Twins first Day at Preschool

Well today was the twins first day at preschool for the 11-12 school year. And it will be their last year at this school. Bittersweet. Kinda funny that Emily has the same teachers this year that she started out with since the school did a shake up and moved all the teachers around!

You will notice I said Emily. Not Taylor. They are split. Taylor stayed in the Precious Doves and Emily is now in the Shining Stars. When I read the class lists to them this morning and Taylor realized Emily was not in her class she said, "I don't want to be alone." Then her second reaction was "Is Isabella in my class?" (Isabella is her BFF). I looked and sadly, no she was moved to the Shining Stars as well. Poor Taylor. She was just upset and did not want to stay at school. I did find out that one of her other friends Avarie was still in her class. Plus many more that she has been in school with since the beginning so it's not really like she is alone. But I knew she would have a hard time. Will be interesting to see how she does. They were separated at the beginning of last year too for like 2 months but I doubt she remembers that much. The next few weeks will be hard for her, I know. She is the more low key one. But I know this will be good for her too. :)

Spring Open House @ Preschool

Last night was the spring open house at the Twins preschool. Since the girls are in the dance class that they offer there they were doing a short performance before we go to visit the classrooms. Yeah - well - all the girls EXCEPT mine did the performance. It went something like this:

Ran into the teacher Miss Stacey who introduced herself to me and then said she would take the girls to put on a little costume, get lined up and go to the stage. After they perform, the will go sit with us in the audience. Yeah well, they had different ideas. Emily immediately says "I don't want to". So I said I would sit with her and walk down with her and be with her up until they are on stage. Still "I don't want to". Taylor "I'm not gonna cry for you Momma." She gets dressed in the little tutu and hair piece (picture is on our camera. I need to download). So I sit with them and try to talk Emily into it for 30 mins. Finally I bribe her that she can have cookies if she will get the outfit on and dance. So she agrees.

I get her in the outfit. She has her cookies. Miss Stacey has them sit down in a line. Immediately Emily starts crying "I want you to sit next to me". I said no, I'll sit behind you. She calms down. Then it's time to stand up and hold hands and Emily won't hold anyone's hand but mine and is crying hysterically. Fine. I'm not going to push you. So we walk down the aisle (the girls including Taylor holding hands, me and Emily following). We all sit down in the front and wait for the girls to go on stage. They go up - except for Emily. Taylor does go! Yeah! They get ready to perform. They each are walking across the stage doing some foot pointing. When it gets to Taylor's turn, she starts crying uncontrollably "I want my Mommy". So off the stage she comes. And that was the end of the dance for them. The rest of the girls finished and danced with no crying. Ugh. Oh well. I guess performers they are not. :sigh:

The Rainbows Class

So there are 5 classrooms at the kids preschool. They are as follows:

2 year olds - Sunshines
3 year olds - Busy Bees
4 year olds - Precious Doves
4 year olds - Shining Stars
5 year olds - Rainbows (Pre-K)

The Rainbows are meant for those kids that are older but can't or aren't starting kindergarten. So during the school year, they are mainly old 4 year olds and young 5s. Well Monday starts the summer session at preschool and we were notified yesterday that Connor is going to be moving to the Rainbows. =D There are only two kids in his class moving there. I am so happy for him. I think this will be perfect to allow him more learning time and a way to grow and get accustomed to going to kindergarten. The school he is attending next fall was offering a summer school for the kindergarten class. Unfortunately I couldn't do it because of logistics and timing. With him starting in the rainbows, he will still get that pre-k type refresher course before he starts kindergarten. Yeah!! And let me tell you, I was hesitant because I didn't know how he would take it - he is estatic!! He was so happy when I told him!! So Monday will be his first day in his new class. =)

Surprise Text Message

So I was at work the other day and I get a text message. I look at the number and I'm like who the heck is that?? Then I look at the text. It's a picture:

That's Emily and one of her preschool teachers! She must have seen my cell phone number somewhere and decided to send me a picture. She also sent this one:

She said Emily was hanging out with her during her break. Too cute! Was a very NICE surprise to get during the day!!!

