August Adventures and Adjustments

During the final weeks of summer break, Scott took a trip with Grandpa & Grandma to a state park for a full day of hiking.  He had fun and was worn out when he returned!

On another day in August, I spent a day in Ohio, Jon & Scott went "gatoring", and the girls had a wonderful day with the grandparents!  

(Prior to going) Kate:  We're going to have a fun girl day!
Natalie: Grandpa will be there.
Kate- Yeah, but he's a really nice boy.

Scott also spent a day boating with his buddies.  What a cool opportunity!! 

During the boating trip, the girls and I redeemed a coupon for free Build-A-Bears.  They ended up being not-so-free by the time you bought them sparkly outfits, shoes, and made them smell like bubble gum, but it was still a fun outing!

In an attempt to get Kate to try some new foods before kindergarten, I started giving her "lunch points" in an effort to earn a new lunchbox that she had her eye on.  She practiced packing new foods in Natalie's old lunchbox and seemed very motivated at first to try new foods and earn points toward her goal.  After a few gag sessions though, she gave up.  One day, she brought me Natalie's old lunchbox that clearly has NATALIE written across it in permanent marker.  She said, "You can just cross off Natalie and write Kate on it.  I'm fine with the old one."  Plan failed.  Anything's better than actually swallowing a fourth of a peanut butter sandwich!  AHHHH!!

Obviously, Kate has a very limited diet.   I was frustrated with her one day and was telling her that she needs to eat more foods.  She insisted that she eats many foods.  When I asked them to name them she started off her exhaustive list with, "Salt, pepper..." 

Earlier this summer, I was reading the school newsletter and told the kids that they were lengthening the school day to allow for more instructional time.  The older two sighed, and Natalie said, "This is gonna be a long year."  Kate said, "YAY!"

Fast forward this to Day 3 of school...Kate burst into tears as soon as she got into the van.  She said that school was just too long.  Scott and Natalie listened empathetically to Kate sob, and then Scott quietly said, "See Kate, we told you so."  The sad reality of school.  

Kate continued to struggle with going to school for the next week or so.  She said that the mornings were fine, but that by lunchtime she was always ready to just come home!   Lately though, the complaints have greatly diminished, and she's starting to enjoy her time at school.  She told me that one day during recess, she went around to the preschoolers and kindergartners and asked as many as possible if they believed in Santa Claus or not.  If they said yes, she proceeded to inform them that Santa wasn't real.  OH NO!!!  I asked her why she was doing this and told her that she shouldn't spoil the fun for others.  She looked at me very confused and said, "I thought we were only supposed to believe in Jesus."  (Sorry fellow preschool and kindergarten parents.)   

 

Since Kate had a rough start to kindergarten, I found myself not enjoying the days at home without kids.  I hated that she was sad and missed having them home.  Now that she's doing better, I've noticed a change in me, as well.  I think I'll quickly get used to this all-kids-in-school thing.  I feel like I'm now getting so much done while they are away and today found myself thinking, "Back so soon?" when they arrived home!  Should be a fun year for all!:)