My preschooler

First, the totally random.  We have decorative glass front doors and they make rainbows.  Here are attempts at showcasing them.  First I did my foot.

Nick tried a closer one of Zoey's, but the flash kind of washed it out.

And here is Sam's hand.  The light was fading fast!

Nick made it back with the truck.  Sam, of course, had to pretend to drive it.  Nick had some very long days; flying and loading, driving and unloading our stuff, and then being fingerprinted, going to swimming class for Sam, meetings and unloading the rest into storage on the third day.  I met him at storage and helped some, but I had to stay near the car.  So I just helped him tip things onto the furniture dolly and opened the door.  He had to do a lot himself.  Poor Zoey cried almost the whole time I helped.  Sam enjoyed pretending to drive the car.

Sam has been like a different kid lately.  I think she has moved past some of the issues from moving/Zoey/being 3, etc.  She is much more pleasant with a lot less annoyance.  She has been doing amazing and wonderful things.  She cried some about swimming, but really challenged herself and has made huge strides each day.  Today was her third day and she is already working on form and such.  She could doggie paddle with her head under to the bar/step by the first day and really well by the second day.  She still does not use her arms too much.  But I am so impressed and proud.

One of the things that my mom sent with Nick was an old tape from my teaching practicum class.  I did not want it, so I decided to let Sam practice cutting with it.  It made a HUGE mess, but she had a great time and worked on coordination.  Here she is with a portion of the mess.  She was great about helping to clean it up, too.

Our family portrait.

And besides being her third day of swimming, today was her first day at Resurrection Preschool.  I actually had to pick her up a bit early for swimming.  Yesterday was a quick 10 minute see the room, meet the lead teacher and drop off supplies.  Today we had to get up super early.  Nick had to be at USF Poly at 6:45 for a new faculty retreat.  I even had to wake up Sam as she has been sleeping in until 7/7:30 lately.  She was so funny saying, "But I'm still tired."  I felt like saying tell me about it kid since she often wakes us up super early given that 7 is sleeping in :)  After we dropped Nick off we came back home for breakfast and pictures before heading to school.

Her first one was a jumping one, silly girl.

Then a real picture.

For Resurrection, we drive up for drop off and pick up (after today), so Sam has to carry her own tote bag.  We have to send in a snack for her everyday, so I got her a mini spiderman snack box.  We also have to send or buy lunch.  And the days have themes often, so we have to dress special or take something along with the theme.  So much work!  I am glad she only goes 2 days a week.

I parked and walked her over today.  Here she is on the playground.  She has 20 kids in her class, including a Zoe and Sammy.

Sam did so well at school.  She cried briefly when I left, but was done by the time I got to the door and was much better than a lot of the kids.  She was even upset that I had to take her early since she did not get to paint.  She told me some of what she did; play outside two times, eat snack, dance, and draw.  She seems to have had a great day.  I am so proud and so relieved!  She also did well at swimming despite a little protest.  Here she is with her first day of school present.

What a big girl!  I heard a really good quote the other day by Gretchen Rubin; "The days are long, but the years are short."  I am definitely feeling that one.  Here are a couple more:


While we try to teach our children all about life,
Our children teach us what life is all about.
~Angela Schwindt



I brought children into this dark world because it needed the light that only a child can bring.  ~Liz Armbruster