Christmas Musical

Tonight is the kids Christmas Musical. I'm so excited to see them dance and sing. The last couple days I've been asking the girls if they dance and sing in it and to show me. They start singing softly and moving their arms in movements. It's too cute!! Connor even has a speaking part! He's had it memorized since basically the first day. He even knows the girl's part before his.

It was too cute this morning I was talking to the girls about their musical and how much fun they are going to have singing and dancing. Then I mentioned brother having a speaking part and Emily said she wanted a speaking part too. =) So I said his line to them and Taylor and Emily repeated it to me. So cute! Not that they could memorize something this young but maybe next year!

We are definitely going to videotape it. It's supposed to be a short program and then they have a Holiday Boutique afterwards. They asked the parents to bring Holiday crafts and/or baked goods so I made a bunch of baked goods this past weekend (cookies, peanut krackle, fudge and brownies). Each classroom has a table and the proceeds from the sale go back to that classroom. Apparently they are even going to have crafts the kids made for sale to their parents. =)

Connor was so excited this morning and kept asking who was coming. He was so excited to hear that Bigi, Uncle and Aria were going to be there. He kept telling his teacher this morning that his cousins would be there. He asked if his Aunties and Mona would be there but I couldn't tell him for sure and didn't want him disappointed if they didn't show up because it sounded like he really wanted everyone there. Whoever doesn't end up making it, we'll have it on video!! =) Hopefully I can figure out a way to take bits and pieces out to share with everyone because I doubt I'll be able to upload the whole thing to the Internet. It'll be too big a file. But stay tuned. I'll definitely have pictures to share!!!

Preschool International Dinner 2009

My goodness!! This preschool just amazes me. AMAZES me with everything they do and plan for the kids and really, it doesn't cost me that much! So anyway, last night was their annual International Dinner. Everyone brought a dish from thier culture. There was TONS of food. Everything from pasta salads, baked beans, enchiladas, fried chicken, pizza etc. You name it and it was probably there! By the way, Taylor LOVES pizza. Could probably eat it every day. Can eat two pieces at one sitting. Wow! But I digress. When we walked into the chapel area (which is where the tables and chairs were set up) there was lots of different artwork the kids had been working on this month. So much fun! Connor had made a maraca and a pottery dish. There were paper flowers on the tables that another class had made. There were pictures of the twins (and their class) making a pinata. So fun! Everyone had lots to eat and then we had entertainment. They had a dance class each week at the preschool and those students that attend got up front and did a little Hula dance for us. Then a professional Hula dancer got up and started dancing. Connor was hulaing (is that a word?) with her in his chair. =) Then she allowed all the kids to get up front and dance with her. Connor RAN to the front. =D That is so unlike him! But obviously he feels very comfortable in this surrounding!  Emily and Taylor (Emily especially) kept leaving us and going to sit with Miss O and Miss Gina who are their teachers. Obviously they like them. Good sign! When Connor went up to the front Taylor kept asking to dance too. I was afraid she was too little but I let her go and she did fab! I took some pictures with the cell phone and did some video too. I uploaded those to youtube so you'll have to wait until I get home to share on the blog. I cannot access youtube at work. =( But here are some pictures! Emily even joined them when she realized we had moved down to the front (she was sitting in the back of the room with Miss O).


Connor right up there watching the Hula dancer for directions. (He is on the right of the girl wearing the Laker jersey as you look at the picture).

Starting to do the moves

Taylor joined in and is sitting on Connor's lap (she's in the purple shirt and you can barely see Connor)

We all had a fabulous time and realized how much our kids really enjoy this preschool so that is good!

First Day at Preschool

It was the kids first day at their new preschool. Connor loved it. No problem from him at all. Yeah!! Emily wouldn't leave my arms at first. Then she was fine, Then Taylor kept crying everytime I'd put her down. I ended up staying at their preschool for 1 1/2 hours. Then I left. Taylor cried. But I guess she was fine after about 5 mins. That was good to hear. She did cry when they went outside to play but Miss Olympia (their teacher) said it was because she was inside cleaning up and she didn't see her. As soon as Miss O came outside, she was fine. And I guess the only time Emily cried was when she got knocked down by some boys on the playground that were running (where they weren't supposed to be). But she was fine.

