Summer

Now that autumn is just about here and we are getting into the swing of Kindergarten, let's recap summer.

We had a lovely, short, and busy few months after preschool graduation. There were lots of half-day camps (zoo camp, nature camp, one at Roaring Mouse, one at Sweet Pea Cottage, and others). Swimming lessons a few times a week, as well as many outings (at Anya's insistence) to the beach at Magnuson Park. We did several playgrounds, walks, tide pool time at Carkeek, and various playdates. It was one of the sunniest, warmest summers I can remember in Seattle. A little too sunny and warm for my preference, but I get to enjoy most of the rest of the year here and it was a nice change of pace. 

We also had a few highlights. We did our annual camping trip with PEPS friends on Bainbridge Island. It was a good time as always. 

Monkeying around, waiting for the ferry to Bainbridge 

 All PEPS kids (and younger siblings) successfully posing for the camera. One of the moms brilliantly mooned the kids to get them to all laugh at the same time.

Giant s'more

Another highlight was our now-annual trip to Long Beach, WA with Lynn and Steve. It was relaxing and the company was good. We introduced  Anya to the joys of cheesy beach town mini-golf, taught her her ping pong, and she got to ride a horse on the beach with Chris (who tore his ACL playing soccer and was about 2 weeks post-surgery). She also got *lots* of pool time with Lynn and Steve, which she would probably consider the best part of the trip. There was also the usual beach play time too and a little kite flying.

kite flying 

At the beginning of August, Chris and Todd took Anya, Eva, and Javier camping at Camas Beach. I hear it was a good time. They made friends with some other campers and there was much running around -- to be expected with three high-energy kids. 

 camping on Camas

And here we have PEPSapalooza,. This time it was up in Everett and at a great facility. We were joined by another PEPS family and other friends. It was a fun afternoon for kids and adults alike. 

rabbit petting

dancing to the Not-Its

We also did our summertime ritual of  the Evergreen State Fair. This time around we went with Tracey, Eva, and Greta. Anya did the same two rides as last year (the harnessed trampoline - she managed to do several flips this year, and the water "zorbs"...I don't know what they're really called, but giant hamster ball that kids go in and roll around on top of the water). Much livestock viewing, wandering, etc. It was fun. 

Taking a break, watching teenagers do horse obstacle courses. We look bored, but aren't. Me, Eva, Anya in the background. 

Miscellaneous summer pics....

a Wednesday concert at U Village

Anya and Jules coming back from zoo camp. 

taking a breather on a hike at Twin Falls

Tooth #2

This morning we're all at Seattle Gymnastics Academy for a Saturday morning lesson. Anya didn't want to go because her tooth was loose and she, "might knock it out while doing jumping jacks or something."
Ten minutes into her lesson she came to me and asked me to pull the tooth. I did.
She immediately ran back on the floor yelling, "I lost my tooth, I lost my tooth!" All the other girls gathered around to check out the new hole, and the wonky sideways adult tooth coming in behind it.

Addendum: the tooth fairy ended up coming, but was confused when she couldn't find Anya's tooth under her pillow. It turns out, Anya put the tooth under the cat for safe-keeping. Of course.

Fortunately, Gossamer Moontree (that's the tooth fairy's name) was resourceful enough to write a note about the missing tooth with the glittery dollar bill attached. All is now well. The dollar is in its rightful place with the kid and the tooth is with the tooth fairy.

Fish and Tell

Today Anya produced this picture to share with her kindergarten class when she was asked to "Draw a real story that was definitely not pretend".

Center stage you can see Anya reeling in a fish, followed in the upper right by "Dad using a knife to cut open the little fish to use his guts as bait", and lastly you can see Morgana the cat (under foot)  eating said fish.

So while Amy is telling the world of Anya's more notable achievements of the first weeks of school, daddy is (of course) proud of her newly found love of fishing. 

Anya's dad is an obsessive person, and it warms the stream-chilled depths of my heart to hear Anya give voice to my thoughts as we pass any river stream or pond: "You think there are fish in there?"  She's really taken to it.  When mom says, "What shall we do this weekend?" Anya will invariably say, "Go fishing. Or how about a hike TO a fishing river," in hopes of making mom think there's something in the deal for her.  But we all know it's about the fishing. 

The last three times Grandpa and/or I have taken her fishing, she has been the one to catch the fish. It's starting to make her a bit cocky. She gives advice and helps me pick out lures and bait. 

She's pretty good at casting. 

Given the choice between reeling in a fish and netting a fish, she'll always choose to net one...which is fine by me. 

She just informed me that the above was a "sad picture".  This is because the fish who died, was young, and small and died when it swallowed the hook.  No one wanted it to die.  This is always traumatic for Anya.  That being said, once a fish is above about 12 inches, all bets are off and she's asking to be the one to club it. I guess she supposes that, as a fish ages, it becomes necessarily and irrevocably corrupt and therefore has it coming. 

Here are some other photos of the kid fishing.

Grandpa holds ups a little perch Anya caught at Twin Ponds.  She caught three that day.

