Countdown to Kindergarten!

Monday was a typical night with our tiny biker gang roaming the street, while the grown ups played bags and hung out. 

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Tuesday was a normal day at school for the boys, except that it was Xander’s last day of daycare! Xander started daycare at 1 years old. He couldn’t walk yet and all the other 1 year olds seemed really big. He had to wear shoes (he’d never worn shoes before!). He needed a cup and silverware (he didn’t use either!). I was HORRIFIED. His teachers were calm and sweet and shrugged their shoulders saying, “he will” every time I said he couldn’t do something. He was just another 1 year old, not the special snowflake I thought he was. I cried in the parking lot every time I dropped him off (for several days in a row). As predicted by his teachers, he learned how to do everything and he loved daycare and for the last 4 years, he’s come home with art projects, stories from the day, new friends and he is a happy, confident little boy. And now when I drop him off, I slow the van to a roll, open the door and tell him to tuck and roll before I burn rubber out of the parking lot. Nate tells me I’ve told that joke to everyone, but it’s not so much a joke, as it is a reassurance to myself. I am uptight. I don’t like change. I spend a lot of time thinking, processing and having feelings about everything. I toured MANY daycares. I agonized over every little detail. It was not easy for me. But it was fine- better than fine- Xander LOVED daycare. And so I’m reassuring myself that even though we toured 13 schools and I’ve agonized over him starting kindergarten, eventually this will be no big deal too and he’s going to be so happy as a big kid. 

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Tuesday morning, I surprised him by decorating his room and the hallway. Xander is an early riser, so he and I snuck off to the bakery to bring home donuts for everyone. 
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He will miss his teachers and his friends and I am grateful every day for his time at KBH. Gussie is moving to pre-K in September, taking Xander’s place in his classroom, so we will still get to enjoy the amazing teachers. 

Wednesday began our family fun countdown to kindergarten week. 

Wednesday morning, Nate and Xander played golf. Xander finished golf lessons recently and this was the first time he got to go to actual grown up golf with Daddy! 

 
Gussie and I went to the bakery and the park. 

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Wednesday afternoon, the boys went to my mom’s house for a slumber party. They hung out at the mall all afternoon, playing in the arcade and in the play area. Nate and I went out to a nice dinner and then out to drinks on a patio. It was a great kickoff to our fun week. 
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Thursday the boys stayed at my mom’s until the afternoon and then had a low key evening at home. We played outside and relaxed. 

Friday was kindergarten orientation day at school, so Nate, Xander and I headed to school while Gussie and Grandma Debbie hung out at the park. Xander unpacked his school supplies and spent some time with his classmates and his teacher. We got to learn all about how things work and meet the specialists (gym, art, music, theater, stem, french, spanish, and librarian!)
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On Friday afternoon, we headed to the movies to watch the new Paw Patrol movie. 

After the movie was weekly happy hour with the neighborhood. Happy hour is always a blast with kids running around, the most fun adults joining in to play with the kiddos, and everyone just relaxing. 

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Saturday was a playdate with Xander’s best buddy Leo, while Gussie and I went to a birthday party with his friends (they had a bounce house!). 

 

Saturday night was a mini version of happy hour. There are some “big kids” down the street who the boys LOVE!! They are always thrilled when Olive and Emmet pay attention to them, so they couldn’t have been more excited to have them come over to play. 

Sunday afternoon we headed to Great Wolf Lodge for a quick get away. We swam until the pool closed for the night. We ate snacks. We played in the arcade. It was nonstop fun!

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We got home Monday afternoon with 2 very tired boys, so we had a very low key relaxing afternoon. 

When I asked Xander what he wanted to do for his final special day, he told me he wanted to go to Target, buy legos, and spend the day putting them together as a family. And he wanted hoagies for dinner. I had expected he would ask for something way bigger or more extravagant. It was a good reminder of what is really important. 

So today we got up and headed to Target where we told the boys they could pick out any legos they wanted. Xander chose a big set even though it said 9+- he felt pretty confident because he’s very good at legos. We got his backpack packed, his uniform laid out, and picked out his hot lunch choices for the week, but otherwise he worked on legos ALL day. I think it was the perfect activity, because he was occupied all day, but it was relaxing and low key after a busy week. 

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And now tomorrow our baby is off to kindergarten! I can’t believe it. The days are long, but the years fly by- so true. Xander is smart and curious, confident, but sometimes a little shy. He is sweet and kind and has the best smile. He is laid back like Nate, but “type A” like me. He is turning out to be a very cool little person who I love spending time with. I am very excited to see him grow and blossom this year. 

School starts at 8am tomorrow. We haven’t made it to daycare before 8:40 all year, so our family is going to have to adjust to a new schedule. Wish us luck!