AND, they took naps with no binkies!!! Wahoo!! This means, no binkies for naps at home anymore either. So hopefully within the next month or two we will be binkie free!! So needless to say I've been crying all day and they were fine. LOL! So hopefully tomorrow will go smoother and so on, as the days go by. Let's hope the girls don't freak when I leave tomorrow.

Making lunches for everyone isn't as bad as I was imagining. I'm taking the easy route right now though and doing sandwich, fruit and chips or crackers for everyone. We'll see how that lasts. I know I have more options but for right now, easy is what I need!

I tried to do pictures today before we left. Connor wouldn't cooperate and the girls didn't want to stand next to each other. Trying to get pictures at the preschool, HA! Didn't even attempt (although there were other parents I saw taking pictures! Maybe next year). But I keep thinking shoot, if this was bad this year, I'm going to be a wreck when Connor goes to kindergarten next year!!! Ugh.

Taylor's first day of preschool!

 

Connor wanted me to take a picture of him hiding!

Emily ready to go wanting to turn the TV off!

New Preschool

So I took yesterday off of work to take Connor to his new preschool. =) He did enjoy himself although he is going to have to get over not doing what the other kids are doing. ugh. Yesterday was bring your rock to school day (and being the good mom I am I remembered so he had a rock!). But of course, another girl brought a bigger rock so he wanted that rock. Or he wanted someone else's rock. And he threw a fit. Then he didn't want to put the paint shirt on to paint. ugh. Then he didn't want to sit at the same table as everyone. But we finally got him sitting down. He painted his rock and we brought it home.

Before that, we got to go outside and play. He kept asking me if he could play on this and play on that. ;) Very cute. His friend from his current preschool that use to go there is at his new preschool! Connor and Sarah were good friends at Ms. Tima's and she was so excited that Connor was coming to her school so that was nice for him. Of course, he only wanted to play with Sarah though. I tried to tell him that there are lots of kids to play with and the other girls wanted to play with him also. I'm sure he'll branch out once he starts feeling more comfortable.

So all in all, a good day. He asked me this morning to go to his new preschool. I had to tell him they are closed getting ready for the new students that are starting in September. We even circled the date on the calendar for when they start. I can't believe it's less than three weeks away!!

And They Are All Signed Up . . .

to start preschool/daycare!!! We finally found one we liked and bonus - the girls are going to go there too! So for the fleeting year we have, they will all be at the same place. LOL! We decided on Crescent Ave Christian Preschool. We were limited in that I need to drop the kids off around 6:30am. So anyone that opens 7am or later were out. But we were able to view 6 different preschools. Three that were Christian based and three that were not. Being as Surbjit and I are both different religions it was not really my intent to send them to a Christian school. However, it opens up so much more options for us if we looked at them. And in the end, their curriculum was one of the best. Their day is not entirely focused on christian learning but it's there in the background. And we do not have a problem with this. I guess this will just mean we'll have to bring them to Surbjit's place of worship and let them start learning about his religion too.

In any case, they all start on September 8th (day after labor day). I can't believe I have a year and then Connor will be starting Kindergarten! My gosh. It seems like yesterday that we just had him. He is certainly growing up. And the girls are definitely asserting their opinions! They still aren't talking much (especially Emily but it's because she refuses too that stubborn stubborn girl!). Taylor has started repeating most words that I say to her and is coming along a lot easier than her sister. I am worried about the change in daycares. It will be an adjustment for them. I'm not too worried about Connor. I think he'll enjoy the change. I know he likes going to Pratima's but he has outlasted the usefulness there and I think he knows it. He'll be around a group of kids all his age and able to make lots of new friends and have tons of fun. So wish us luck. I have lots of paperwork to fill out and I plan on bringing the kids by the preschool in August sometime so they can check it out and visit and meet their teachers. I hope it goes smoothly!