and over again all morning (not to mention every day the past two months), "Can I go to school now?" When I finally answered yes, he made a mad dash for the door, shoving Bella along too, with an excited, "C'mon, we're going to school!" In all the rush and hub-bub, I forgot to take more pictures. But I did manage to snap one of him sitting by his cubby.


On his first day he got to make decorations for his cubby, learn a new hello song while playing instruments, as well as play with all the new toys. The other kids didn't interest him at all, but he shared well when they came over. He really seemed to enjoy himself and wasn't bothered at all when I left. It didn't really hit me what was happening until I was sitting in the parent's meeting while he was in class. In the meeting the teacher made the comment that kids are often okay the first few times and then some kids will start crying on week 2 or 3. She said it's because they have a mindset of "I can do this a few times," but when they realize that this is forever, they start to freak out. They need time to adjust to the idea that this is going to keep happening for a very long time. That's when a rock landed in my stomach. I realized that on some level, that's how I was handling this too! In my mind this was just a play date or a story time class that lasts 6 weeks and ends. But when I really had to face the fact that this is now life for us - he in school and me without him, I wanted to cry. I immediately became antsy for class to be over! So, I guess we'll both adjust in our own ways, but I hope that Benjamin will always love school as much as I did.

Saturday, September 05, 2009

To The Rescue!

Benjamin, having never seen a single show containing batman, spiderman, or superman, has somehow become enamored with them. Each day he proudly dons his dishtowel cape and gallantly comes to my aid. "You need help?" he asks. "Need help find your cat?" "You stuck in the mud?" "Your tummy hurts?" Each day it's a new adventure for our hero. When we seem to be having a lot of fun, Isabella doesn't want to be left out. So she suits up and Superwoman flys through the house behind us.



When our super heroes aren't coming to the aid of helpless mommies, they can usually be found getting mud facials. Rain is no hindrance for them when bound for the playground. Rain or shine, there will be play. When it's done, I strip them down to their undies and drive them home. You'll never see more satisfied kids...er, I mean, superheroes.




Here our intrepid crusaders found a lowly daddy in need of help picking raspberries. We all spent the morning painstakingly picking these delectables one by one. You really take berries for granted when you buy them by the box at the store. But they sure are delicious. Not to mention the peaches we got at the same farm.




And when Batman zonks out on the drive home from an action-packed raspberry picking adventure, Superwoman is right there to sneak into the bat cave and test out the newest gadgets (or newest floating toy boat). Benjamin has been playing with his new toy boat and truck for days and has been jealously guarding it from the reaching hands of little sisters. She wasted no time in finding this treasure and trying it out for herself... and loved every minute of it.




I guess I'm Alfred in all this.


We all know Batman would have been nothing without his butler.