Anya holds up a worm she would eventually use to pull in a little Rainbow Trout at Fish Lake near Leavenworth.  We fished with her cousin Kalea and "uncle" Matt and her great uncle Rick.  We caught and released that little guy, but not before the girls dropped it on the deck and knocked it senseless.  We assured her it lived...but I have my doubts. 

Here is Anya's word-for-word retelling of the story:
Once I got a fish, deep in the water.  Even though the fish were lurking right below us we tried our best, even though we only caught one for each kid in the boat.  Well, the dock boat.  When the fish struggled on the pole, we definitely knew when they're on. The fish of course, got a dream of sadness when the fish bumped his head. The little bass that Kalea caught, in our little dock boat, on our fishing trip didn't bonk his head but it struggled.  It was the bass of course.  Then I got a stamp from Seattle Gymnastics Academy (AKA end of story)

Kindergarten part 2

So here we are starting the first full week of school, and with full days. Last week, the Kindergartners just went for 3 hours and had a 1:1 evaluation slot with their teacher afterwards. We dropped them off in the cafeteria and picked them up outside the Kindergarten classrooms.

This morning, I drove Anya to school. As soon as we reached the building, she saw her new friend, Eva* and they hugged and ran towards the playground together. It was interesting watching her. She put her backpack on the ground in her classroom line and played with Eva (plus other kids). The second the bell rang, she lined up with her class. Gave me a quick hug, then waved bye and walked with the other kids to her classroom.  I almost got teary-eyed. She didn't need my help at all and seemed like such a big kid, while I stood a little ways back chatting with other parents. She has it down already. I'll give it one more week of driving her to school daily, and will then let her ride the bus. She's been itching to do it. After witnessing her this morning, I'm not worried about her knowing what she should be doing with the morning school routine. It's bittersweet for me. I love that I get to witness this important time for her and see that she's thriving, but at the same time, she's pulling away from me further, becoming more self-sufficient, and is no longer a baby, toddler, preschooler. Aaaand, now I'm teary-eyed from writing this, thinking about my now big girl.

*So this is neat. Last weekend, Chris, Anya, and I went up to Twin Falls for a hike. It's near North Bend and about a 45 minute drive from here. On our way back down to the trailhead, we saw a little girl with her dad in front of us that reminded us of Anya. She was blonde and had the same haircut. The girls immediately started talking and noticed that they both had feathers clamped in their hair in the same place (Anya has a yellow one and this girl had a pink one). They were excited to find out they were both 5 and starting Kindergarten in a few days. As it turns out, they both go to Wedgwood. Unfortunately, they aren't in the same class, but it hasn't really mattered. They always find each other during recess and have become quick friends. How random that they met on a trail kind of far from home.

First Day of Kindergarten

It's finally here! Anya started her first day of Kindergarten at Wedgwood Elementary yesterday.

excited for school 

obligatory pose in front of the school sign

It was a big day and Anya (after a little prodding to get out of bed) was excited to go. She was all smiles on the way. And when we parked and walked to the building, she ran ahead, ready to get started. The Kindergartners and families met in the cafeteria and then had to line up by class to go with their teachers. This is sort of where things fell apart. It was hot, we had to wait (what felt like) a long time, and there was lots of nervous and emotional energy throughout the room. So there was a lot of build-up. When it came time to leave with her class, Anya suddenly latched on to us, crying. I had to pry her off of me and Chris carried her until the head teacher kindly swooped in and walked her to class. It was a bit heartbreaking seeing her so scared and crying. But, of course, I hear she got over it quickly and had a wonderful first day. 

This Kindergarten thing a big transition for the whole family and the last few weeks were full of lots of emotion and uncertainties for all of us (well, mainly Anya and me). For starters, we weren't even sure if we would get to start school yesterday. The school board and teachers didn't come to an agreement until about 12 hours before school started. A strike was a possibility (although I'm not sure how strong a possibility), so we were all in limbo.

When we received Anya's class assignment Wednesday, I was initially disappointed. The teacher is out on medical leave and Anya is starting her school adventures with a long-term substitute (Ms. Moffitt). We don't know when or if her "normal" teacher is coming back. The substitute is young and new to teaching, so I have to admit, it made me a little nervous. However, after meeting her at the open house, she seems competent and kind with lots of energy. Anya immediately liked her and told me (and the neighbors) that she seems like "the nicest teacher ever".

Another source of pre-kindergarten nervousness (mainly for me, since I'm rather an introvert) is that Anya doesn't get to start with anyone she knows in her class. We had been going to informal playdates for nearly a year, getting to know lots of families. And not a single one of them is in her class. So, all new kids for Anya to get to know and now a class full of parents that I should get to know.

But now it's after day 2 and I'm happy to report that everything seems great. Anya already made a few friends. We walked home with a mom and daughter from her class yesterday, which was fun. And this morning at drop-off, she knew lots of kids. Drop-off went much more smoothly than yesterday. She was a little nervous still, but I think only I could tell. At pick-up, she was chipper and said she had a good day. And I met several nice parents and have been able to socialize with the ones I've already gotten to know. So we are all off to a good start.