Saturday Snapshots [Blue]

I'm joining up with Marcia again for Saturday Snapshots! This week is blue. Sound off on your favorites. Most of these were from a recent beach trip with the gorgeous blue sky!

Orientation Day

While husband is counting today as the ladies first day of school, I'm holding out. 

Today was merely orientation. 45 minutes of a day that cut into glorious pool time. 😒 

They had no meaningful interaction with their teacher. That was reserved for me! My packet of papers, and 30 minutes of explaining said packet. All in all, I feel they could have mailed it over the summer and made today a half day. 

I was put at ease knowing their work groups are determined through testing and ability level, but she cautioned me that they would most like be in the same groups. So much for that slowly separating business. They also had no interactions with the other students. 😔 They brought the students in in small groups throughout the day, so the other three children we were with were boys who banned together. At least they have each other. 

And to appease the hubs: 

Friday they'll be wearing the outfits they chose... So I'm glad I snapped this!

My Summer Goal

Complete!

Victory!!

Sweet success!!!

Pretty sure this makes me a certified roofer! HA!

Meet & Greet

First impressions and all that...

Friday we went to the Kindergarten Meet & Greet. I didn't have any expectations but I wasn't overly impressed or unimpressed. I was a little disappointed that the teacher brushed aside substantial questions until Orientation Day. 

The ladies appeared a little restless and overwhelmed at the school itself, walking around wide eyed. Once we made it to their classroom they settled in. The checked out the shelves for the games and books available. They inventoried the toys and blocks. 

For a brief moment both the Captain and I cringed seeing them at separate tables, but we're relieved the teacher offered to unite them- which I declined. They've spent 5 years as each other's shadow, and while I wanted to keep them together at the start, some distance would do them both a world of good. [They are side by side in their cubbies though :) ] I'll never forget the joy on Em's face when she found her name on the back of tiny chair, or the concern on Claire's when she first couldn't find hers and next when she found it away from her sister. Sigh. 

So they are a little more settled and anxious for Wednesday to come. I'm eager for more information. 

Bring it Kindergarten!

Saturday Snaps: Red

I'm linking up with Marcia (I think?) for Saturday Snapshots. This week we're focused on red! I confess, I didn't make it out with the big camera this week, we are too focused on getting ready for school.

So on to my offerings:

The infamous red chair. It's growing on me.

Sunset from Top Of The Rock.

Patriotism. 

And again on a smaller scale. 

Snowballs, summer's gift.

My ladybug!

Some of the delicious berries we collected this spring!

So what have you to offer up?!

Happy Weekend!

Raising Readers

So this is a really thing. Something wonderful that is happening with greater frequency and ease. 

We're reading. Really and truly. I'm amazed. I'm proud. 

I would classify the ladies as being a true beginning reader and an early reader. Of course she who is the weaker reader seems to be stronger with numbers. I'm not reading much into this. Although my concern is growing with regards to competition and comparisons between them. Something I'm afraid school may bolster. 

How do you fight sibling competition and comparison? 

And where is the parenting manual!!

Saturday Snapshot [Yellow]

Thanks to Mrs. FF for beginning Marcia to bring back Saturday Snapshot!

Sometimes I need that kick in the pants to dig through, and now go out and find some shots. The big camera is getting a little dusty, literally. :(

So here are my five from this summer:

Cupcakes I made for the ladies to take to camp for their birthday.

A pretty yellow leaf caught in the stream. In July! I'm getting nervous about this winter!

Pretty weed.

Radiant A!

Dear Jack will forever remind me of my dear Holden!

So where are your five snapshots?

Link up!

Wordless Wednesday: Last Day Of Summer

Our last beach trip. 

**Sniff, sniff**

Till the fall beach, till the fall. 

Back To School: Part One

Yup! That sums it up.

Marcia has asked, and now that everything is nearly settled I will share.

We're trying public school. I say trying. I'm not sure how this will work out. It's been a trying experience so far.

The enrollment process was very straight forward, none of this cueing and pleading you South Africans moan about. I went to our local school, filled out the papers in duplicate and brought roughly 748 pieces of documentation. Three proofs address, a proof of county residency, birth certificates, shot records, doctors forms, on and on and on... The longest part of that meeting was the return trip for my forgotten license.

Since the hubs is a teacher within the county, and since we are never home, we applied and were granted special permission for the ladies to attend school across the street from him. Again, a form in duplicate was handed in. Bada bing, bada boom.

It's everything else that is killing me. I have a list of gripes and the year has yet to start.
***Disclaimer: I know that I am a control freak and my complaints seem petty. My serious alternative is to homeschool, so public school needs to work for the whole family here.***

Gripe List

• 10 glue sticks per child? We have yet to run out of glue, ever. AND you would appreciate donations of additional glue sticks? Are you gluing children to walls??
• 2 different packs of crayons per child. I'm protesting and not buying the fat crayons, we're big kids.
• Donations of every size bag in existence. 
• Staggered start - complete BS. 
• Car pool line and all it's rules. 
• Back-to-School Night 

As far as the supplies go, I'm not entirely flabbergasted. I'm all for Popsicle sticks and paper plates. But geeze, what's with all the crayons and glue? Why can't I send in the twist crayons I purposely saved for school? Or maybe make my own packs from the Tub-o-Crayons that resides at our house? Yes, I did contemplate that. Also of note, I've followed more than a couple FB rants about not wanting to supply for the entire class. I get it, I wouldn't want to either. But as the wife of a teacher, I see the need and wouldn't want anyone to be left out. Thankfully our list is reasonable I feel, despite my gripes.

