July 4th is typically one of my favorite holidays, but this year it was a bit of a bust. Partly because our town's annual bike parade got rained out.
This was the year our kids were going to ride their Gator in it.
We were cheered up to find out that the parade was to be rescheduled for Labor Day.
So we planned on joining in the parade on Labor Day this year.
It wasn't quite as big of a deal as July 4th (not as many people off for the day, I guess). But our family still had a fun day.
The kids wanted to get candy from the parade, so we met up with friends and watched from our usual spot.
As the end of the parade passed us, Daniel and the boys joined the parade making their way to the golf club.
I have been dealing with some pretty intense hip and back pain and didn't feel up to walking in the parade, so Daniel went with the boys and I drove the car over to meet them.
Daniel actually ended up making a new friend and got a ride in a golf cart while the kids drove ahead of him in their own little vehicle.
Every time we have a little milestone (even one where kids join in a parade for the firs time time), it makes me feel a little weepy.
At the golf club, the Lion's Club had food (it's one of their annual fundraisers) and bouncy houses and lots of fun things for kids.
We enjoyed seeing neighbors and friends and visiting and playing. The weather was perfect today and we were thankful to have Daniel home with us.
This is our fourth year to attend our preschool (the first year for Isaac). At drop off over the last two weeks I have a lot of other moms stop me (people I have seen in the hallways everyday but don't necessarily know) and they are incredulous that Isaac is old enough to be here. I feel the same way! The last two years have certainly flown by.
Last year, Isaac and I would walk Jack to his preschool class and I would have to drag Isaac away because he really wanted to stay at school. So I was surprised when we took Isaac to his orientation day and he burst into tears and tried to run away. He didn't show interest in being there until we went out on the playground and he discovered the plethora of toy trucks he could play with.
On his first official day, we arrived at school and he refused to take off his backpack. We posed for a quick photo before Jack and I took the opportunity to sneak away while he was distracted by a gigantic stuffed bear. He burst into tears as soon as he realized we had made a hasty exit. Thankfully the crying only lasted about 5 minutes
The second day, he insisted we sit for a picture again (he is a creature of habit) and still would not take off his backpack. We did a similar dance where I snuck out as soon as he was with a teacher. And again he cried for a few minutes.
While week one was a phase-in week with shorter classes to acclimate to being at preschool, this past week was the real deal with lunch and activities like circle time.
On Monday I walked into class with him, and again he insisted on wearing his backpack instead of hanging it up. I helped wash his hands and then he took my hand and guided me to a table with blocks. We stacked blocks together and he knocked them down a couple of times before I gave him a quick kiss, told him I loved him, and left. He cried briefly, but Ms. Jenni had him sit down to work with play dough and he calmed down pretty quickly.
On Thursday, he marched into preschool like he owned the place. He let me hang up his backpack, he went straight to Ms. Jenni and didn't look back. It is bittersweet, but he needs this time in a classroom setting and it will give me some extra time, one-on-one with Jack for homeschool.
I know that he will love his time at preschool. It is just all new to him. I can already see his language improving, and the notes home say he is doing great and that he already knows how to sit for circle time – time at church has certainly helped train him in this arena.
When Isaac is not at preschool, he is participating in homeschool with Jack. That has posed some challenges as he realizes that my focus is longer solely on him.
Isaac enjoys active learning like baking with his big brother, but is not a fan when Jack and I need to sit down to work on Math or Reading and Writing (Isaac doesn't like when Jack and I sit down to do
paperwork. He can do what he wants, but he wants us to be doing what he
wants to do). The year is still young and we are still finding our homeschool rhythm!
Here is a little about Isaac at the start of Preschool 2017, 2s Class:
My teachers this year are: Mrs. Jenni, Mrs. Kathy and Mrs. Velvet
I am: 2 years old.
I am: 33.5 inches tall and weigh 30 pounds.
My best friend's name is: I'm pretty sure he thinks Jack is his best friend. He also likes playing with Quinn at the Y and on play dates.
My favorite thing to play is: Anything Jack is playing with.
My favorite book is: Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?(He has parts memorized and we read it every night at bedtime)
My favorite TV show is: not interested in TV
My favorite food is: Spaghetti
Something I really like: Trucks, Bikes and Boats
Something I don't like: Sleeping in my own bed by myself. (Every night he wakes up and tries to sneak into Jack's room, waking everyone in the process).
My favorite word/phrase is: Uh-oh.
Even with the tears and general exhaustion from school days, I think the school year is off to a great start. We hope this year is a blessing to him and that our little rainbow baby brings the same joy to his teachers and classmates that he has brought to our family.
For our second Friend Friday of the school year, we chose to meet up at the Creative Discovery Museum in downtown Chattanooga.
This museum continues to be our favorite museum for kids in our city. We have maintained our membership since moving here five years ago.
If you have young kids and are visiting Chattanooga, it is a must visit. Especially if it is rainy.
My kids love the hands-on nature of the museum.
We always start out in the River Play section – my philosophy is if
the kids get wet, they will have two hours to dry out. I have friends
who prefer to get wet at the end and then leave.
Either way, it's a good spot to play and learn about how rivers and dams work.
The Eric Carle exhibit was still up on this visit, and the kids enjoyed climbing through the huge grass and climbing on the spiderweb again.
The Make-It Shop is a favorite area of ours, and we always make a stop there so the boys can work on building something.
On this visit we wrapped up by digging for dinosaurs.
We had another successful Friend Friday, with lots of hands on learning. We are looking forward to all of the fun we plan to have with our friends during the course of this school year!
Check back on Fridays to see our weekly outings.
If you're following along, here are our previous Friend Friday adventures: August:Coolidge Park
