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!

Closing Ceremony

Camden just finished his first year of preschool and we couldn't be more proud of the growth that we've seen in our little man this year.  He was so tentative and so nervous before school started in the fall.  His birthday is in August and he kept telling us that he didn't want to have his birthday because he didn't want to turn four and have to go to preschool!  Poor little guy!  It was a big transition for him!  After being by Mama's side for four straight years of his life he was suddenly expected to experience something new and scary all on his own!  He only attended school two mornings a week, but it was a perfect amount of time for him.  He still had days home with his buddy, Micah, but he was also having an experience all of his own.  We had three days early on in September where he would cling to me and cry and say that he wasn't going to stay (he was more being stubborn than anything else...I had to tear myself away from him and reassure him that he would be just fine).  But when I climbed into the car I was the one who wasn't sure if I was going to make it.  Luckily, his teachers were amazing and would call me as soon as he settled down so that I would know he was OK and could move on with my day.  Those three days were so challenging, but even though it felt like it was going to go on like that forever, within a week or so he stopped crying and said goodbye without any tears.  By the end of the year he was confident, excited about learning, had new friends (mostly adorable little girls...hmmm...), loved his teachers and can't wait to go back next year and be a leader and helper as one of the oldest kids in the multi-age classroom.  (Although he makes the cutoff date for Kindergarten, he would be very young for his class and we have decided to give him one more year of preschool before sending him on his way.  I have lots of thoughts and reasoning behind this, but that is another post altogether.  Coming your way soon!)

Look at the difference between these two photos.  He did a lot of growing up this year!

Last week we attended Camden's closing ceremony where he and his friends performed a couple songs.  Camden's special role was as a Stop Sign in the song "Kookaburra" - it was pretty precious!  We were so lucky that my Mom and Grandma Sylvia, as well as Scott's parents and cousin, Nate, were all able to join us for the special evening!  Camden was SO proud and did an amazing job (he was seriously leading the entire class in the song)!

 The stage...

 Stop Signs!  Stop, Kookaburra, Stop Kookabura!

 So proud of himself!

 Camden's friend who is moving on to kindergarten receiving her necklace and star...

 Here is Camden's star.  It will be cut down at next year's closing ceremony when he moves on to kindergarten...

 Camden and his best friend...

 Love this boy...

 After the ceremony, we took the boys for an ice cream at Dairy Queen...they were pretty excited!

We are so thankful that we found such an incredible place for our children to have their first educational experience.  Red Oak is a safe, caring, nurturing, challenging and all around amazing environment and we are so excited for Micah and Sadie have these wonderful experiences as well in the future!  Thanks for a great year Red Oak Montessori!!!

Montessori Preschool

My little Camden is all grown up!  He is attending preschool this year for the very first time.  After four years of being home with Mama full-time, he now goes to a little Montessori school two mornings a week from 8:00-11:30!  We are so happy that we found such a wonderful, safe, challenging environment for him (we just wish it wasn't 20 minutes away!  Ugh!) and he really seems to be loving it so far.  Unfortunately, after happily being dropped off for the first two weeks, this past week brought major tears and yelling - He's not really sad, he's just being stubborn and acting angry and making my life, and his teachers lives, much more difficult for about 7 minutes.  Then he's completely fine.  His teachers call me or text me within 10 minutes to assure me that he's fine, and I continually feel thankful that we have found a school with such a personal touch.  When I pick him up he's happy and talking a mile-a-minute about his day.  But he told me tonight he's still going to scream when I drop him off...it's like it's a decision he's made and he's sticking to it.  I'm telling you, this is one stubborn kid.  Overall, though, we are loving our experience and are so excited to see our little man learning new things every day.

Here are the boys with their special breakfast before the first day of Preschool in September...

 We needed to take a few pictures before loading into the car!

 Micah totally cracks me up in this picture...

 He was a little nervous!

 What studs!  :)

 Showing off his new backpack!  Such a big boy!

 Standing in front of his cubby on Day #1...

 I may have shed a tear...

 Here are some pictures of his classroom.  Montessori is such a unique and amazing opportunity and he is really loving it!

 Behind that little fence is the snack/lunch area.  Camden is allowed to go to his cubby and get his snack at any point throughout the day if he's hungry and sit in that little area with friends to eat.  

 Micah wishes he could go here too!

 We joined the class for International Day of Peace even though it wasn't on our regularly scheduled day.  The kids made pinwheels and we all sang a song that they sing together in circle time.  It was pretty cute. 

 "Light a Candle for Peace"

A couple of the other Mom's and kids...Camden is buddies with the little girl in the purple shirt.  Isn't she adorable?!?!

Hopefully we won't get too burned out on the drive because this seems to be a great fit for Camden.  Here's to hoping I drop him off to no tears this week.  yeah right...