Bribery

Nothing like the promise of Thrifty ice cream after school to chase away tears. Miles gets the cotton candy ice cream - only kids could like this stuff. Claire is a fan of rainbow sherbet lately - that's a little better. Thrifty ice cream in general reminds me of being a kid getting a $1 scoop at Rite Aid. The good ole days.

First Day of School

Let's start from youngest to oldest - Miles started kindergarten this week! He is in full day, which is a first for us. Claire did half day, but all the schools up in North Las Vegas are going to full day now. It is honestly better for our schedules to have one pick up time, but it is a long time to be away. Miles has asked every day what time we are picking him up, and is that a long time or a short time.

He was very upset the first day, despite waking up at 6:05 am ready to go. These photos show his anticipation vs. reality - he did not want me to leave him in the line with his classmates. We had tears the first three days, but he is gradually getting more comfortable with the classroom.

Miles likes to know the schedule - he doesn't like to be left out or left behind and he gets nervous with new adults. This is especially true when transferring him from me to his teacher Mrs. Prince, from his teacher to the lunchroom crew, and then to his special classes like music and art.

He held on to a note I wrote him, repeatedly putting it in his pocket and pulling it out again. I later bought him a bracelet to hold on to while he is at school. 

Claire started second grade! She is a pro - she has to go into the school at a separate entrance than Miles, since kinder has their own playground and gate. I was worried about leaving her the first day, but she said she was fine and I got her to her teacher and the line on the playground and took Miles over to his class. Claire has found a friend and she likes to play tether ball and basketball too. Her teacher is Miss Michaelsen and she seems nice enough so far.

And on to our oldest student - Matt started his last year of Grad School. Last. Year. He will graduate in May if all goes well. He is currently recruiting with accounting firms for a position as most likely an auditor - he is leaning that way instead of taxes. But I think we keep our options open for now. Matt is working on campus again as a graduate assistant in the marketing department. He gets to have a really flexible schedule to work around his classes and he is able to get home to pick up the kids from school every day. Not sure what we will do once he has a full-time job... cross that bridge when we come to it.

Swim Lessons and Other Fun

Both Claire and Miles passed their swim classes - Claire was in the Otters and Miles was in the Jelly Fish. They both increased in confidence so much and Miles could have definitely been in a more advanced class but there wasn't room this session. Claire is asking to do swim team - maybe next summer. She just had one more class above her current level but her teacher coaches the swim team and thought she could skip it. Miles was just excited to get a popsicle so he didn't ask about next year just yet.

We need to get this little gal in the class next summer - she will be ready I think. She loves swimming, but hates the splash park. Go figure. So she and I just hung out and go sweaty while the kids swam.

Some recent fun after Sunday dinner - Jen is always good about bringing and playing games with the kids - they had to try to guess what item or character was on their headband.

MeMa took the kids to their new favorite park - Craig Ranch. This time they made it over to a new section and tried out the slides. The rattlesnake slide is a little bit scary to me - but they don't look a bit concerned to be sliding out of a venomous snake. Gotta love these desert parks - we really do have some unique parks and playgrounds out here.

Craig Ranch Park

We went to a new park today - Craig Ranch - which used to be a golf course but has been slowly changed into a really unique park. We only went to a small portion of it today with the splash pad, Pioneer Park area, and the playground. We will definitely be back - I saw some tennis courts and basketball courts, so maybe I can convince Matt to learn tennis with me so I have someone to play with. We had Genevieve with us today and the kids did NOT want to leave the park - but we had swim lessons (only two more lessons to go) so we had to skip the rattle snake slide and the adventure park area. Next time!

Lego Birthday Party

We had a small party with family for Miles fifth birthday. Becky, Gabe and McKinley came down from Cedar and the boys went with Matt to the new Lego store that recently opened up in Fashion Show Mall. They got to pick out their own legos and could have even made their own guys, but they chose to get the exact same toy - a racer set of some Ninjago variety or another.

Then Saturday we had a swim party at Jonelle's house - the Lego theme carried through with a Lego cake and brownies, plus of course Star Wars Legos.

They could have swam all day, but important things like presents, cake and ice cream called them out of the pool. Plus I'm sure eventually Jonelle wanted her house back...

Miles Turns FIVE!

For the past 227 days, approximately, Miles has been asking how long it is until his birthday. And he didn't want a vague answer like not til the end of the summer, or a few more months. We had to calculate the days for him, though that made time seem to move at an agonizing pace. However, the day finally came that Miles finally turned five! The best age ever because that means he gets to go to school! He is very excited for kindergarten and the fact that he gets to do what Claire is doing now. He will have full day kinder, so he will jump right in to the big kid school schedule.

Here is a quick trip down memory lane so you can understand why I feel like it's impossible that this little munchkin has turned five already!

Summer Fun

Summer Bingo is hit or miss these days, but still doing a few things a day like making play dough, riding scooters, and going swimming.

Homemade Play Dough

Swimming Lessons - One Session Complete!

This girl is potty training herself lately - I'm not ready though! It is sometimes just easier to change a diaper. Today at swimming I am trying to help Miles and Claire change out of their suits in the bathroom and Penelope is saying over and over - I go potty, Mommy! I go potty! I stopped myself short of saying, "Just go in your diaper!" I should encourage her... trying to.

Miles assured me he was smiling in this picture. 

Family Pics

Some cute pictures from McKinley's baptism - Claire and McKinley look like they are about to head off to college together or something, what the heck? They are both getting so old!

 Mom, don't be mad that I posted this one :)