Almost ready for Kindergarten!

Today is the last day of day-care for Ellie!


I cannot believe how fast the time has gone.  It seems like yesterday that we were bringing our 8-week old daughter to the center for the first time.   I may have checked on her multiple times that day back in January of 2010, but I didn't cry at drop-off time.    I am able to say that when I dropped her off for the last time this morning I didn't cry either (although it was close when I asked her teachers for a picture of Ellie with them--- Ellie planned it and they all wore the same outfit!).   Let's hope Monday's drop-off goes as smoothly!


Last night we went to Back to School night at Maple Grove.   I am completely in love with the school.  The building and classrooms are cute, the principal seems really awesome and our teacher (because let's be honest, she will probably teach Nick and I a thing or two as she teaches Ellie) is amazing.  We are ready.  Or as ready as we are going to be.


So here is how Back to School night went.... We walked into the building, greeted by Waukee Cheerleaders passing out information on their cheer clinic.   Then we hit the PTO table.   Then the WATCH DOGS group.  Then the Waukee Dance team (although they looked very similar to the cheerleaders and I told them we already had a flier, only to be told that was the cheerleaders and they were the dance time with another clinic flier).  Then the nutrition representative with information on lunches.  By this time I had a handful of fliers and hadn't yet figured out where the classroom was!   A few more groups (I don't even remember which ones) and we finally made it to the classroom (after asking for directions a few times).   Ellie's teacher is ADORABLE!  The classroom is ADORABLE!   I am so excited (I hope Ellie is as well).   We did a little scavenger hunt that helped Ellie find her spot, put her school supplies away, pick-up an item off the 'classroom wish list' and filled out a couple forms.  Oh, and we received some more papers to go through (I sort of feel like we took home a small tree after it was all said and done).  Anyway, it was really organized, a little overwhelming, a lot of fun, and we are now ready for Monday.  (We even ordered our item from the classroom wish list and it should arrive on Saturday so Ellie can take it to school with her on Monday.)


This morning I was going through the papers from the night before and one of the papers was titled "In a Million Words of Less" and was a request from the teacher to write her a letter (in a million words or less) telling her about your child- what I would tell her if "we were to sit down for 20 minutes over coffee".   Yup, totally brought tears to my eyes and I realized that Monday might not be as easy as I thought it was going to be.   I realize this might be something all kindergarten teachers do, but it is a really great idea and made me feel like Ellie was someone very special in this teacher's eyes.  I tried to keep it simple, even though there is so much more to Ellie than just what is listed in this letter.  But some of it you just have to experience yourself (which her teacher will very soon).   Here is what I wrote (with review and approval from Nick):

Ellie is:

• The oldest child and a big sister to Genevieve (Neve), age 3.
• A ‘leader’ at times and shy/reserved at other times.  It takes a little bit for her to get comfortable in new situations.
• Sensitive, caring, sweet (and sometimes emotional).
• A big fan of dramatic play (her words, not ours).
• A lover of babies and playing house.
• Afraid of loud noises (sometimes).
• Left-handed!
• One to play outside with her neighbors any chance she gets.
• Limited on the amount of screen time she gets (the TV may be on 30 minutes to 1 hour a week when she is awake).
• Pretty strong in her math skills (in our opinion). 
• Not as confident in her reading skills (she tends to give up when she could sound the words out if she tried a little harder).
• Slightly uncoordinated.
• Excited to do art projects.
• A slow eater, but eats a variety of foods.
• Someone you can read by the expression on her face.
• Someone who likes to please people and be recognized for it.
• A child that is perfectly happy playing by herself.
• Not someone that has trouble interacting with adults (sometimes she prefers it to other children).
• A Daddy’s girl that loves to ride home from day-care (and now BTB) on the bike with Daddy on Friday’s.
• A Mommy’s girl that likes to follow rules (and let others know when they are not following the rules).
• A fan of structure.
• Sometimes needs to be reminded about personal space.
• Very excited for kindergarten, but also afraid of leaving her day-care where she has been at for the last 5+ years. 

5 on Friday

1. The entire family biked home from work on Friday.  The girls were excited, Nick may have gotten bored having to slow down for me, and I got my workout in.


2. Nick and the girls joined the neighbor dad's and their kids for a camping night Saturday night.  The mom's made the most of it with some shopping, dinner out and a quick stop to the campground to say hello before bed.


3. My friend and I took our girls shopping for dance gear Monday night.  Too cute and I cannot wait for classes to start next week (but it seems like we just finished with the recital!).


4. Ellie found out her teacher on Monday!  And her one of the neighbor kids is in her class.   Should be a fun year!


5. We had Back to School Night Thursday night for Ellie.  She took in her supplies, found her classroom and meet her teacher.   Then we rushed back home to get ready for my Fantasy Football Draft!   Fantasy Football is not just for boys in our house!  Makes me more excited for football season to start!

5 on Friday

1. On Friday night the girls had a sleepover at Aunt Megan and Uncle Mike's house.   Ellie loves it there because Aunt Megan gives her candy and thirds on juice.


2. While the girls were gone, Nick and I celebrated my college roommate's "6th Anniversary of her 29th Birthday" Friday night.  We had a good time and really enjoyed being able to sleep in as late as we wanted on Saturday morning.


3. Nick went to Coon Rapids for the grand opening of a new mountain bike trail on Saturday.  The girls and I braved the mall during the tax-free holiday so they could get some new tennis shoes.


