KINDERGARTEN!!

My baby officially started kindergarten today!  I have thought about this day so many times over the last five years.  He was up bright, and early late to start the big day!  They left for the game yesterday at 10am and didn’t get back home until 7pm so he was a tired boy.  More on the big game in the next couple of days because…. KINDERGARTEN started today!! 

 First day of Kindergarten

 

 

 

 

       

 A special breakfast!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 New school supplies…

 and a familiar classroom!

So after months of going back and forth between public school and homeschooling we finally made the decision.  I didn’t actually call the school to tell them he wasn’t coming until last Thursday.  I wish it had been more clear cut for me but I see many positives about both.  In the end it came down to the six hour day.  On Tuesday I got a call from the school’s principal.  He wanted to talk about why we were homeschooling.  I explained that I had taught elementary school and that I preferred a half day program.  An audible sigh of relief (from the principal) followed after I mentioned I was a fully credentialed teacher.  He then told me he had called me to talk me out of homeschooling.  There’s a morale booster for you!   We had a really nice conversation (luckily my defenses were down) and I only had to mention the research about the success of homeschooling twice!  What a reminder about the antagonism between the public system and homeschooling.  I really liked the principal though and appreciated his concern for Ryan, especially since our district doesn’t receive money based on daily attendance.  He had nothing to gain financially or otherwise to call during such a busy time.  So we started this morning and had a great day.  I had to stop myself all through the day from thinking of all the fun he could be having at the other school, but we had a great time together.  I love being with my boys!

 

 

 

 He’s going to need some redirecting!

 

 

 

 The command center!

(notice the lovely paint job!)

 Snack Math

We made trail mix and then Ryan estimated and counted the different ingredients.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 We read the Kissing Hand today.  A wonderful first day of school, especially kindergarten, book.  It’s about a little raccoon who doesn’t want to go to school and his mother’s secret that will help him through the night (he’s nocturnal you know!)  A must read!

 

 

 

 

 Kissing hands and hearts.  We’ll paint them tomorrow!

 

Wow!  Kindergarten is exhausting!  I better go and get the classroom ready.  I’m the custodian too!  : )

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Tomorrow is Erik’s Gotcha Day!  That’s right.  One year ago tomorrow we brought our little guy home.  I am going to put a little quiz up tomorrow and the first person to answer the most questions correctly gets their very own GOT KIMCHI shirt like the ones we wore home from the airport.  I’ll put a reminder up on how to post in the comments tomorrow!