Kindergarten

I was struck this morning by the huge difference between sending your first child to Kindergarten and sending your baby to Kindergarten. When Brendon went to Kindergarten, I saw most of the special morning's activities via a video camera screen. Ian was 17 months old and woke up that morning in a fierce mood. I don't know if he picked up on my emotions or what, but when we got to Brendon's new classroom, he was insistent on wanting to play where he shouldn't and/or screaming his head off. In desperation, I finally took him outside so he wouldn't ruin the morning for the 19 other sets of parents who were trying to soak in their children's first day at school. I remember walking around the courtyard at Natomas Park Elementary with tears streaming down my face (partly from sadness at having my first in school, partly from anger at missing all the special rituals set up to ease the mothers' reticence). Apart from the emotion of the morning, I remember Brendon had all new clothes, his hair was gelled and perfect and we had pictures and video from the moment he woke up. 

Wednesday was Ian's first day at Kindergarten and I was able to soak in every moment of the morning. We DO have video and pictures from most of the morning, thanks to Michael who always thinks about those things. He DID have a new shirt and though the shorts weren't new, I purposely picked out a pair that weren't faded or worn. His hair was gelled and combed and we DID actually arrive early. The differences show up in other small ways. After drop off, Michael and I were able to stop for a quick jamba juice sans kids and later though we were on time to pick Ian up, we weren't standing around early waiting for a first glimpse at the Kindergarteners as they came out (like many other first time moms). I didn't cry, not even once, over him going to school. I think it affected me more from the standpoint I know this is my last and now I have no more pre-school children (I really enjoyed my pre-schoolers), but I was able to focus on Ian and engage in the morning. It's very therapeutic to focus on the moment with your full mental capacities.

The real test of first versus second child came this morning. I spent Brendon's first full week at Westlake Charter School tearing tags off of shorts and shirts before he got dressed for the day. This morning (third day of school) Ian was getting ready to head out when I heard Michael say, "Ian, have your mom get a different shirt. This one has a big hole in the shoulder." From what I hear, the third child goes to school with the hole in the shoulder. The fourth and subsequent children may or may not be wearing a shirt by the third day at school. 

First Day Quotes

Some quotes from the 1st Day of School:

Ian - "I have the perfect Kindergarten underwear..."

Brendon - "I LOVE Mrs. Lillich. She's the greatest teacher EVER!"

Ian - "You know that thing that looks like a bridge on the playground? It's got holes in it, and when you walk across it, you have to be careful, cause if you fall it might damage you..."

Brendon - "In our class we're going to do lots of new things. It's going to be the best year EVER!"

Ian - "I met a lot of my friends today that didn't know me before."

A Big Day

In just about 90 minutes we head out the door for the first day of school.

It's a very sentimental season for me.

Brendon begins 4th grade. Fourth grade was the year that my family moved from Minnesota to Montana. It was also the year that marked the beginning of major movements of the Holy Spirit in my life. It was when my personality really began to change, when I was more aware of my choices and friends. I'm proud of Brendon. He's a young man who is going to do well. We met his art teacher last night who made a big deal out of his skill and ability. She intends to pour into him this year in a huge way.

Ian begins Kindergarten. Out youngest, in a sense, officially begins the journey away from home. It's been real hard on Kiley, especially with our plans to have more children being changed by the emergency surgery a couple of years ago. He's her cuddly one. Ian will do exceedingly well. He already has influence and loves to learn.

I'll post pictures and maybe video later.

A Festival?

Ian woke up earlier than usual this morning and marched into our room and announced in his best public speaker's voice, "The family festival will begin as soon as everyone is out of bed." We weren't sure what this meant, but, come to find out, he had worked hard, with Brendon's help, the day before to sort all of their stuffed animals into categories and placed them in their rooms in imaginary cages for a zoo.

Kiley enjoyed her festival that morning, but I, unfortunately, had to go to work. I came home for lunch, so they took me immediately upstairs for my private screening of the festival. They had all kinds of performances from different "trained" animals from various parts of the world. They even performed some magic tricks as animals disappeared in front of us. Ian's knowledge of animals continues to astound me.

Tonight, we visited their school for "meet the teacher" night in preparation for school beginning in the morning.

Ian made himself right at home in Mrs. Stevenson's classroom. He's so excited about school that he can hardly contain himself. As other students and their families would come in, he would walk up to the student, grin, and say "hi" and then just stand there. They'd look at him like, "whose the weirdo?" I know he'll do well. He's always the popular one amongst his friends and with his teachers.

Brendon's new teacher is Mrs. Lillich. She has two sets of twins, one set in Kindergarten with Ian and another in 5th grade. She's a believer and has a strong goal of helping her 4th graders learn independent motivational skills this year. I think she's the perfect teacher for Brendon. I'm thrilled so far with how God placed the right teachers in the right place for our boys.

After that, I took the family home. I gave Kiley the choice, for her birthday, as to whether she wanted to put the boys to bed or attend the mandatory parent meeting at the school. She chose putting the boys to bed, so guess where I spent my evening?

Birthday

Tomorrow is Kiley's Birthday! Since Tuesday is going to be a full day, we had a little celebration tonight.

She chose In/Out as her fancy restaurant for a family dinner and then we went home to open her presents. The boys each got her a card and gave her one of the gifts we had chosen.

Ian gave her scrap booking supplies to help with doing the Sabbatical pictures.

Brendon gave her Pride and Prejudice on DVD.

I gave her gift cards to two of her favorite places to shop.

She said it was one of her best birthdays yet. Which was funny to me as I felt like I hadn't had much time to do much for her this year.

She's an amazing mom and my best friend. I'm blessed to spend my life with her.

Back in Action

Well, today the Skor family was back in force and engaged in Sunday morning at The River Church.

Kiley enjoyed what had to be one of the best bands we've put on stage to date. She loved every moment of being back on the stage after over 8 weeks. Other than forgetting her headphones and music (she called me at the office and I ran home to get them), she was her usual incredible self on stage.

I was back on stage to do communion. So it was a short, 9 minute, mini-sermon. I love to teach and communicate...not for anything is does to me, but because I know when I'm in that mode, that I'm right where I was designed to be. I may never be the world's greatest teacher, but as long as I'm where my Father wants me...that's all that matters.