My real beef, the rules. I'm not terribly good at following rules. Especially when they seem senseless to me. I realize the system won't change for me, but can I get an explanation??

Our school does a staggered start for kindergarten. I. WANT. TO. DIE. 

Their schedule will look like this:

Wed: 2-2:45

Thur: OFF

Fri: All Day

Mon: Holiday

Tues: All Day followed by Back-to-School Night

What the hell is that? 45 minutes on the first day and I have to be there? Seriously? Why? If it's some sort of meet and greet should I just blow the open house the week before? This is just a big inconvenience. Wednesdays are my off day. My free day. I won't have HAM, the Captain will be in school, and we are a one car family who will be 45 minutes from home! Gah! So I will have to entertain the children from 7-2, do the first day shenanigans (whatever we do for 45minutes), then go get the Captain. Meh. Wasted day. I can't even get excited, it's 45 minutes. Is a half day too much to ask?

This whole easing them into school and missing days is crap. What do people who work do? I wouldn't want to miss work for two days, especially for a 45 minute session! I'm not sure how this is beneficial to anyone. Children thrive on structure so let's set the expectation of daily school from the beginning! While I think starting school in the middle of a week is a waste and think the county should revert to starting school after Labor Day, I understand the need to get days in. Especially if there are a few days off nearly every month. 

Car pool. OMG! The rules! Gone are the days of drop and go. For starters, I can't park at school. The lots are closed. They recommend that all eligible students ride the bus; not eligible. I am welcome to join the car pool line. I am not allowed to exit my vehicle and should have student(s) ready to leave the vehicle before the volunteer opens the door. Students must wait for a volunteer to escort them. Really? Fear mongers. Let me get this right, I'm suppose to go-go-gadget-arms while driving to unbuckle TWO harness car seats?! Riiiiiight. The doors won't open if the van is in drive. This is screaming fail to me and I don't want to be the fool who is holding up their precious line. To reverse this process I have to post a sign with their names in my passenger window, but not permanently affixed, so that a volunteer can fetch my children. Again, how I am suppose quickly buckle them from the drivers seat and scadattle is beyond me. I'm hoping I can park at the Captain's school across the street, cross over and walk away with my children. I'm not sure what documentation that will require, blood test perhaps? 

Lastly, BTS Night. I accept that we are visitors to this school, attending with special permission. My distant and one car household are my personal choices and I cannot hold that against the school. However, 7 pm? You request no children attend? Outside of my transportation gripes, do you know what I'm doing at 7? Bath, book, bed. Like the better part of your student body. What could you possibly have to discuss that hasn't been addressed at the meetings we've already had? I don't think two days and 45 minutes is enough to assess and get to know my children. Maybe just send an email, or maybe a handout in one of those folders I'll be sending in??

So to say I'm stressed by this is a bit of an understatement. I'm a little sad to not be planning out their school year at home. I'm also concerned about the educational value of this year, but that's another post all together.

Wordless Wednesday

Yay art camp!

NYC: Day 2, Part 1

Prepare for photo bombardment. I don't have much to say, just pictures to share. 

My little socialite waiting for her friends. These glasses kill me and I think they are something I will hold on to long after their usefulness has expired.

We planned to start our second day by crossing the Brooklyn Bridge. I think some of the adults in our group nearly fainted when I plopped my camera on the side of the bridge. I'm more trusting of a bridge than a stranger and a group shot is a necessity. Besides, it was the perfect height!

I just love pictures like this. 

(I also love B's sassy hand-on-hip action!)

Friends.

If you bore a husband with pictures, he will entertain himself deciphering graffiti. :) 

Sister.

Oh the cables, I'm not sure if its the patterns and repetition, or the contrast, but I do love it. 

Perspective.

I'm debating a small frame of this one to fill in photos going up our stair case. It's enough to spark a memory, while not be too tourist-y, no?

While there's not much to say about crossing the bridge, there is more to say about vacationing with friends. Especially friends who have comparably aged children. Everyone was a little walked out, and dare I say bored after crossing the bridge. The little had energy to get out, and they wanted to explore. Even their brief escapade with an asphalt truck (yes, this was a small highlight of their day) wasn't enough to satiate their wondering minds. 

So we hit the nearest park. 

And ran.

This wouldn't happen with your granny tagging along. 

Nor would she understand.

The simple joy of nature would be lost. 

And who would swing the children!?

This is one my favorite things about meeting up with this lovely family. We just click. This is that comfortableness I've spoken of. 

This man can do no wrong! 

Although I'm pretty sure Claire gave him the stink eye when he told her he didn't have her sunglasses. HA!

After we got some our sillies our we went for lunch. By that point the native, both large and small, were ready for some grub. 

Tasty!

We followed up lunch with some tasty dessert!

The sampling of flavors across the table happened in all directions I believe. I think that might have only come to be because Emma was curious of what she was missing. 

After dessert, and some quick photos, we headed back to subway. 

I doubt we could have gotten any of them to walk any further!