He's Growing Up!

I'm not sure if it's going to get easier or harder with the middle and youngest children, but I'm feeling so sentimental about Camden finishing up his preschool experience.  When we started last year, after just turning four years old, he had a really difficult transition.  Having been home with me full-time for four full years, even attending preschool just two mornings a week was a huge adjustment for both of us.  He was timid, shy, nervous and for a couple weeks he screamed and cried when I said goodbye and left.  It was truly heartbreaking. 

Look how nervous he was on the first day!  Fall 2012

Thankfully, my friend who was one of his teachers would text or call me when he settled down - usually within a few minutes - but it was still devastating to walk away when he was so upset.  I would sit in the car in a nearby parking lot and cry.  After a couple of weeks, he settled into a routine and he's been happy at his little school ever since.

Camden has grown so incredibly much these last two years.  He has grown from that crying, nervous, timid child to a confident, funny, smart little boy.  We are so proud of how far he's come and we know that his preschool was the perfect fit for him in so many ways. 

We're feeling especially teary as Micah will be attending a different preschool next year.  Though we loved the Montessori school sooo much, we are choosing to send Micah to a school that is much closer to home.  We were driving 22-25 minutes each way to bring Camden to preschool and it wasn't fair to be dragging the younger children back and forth in the car so much.  With Camden starting Kindergarten at the public school in town I didn't want to be pulled in so many directions.  We'll be saving a lot of time, money and gas, so my practical husband is thrilled, but I'm a bit weepy over the whole thing. 

People have been asking how Camden is handling this transition of finishing up his preschool and preparing for Kindergarten and I have to say that he is very aware of it and has been really articulate with his feelings.  He expresses how nervous he is for Kindergarten, but also talks about the fun playground and how he'll get to make lots of new friends.  He's nervous about it being five full days a week, but is excited to be closer to home and be able to walk or ride his bike to school in the mornings.  Last night he prayed, "God, I pray that you will help me not to be afraid and that you will give me courage during my play tomorrow night." And at dinner tonight he turned to me and said, "Thank you so much, Mama, for sending me to my preschool.  I love it there and I'm really going to miss it."

We attended the "closing ceremonies" tonight where the whole crew (combined classroom with ages 3-6) put on a little play and sang a few songs.  It was hilarious and sweet and adorable.  Camden's little voice rang out above the rest as he unofficially helped lead the songs.  I was one of those annoyingly proud Mama's with a video camera in one hand and a real camera in the other.  I couldn't help it.  My baby boy is growing up and his sweet glances our way and toothless smile were tugging at my heartstrings.  Apparently, I wasn't the only one feeling nostalgic and teary.  After the ceremony was over and we had snapped some photos and said goodbye to his teachers, we started to head towards the door.  Scott found Camden in the unlit coat area standing in front of his cubby wiping tears away.  He was trying so hard not to cry, but a few tears trickled down his cheeks.  He told Scott he was feeling sad and said, "I'm really going to miss school."  Such a little sweetheart.  Scott and I both explained to him that it's OK to feel sad.  And that it's OK to cry.  Leaving a place you love is never an easy thing to do.  Scott asked if he'd like to bring his name tag home that was taped into his cubby and he thought that would help him feel better - as long as I asked Ms. Tammie's permission first!  :)  We ended the night with smiles and he proudly read a card I had written to him out loud.  We found a special spot in his room to hang his beautiful star that he had decorated when he first started preschool last year and was cut down and given to him tonight, his special necklace that Ms. Tammie made for him and the card he received from Scott and me.

Scott and I were talking about all of these feelings and emotions after we got the kids to bed tonight and Scott said, "Camden is going to be an amazing husband and daddy someday."  I couldn't agree more.  He's a wonderful little boy and I'm so glad he's mine.

Last Day of Preschool...

Kids paint these stars during their first week of school and then don't get cut down until the child is leaving for kindergarten...

 Little pigs...

 Getting his necklace from Ms. Tammie...

 Camden was blessed with three wonderful teachers.  Here he is with Ms. Tammie...

 ...and Ms. Kasia...

 ...and Ms. Julie...

 One of his best buddies...

 Proud parents...

 The whole fam...

 My baby is growing up!

 Another buddy...

 A little present at home...

 He just opened it up and read the whole thing out loud...

 

 Here's a short video of him showing off his things and reading his card...

Now time to start getting him excited about Kindergarten!  On to the next adventure!

Summer is Here!

Another school year has come and gone!  We celebrated graduation last Saturday and faculty meetings are over.  It's hard to believe, but we just finished our seventh year at PA!  Scott had to say goodbye to five of his seven advisees at graduation.  Some of these boys have been mentored by Scott for all four years of their high school career, so it was bittersweet to see them move on to college.

Here is Scott with his graduating boys at an end-of-year cookout...

Our boys had fun exploring the beautiful backyard!

 Maggie, one of my former students and soccer players who is now in college, had fun holding Sadie.  Her brother Patrick was one of Scott's four-year advisees and she and her family joined the cookout...

We became very close to Patrick and Maggie's family over the years.  Sad to see him go... (and he's standing on a little hill...he's not that much taller than Scott!)

It didn't take us long to pull out our tiny kiddie pool out and get started on some summer fun!

 Silly Daddy and Sadie...

 These two love each other (most of the time!)...

 Smiley girl...

 I can never get a good picture with her!

 We had our first outing of the summer to Elkins beach!  We'll be spending lots of time there this summer!  Can't wait!  (Although I'm a little unsure about how I'm going to do it alone with three kids...could be interesting!)

 Sadie's first trip to the beach!

 We dipped her toes in!

Of course we just had to get ice cream on the way home!

 We are looking forward to many more sunny days and summer adventures!  Next up: visiting Brian and Sarah in Portland for a day trip!  Can't wait to see that cute little niece of ours!

Another Year Over

Another school year has come and gone!  Crazy.  It's hard to believe that we just finished our 6th year at Proctor!  How did that happen?!?!  When we first started we were newlyweds and life was SO different.  I was teaching US History and Sociology, coaching soccer and basketball, advising and dorm parenting...now I'm washing cloth diapers, reading Berenstain Bear books and feeling lucky if I get a shower in during the day!  Life has changed, but it is all so much for the better.  We love our boys and love our home and pretty much just love life in general.

Graduation was on Saturday in the pouring rain and 50˚ weather so needless to say I don't have any pictures from the day!  It is always a little bittersweet to have another year come to a close, watching the kids who were just Freshmen head off for college...It all makes me feel quite old! 

We had a great time hosting Scott's advisory (a group of seven boys that Scott mentors and advises throughout their time at Proctor) over for dinner during the week of final exams!  They are a great group and of course our little boys had so much fun with them!

 Of course, there had to be a game of "Pole-ish Frisbee" in the backyard. 

 Camden and Micah had fun with our hoop out front. 

Love this one...

 With only one senior in the group, most of these guys will be back with Scott next year. 

 Now that the school year is over, we are looking forward to summer!  Scott will still be working (he's building stone walls with two other faculty friends - he's gonna be buff! - and still doing some work at Proctor through the communications and Development departments) but he'll have every afternoon off and a lot less work in the evenings!  I'll just continue hanging out with these two goofs.