4. On Tuesday night I went to an Introduction to Tea class at Gong Fu in the East Village.  Megan and I grabbed dinner before hand and had a great time.   I learned I like white tea the best and am not a huge fan of green tea.


5. I cannot believe we have less than 2 weeks before Ellie starts school.  I know she is ready for kindergarten, it is just going to be really weird walking into work without her--- 5.75 years of doing the same thing is going to be a big change.

5 on Friday

1. We celebrated my cousin's wedding on Saturday!   The girls loved seeing Sarah in her beautiful dress (her mother's wedding dress with a few alterations and the addition of part of her Godmother's wedding dress!)  We had to head back home before the dance started, which made a few little girls upset with Mommy and Daddy, but they still had a great time.



2. We had an amazing meal on Sunday--- smoked brisket, smoked baked beans and apple pie!   Yum!



3. Monday the girls and I had "cousin day".   Megan, Liam and Alida came over to play in the morning and then after nap (or Alida's nap I should say) we all went to the pool together.  The kids had a blast and I love that we live close enough we can do things like that.



4. Thursday was Adventureland day!   Once I found out the log ride was going to be closing I knew we had to go on it one last time.  Not to mention that Neve was free this year (that will not be the case next year.)   We had a great time and four very tired people by the end of the day.  We loved that Megan and the kids were able to join us out there for a short period of time.



5. I have been keeping very busy at work co-chairing our company's United Way campaign on top of my regular work duties.   We have changed up the campaign this year and I cannot wait to write a longer post about all the fun happenings.

5 on Friday

1. We celebrated Liam's birthday at his construction party!   We had a blast and I loved how my niece would let me take care of her--- until I took her cake away and then she yelled at me in a 1-year old way (in my defense, her mother told me I could take it away AND she was in the process of getting cleaned off).

2. We had a zoo day with the Jones' Family!   Megan and the kids had gone with the girls and I earlier in the summer, but we decided we needed to include the Daddy's this time around.   It rained, so the train was not running, but we still had a great time.

3. Indianola Balloon Classic!  I had never been, and the other day on our way to school Ellie asked what was in the sky in front of us--- it was a hot air balloon.   Since Ellie is still free admission for this one last year we thought it would be a fun thing to do.   Unfortunately, Neve decided she did not want to take a nap that day and given it was the Glow Nite so we would be up late  Neve and Daddy stayed home.   But Ellie, Megan, Liam and I had an amazing time!   I would totally go again next year (this time with Neve and Daddy as well.)

4. We had our kindergarten round-up at Maple Grove on Thursday!   Can you believe Ellie will start kindergarten in less than a month!  Yikes!

5. While we were at kindergarten round-up, Neve had a play-date with her friend, Bentley.  She had a blast and I am so grateful our friends were able to watch her when I asked.   The next day Neve asked when she could play with Bentley again.

5 on Friday

1. Happy Birthday to our Godson!   We hope you had an amazing day and cannot wait to celebrate with you this weekend.

2. I took Neve to the eye doctor this week.   He was recommended to us by our neighbor who was friends with him through another mutual friend.   We are sitting in the room and the doctor comes in.  He introduces himself, looks at me and continues to look at me.  Then he asks if I went to Business Horizons back in high school.   Business Horizons was a 1 week business related 'camp' that yes, I did attend many, many years ago.  Turns out we were both there!   I will admit- it took me a while to remember who he was, but after talking some more I did.  Small world!

3. Neve has my eyes... or at least it is looking that way.  We will head back to the eye doctor in a year to tell for sure, but the idea of glasses did come up in conversation.

4. Ellie had her last t-ball game this week!   It was supposed to end a few weeks ago, but rain delays made it go a little later into the summer.   She loved it.

5. We did our back to school shopping!   Ellie found a dress to wear for the first day of school and purchased all of her supplies, as well as supplies for our adopted kindergartner, Ruby.  More on Ruby in a later post.

5 on ????

No, I have not fallen off the face of the earth.  Just busy with this thing called summer.   And we are having an amazing summer. How about a mini-update by week-


Week of June 26th:
- Play-date at the zoo with a friend from school.
- Great-Grandma, Grandma and Grandpa come over for dinner!   Ellie absolutely adores Great-Grandma and will not leave her side.   I think the feeling was mutual.
- Nick and I went to DMB with the Beltman, Steffens and Jones'.  Always a great time!




Week of July 4th:
- We spent the day with the neighbors (surprise, surprise).    We actually went to the fireworks show instead of watching from home.  The girls thought it was awesome.
- We celebrated Nick's cousin and his wife at their wedding reception on the farm.  The girls love the baby kittens and Ellie was a huge fan of Nick's cousin's puppy (a big deal for a non-dog girl).
- We are working on our kindergarten check list: complete with Ellie's first eye exam.   We are hoping she had Nick's eye genes and can go without glasses.  So far, so good!


Week of July 11th:
- Rain delayed the Ankeny Summerfest parade on Saturday, so instead of going to that we just played at Mike and Megan's.  The kids had a blast and sometimes the small group time in a non-structured are just what we need.
- VACATION!   We went to the WI Dells with Nick's mom, her husband and our 13-year old cousin.   We stayed at the resort we have stayed at in the past (thanks for the discount Mom!) and it worked out perfectly.  The girls had an absolute blast and it is fun to make memories not only for vacation, but with the grandparents and cousins as well.  I think everyone was exhausted afterwards, but wouldn't trade it for the world.