Back to Old Town

A couple of months back, it began dawning on me that the charter school was not the right place for Tinker and The Blitz. It was a tough decision for "bloom-where-you-are-planted" me but in the end, we decided to move them back to their home campus of Old Town Elementary.

We have only had good experiences at Old Town. Initially I started Tinker in a charter school for Kinder so she and The Captain would not be in the same school in the same grade. I wanted him to have a chance to blossom on his own. That worked but since this year, The Captain followed me to Forest Creek, the conflict would not be there. 

We moved them over the break and it has been wonderful. Tinker is getting only "good marks" for behavior and The Blitz has had a total turnaround in writing confidence. They needed a chance to succeed; they are too young to give up on school.

Don't misunderstand; I think their charter school is a great school and we loved our teachers there. The teaching methodology was not a good fit, however, for these two early learners. Additionally, I think the numbers of students who were ahead of grade level also impacts the experience for kids like our little guys.

So, for now, la vie en rose!

School Days

Well, it's official:  I'm a "school mom."  Oh, wait, it's not all about me?

Both The Captain and Tinkerbell were so excited to start school, they could hardly sleep.  They were eventually so tired that Tinker slept through the light coming on and I had to wake her up.  Have I mentioned that I hate waking her up because she jumps a foot high and then cries?  So I touched her gently on the shoulder and she startled and then smiled -- without opening her eyes -- and said, "Today is my first day of school!"

Here are the little cuties:

His shirt has a "5" on the sleeve -- so exciting!

It didn't translate to photos but the heart is "bling" - shiny studs

Tinker's backpack is huge on her.  Even empty, it totally cramps her style.  Funny story:  We made a big deal out of buying first day of school outfits for all 5 kids and the Littles got a (rare) choice of outfits.  On the second day of school, Tink had a huge fit because she thought she got to wear the purple outfit every day!  She will be really happy to see that outfit again next week!

The Blitz gets a ride in the stroller and we walk to school although it is almost a mile because I want The Captain to really "get" it that I am close by.  We practiced a couple weeks beforehand and now they have built up some stamina.  They are so excited to go to school, they run almost the whole way!  (And yes, I cried all the way home that first day).  Daddy tried to get some pictures which were a little blurry for some reason, but here they are.

We're frowning because Daddy was trying so hard to get a picture he kept yelling at us!

The Bigs and The Blitz won't start school until September 4th since I have a philosophical objection to starting school before Labor Day.  The Blitz does not want to go to home-school Preschool; "I don't like homeschool.  I like the gray school."   He has made that very clear.   Yet I think he is really enjoying our 3 "Tink-free" hours each day and we have both relished just chilling together every morning.  Next week I"ll get out the Preschool In a Box and we'll enjoy that too.  For now, the leisure is a big gift.

I finally did get a picture of all 5 kids; they're so beautiful -- inside and out!