Preschool!

My baby started preschool. She goes Tues/Thurs from 9-11:30am. It has been totally wonderful. Here she is with Bryce outside the doors at the open house the week before school started.

Trying out the sand table,

A view of one of the classrooms,

The actual first day,

She is so proud of her hook,

With her cousin Justin at the end of the first day,

Preschool has been a great experience so far. I really didn't know how it would all go, but I am so pleased. Separation has been way easier than I imagined. She lingers and holds my hand for a minute and then jumps in. Only one morning she cried at drop off, that was because and she let go of my hand and I turned to leave, the fire alaram went off (fire drill day). It was SO loud (she is sensitive to noise) and she had no idea what it was and happened at the exact moment of her feeling vulnerable as I let go of her hand. I stayed for the fire drill to reassure her the world wasn't ending, she cried when I finally left, and I listened outside the door and she cried for less than 60 seconds.

I imagined her not talking at preschool for like 6 months. I thought she'd just observe and follow directions. That lasted the first week. By the second week the teachers were telling me she had begun talking, a lot. Last week I volunteered for the day (I will once a month, for a tuition discount and for fun!), it was show and tell day and she got up in front of the class and the teacher asked her questions about her bear she brought and she ANSWERED! I was so proud. She shouts out answers and sings along to the songs. Watching her there you wouldn't know how shy and introverted she can be. The entire ride home she talks about her day and her teachers, and asks to go back again.

It has eased my slight concern about her birthday and being ready for Kindergarten at 5. The cutoff is Sept 1, her bday is August 18. She will be 5, but just barely. She is the youngest at preschool and it doesn't show, which makes me feel good. But, for instance, there have already been 2 birthdays at preschool, kids turning 4. They are 11 months older than Eleanora. That's a lot of time at this age. They are split into 2 groups, the "older" 3's and the "younger" 3's, which I think is great. They are all together to start the day, then split. Anyway I've always wondered if she would for sure be ready for Kindy at 5, and being that she's been home with me all the time I really had no way to measure. I was one of the youngest (July 22) and really enjoyed graduating HS at 17 and getting my BA at 20 - I felt I got a jump start on real life. I know many others that do not feel that way, that were the youngest and didn't like it, but I guess we are all just making decisions about our kids education based on what we either did or did not like about our own, right?

I feel like she's blossoming lately, with preschool and her new dance class really helping with that. She loves her new dance class and begs to go everyday. She walks right in and gets to work! It's very cute. I will take pics with my real camera (I only have iPhone pics now) and post them soon. We started at a different studio for one week and did not like it, now we are at Victoria Dance Productions in Edina and LOVE it!

And here are just some pics from summer,

This is Triangle Park down the block we go to all the time. Her favorite thing is the balance beam,

Goofballs,

Fall is underway, which means Bryce is HOME! It was really rough the last month. We are so glad the Twins are over (Bryce might disagree)! Whether or not he will usher again next year is still under debate. For now we are enjoying him coming home everyday and having him all weekend!

Upcoming posts I want to write include dance class and documenting Eleanora's bedtime routine, because it's the same thing every night and I'm not sure how normal it is...