Jedi James

Invitation: 

Agenda:

After the Robing Ceremony:

Target practice: 

  

The Jedi Master takes out the blasters:

Light Saber Training:

Destroying the Death Star piñata:

Storm Trooper Cake:

Seven Storm Troopers: 

Jedi Mommy

Last Day of Kindergarten

Monday is the actual last day of school, but James will miss it since we'll be at the beach. It's a half day of half-day kindergarten, so he's only missing a ninety minute day. 

That makes today his last day (and Moving Up Day, to boot!). Thus, we had a little photo shoot this morning:

James: Author, Illustrator, Publisher

When I picked James up from school on Monday, his teacher said, "Don't forget to finish your story."  He worked for almost two hours! Enthusiastically! 

Please enjoy...

JAMES and the SPOOKS by James

I saw an attack. Bugs came. I turned on the goo. The ghosts scared Ms. Nagel. The ghosts were scared by John. I saved the mermaid. Me and John were heroes. 

About the Author

James likes to read. He loves spooky things. He rides a scooter with speed. He has spy gear. He lives in New Jersey. 

Bowling

Today was our second week of rec league bowling. Let me just say, upon arriving home afterwards I had opened a beer before I even set the diaper bag down. Yep. 

Here's the thing. You have a team of four five-year-old boys. So they chase each other around. And play with the balls and ball return machine. Constantly. And yes, of course, every adult is telling them to cut it out as we don't want any finger amputations or what not. And they need constant reminders that it's their turn. And that it's still their turn. 

They play two games, and let me tell you, the last three frames of the second game seemed to last forever. 

Did I mention that this is happening from 4:00-5:15? Yes, the "witching hour."

Oh! Then there's John. In a building full of what? His favorite thing in the whole world... Balls! But these are all heavy and dangerous. So he's mad that I won't let him play with them. And he's running around. And heading toward the lanes. And thieving other people's food (even though he'd already had a soft pretzel AND a squeezy fruit-veggies-grains pouch). 

Exhausting. 

But James likes it. It's actually fun. And those boys chant each other's names and throw their bowling balls in the funniest ways. It really is a good time. 

First Day of Kindergarten (pt. 2)

James came out of school with a big smile! He told me a bit about his day as we walked home-- he got to see his teacher feed the class fish, they got to sit wherever they wanted to on the rug, they were assigned seats at the "working tables" (his table has all boys; there are ten boys and five girls in the class), there are three children who didn't listen (a girl got out of her seat when a different table was called, and two boys didn't put their pencils down when the teacher said to do so-- James is quite the policeman, eh?), they saw Mr. Parcells as they were leaving. That's about it. Throughout the day I got more snippets-- they played on the new caterpillar playground, they drew self portraits, there were fish decorations everywhere and a big whale on the door that says "Make a Splash in Kindergarten!" 

Once home, we had a quick lunch then stopped by Grandma & Grandpa's house to take a First Day of Kindergarten photo in the same tree where Daddy had taken a photo on his first day of kindergarten. Then it was off to swim class!

Today was James's first lesson at the Ray level, and he did great! They worked on side breathing. His instructor is fantastic. 

Next it was off to Planet Swirl for celebratory fro-yo, then we hit the playground for an hour or so (to burn off the sugar). Both boys had a ball. 

Tomorrow will be his first lunch in the cafeteria as he'll stay the full day for his first day of Wrap-Around Kindergarten. So exciting!

First Day of Kindergarten (pt 1)

James is off to kindergarten this morn. He practically skipped, hopped and jogged all the way there! (It's so nice to live within walking distance, especially on the first day when the parental paparazzi make for quite the traffic situation!)

We found his teacher's line, and he excitedly greeted his friends. (So glad he went to preschool there last year-- our goal of lessening the number of transitions while also giving him an opportunity to meet kids in town and get to know his school certainly was a success.)

Soon enough the teachers came out, and the lines of kindergarteners filed into the building. I'm not going to lie-- I got a bit teary-eyed. Sure, partly because my cutie is growing up, but also because I'm so grateful to have been there to see him off this morning. Next year, I'll be back to "working (outside the home) mom" status, and may very well be welcoming my own students to school as James heads in the door to first grade... Cherishing every moment this year!

James's (current) Favorite Book

About a month ago, James asked me about Charlotte's Web after having read about it in a Horrible Harry book. We were headed to the library the next morning (for a music class for John), so I assured him we'd look for it. 

We got to the library in time to find and check out Charlotte's Web before John's class began. James curled up with his book while Mommy and John joined the other toddlers for singing and dancing. 

He basically didn't put the book down until he'd finished it a few hours later. Then he started reading it again. 

Since then, we've watched two DVDs (the Hanna Barbara animated version and the Dakota Fanning as Fern live-action movie), re-read the book a few more times, done Charlotte's Web-inspired sidewalk chalk, visited a farm, and generally fallen in love with pigs and spiders. 

Oddly, this almost-vegetarian boy still professes his love of pork. He happily gobbled up some bacon yesterday remarking, "I hope this isn't Wilbur." 

here James admires the spiders' webs on the barn