Endings - Last Day of Preschool

We can't start our new chapter until we finish our last chapter in Drew's education.  Last Wednesday we had to say goodbye to our teachers and friends with the last day of Preschool.

Drew was excited to be heading to Happy Days Preschool for the last time where he learned, grew and made some great friends.  Drew didn't have a lot to say about what he did that final day other than they had a pinata (its not unusual to hear "I don't know" when you ask what he did that day).

After school Dave and I picked him up together so we could say our goodbyes as well and get a few candids with Drew and his friends.

Drew and his best bud Troy.  These two have been together every day since Drew was just shy of 4 months and he started going to day care at Ms. Stephanie's (Troy is her son).

 Lucas, Grayden, and Drew.  These three were always together in the mornings and afternoons... they were Bears together as well (the name of Drew's preschool class).

And this next shot is special for Ms. Stephanie....

 These are all her former day care kids all grown up and in Preschool!
L-R: Owen, Celeste, Drew (aka Baby Drew back in the day), Troy, Drew (aka Big Drew back in the day).
Of the five, only Drew and Troy are going on to Kindergarten and TK.

And saying goodbye to one of his two teachers - Ms. Kirsten.

Drew was excited to come home and gear up for his new adventure starting on Tuesday when TK starts (TK - is short for Transitional Kindergarten).  However that night after his bath, he got teary saying he was sad he wasn't going to see all of his teachers again.  We told him we were going to try and stop by after school one day or maybe do a PNO/Parents Night Out.  That made him feel better.

But not a day has gone by since last Wednesday that he hasn't asked about a teacher or one of his friends.  I think after a little more than two years, he's going to miss Happy Days!  We were truly blessed to have everyone in our lives these past couple of years.

Week of Activity

What is a parent to do when their child is gone from 7:30am - 8:30 at night?  Celebrate and do whatever the heck they want!

This is VBS week at the church where Drew goes to Preschool. It was the first time he was age eligible and know what - he's loving it!  When I go pick him up, he's busy singing the songs he learned that day (he's also falling asleep to the CD for VBS) and speaking of sleep he's conking out without battle!  That makes this mama love it to!

He is really getting into the themes for VBS too - Tuesday was sports day so Daddy put him in a Dodger jersey.  Come to think of it, I think it was Drew's idea.  But yesterday it was crazy hat day.   This is the text I got from Dave as they were headed out the door (Drew has been sleeping in because VBS is that exhausting).

Safe to say it was a crazy hat?!

Today it was Hawaiian day, but it's cooler so he's just wearing a shirt with some palm trees and jeans.  We packed him a couple of leis to make it more festive.

The other cool thing about VBS is they serve him dinner.  I spoke to one of his teachers and they said he's been doing pretty darn well with the food issue - being the pick eater that he is.  They said he's tried something virtually every day - without gagging/puking.  Could this be progress?

Would it be bad of me to look for other VBS programs around town?  The sign went up for another church up the street from his announcing one for next month.... hmmmmm....

Beginnings and Endings

Wow, what a difference two years makes!  Almost exactly two years ago... well 1 year, 11 months and about 3 weeks ago Drew started preschool.  He began mid summer-camp, but it was a big step. He left the home day care and entered preschool - about a month before the regular school year began.

Look how little he was!

We didn't even have his lunch box yet!

I of course didn't get his first day as an official Bunny (the beginning class).

Then here is a picture from his first official day as a Bear (the pre-K class).

And now look at him!  These are from this morning.  The official last day of Preschool.

He was so excited for his school party.  He will return on Monday for Summer Camp, so he won't be long without his school friends.  That will go through the end of August.  We begin Transitional Kindergarten at the end of August. 

I can't believe how big he looks after only two years!

Pomp and Circumstance

Warning, there are a ton of cute pictures coming up....

It's the end of one chapter right into the start of another - graduating from preschool!  Friday night we celebrated Drew's graduation with our family.  They came over for a rushed dinner and then off to the ceremony, which was hands down amazing!

Drew goes to a church preschool (not our church) and we were allowed into the salutary at 6:30 but the kids couldn't go to their classroom until quarter til.  So it was the perfect opportunity to snap some shots with his friends.

L-R: Drew and Troy

 Drew and Troy have been together since Drew was 4 months, and Troy was days shy of his first birthday.  Troy is definitely Drew's first friend.  We're going to miss seeing him every day like we have for the past 4 1/2 years! (Troy will be going to a different Kindergarten)

L-R: Troy, Zionna, Drew

 L-R: Naomi, Drew, Troy, Zionna

It's hard to keep serious faces for too long, so they make silly faces.
L-R: Naomi, Drew, Troy, Zionna

Can't you see the same picture in 12-13 years from now?!

Once the ceremony started, the Pastor of the church said a few words and then they played a slide show of the past year (or more for those kids who have been at this school for 2+ years like we have). 

I admit, this is where I lost it.  I swear it was the music!!  Here are the pictures of Drew from the slide show.  I will get the video off Dave's camcorder ASAP, so you  can see what I mean about the music.

From the slideshow:  Drew and his Best buds
L-R: Jayce, Drew, Troy

From the slideshow, his other best bud
L-R: Jayce and Drew

Final picture of Drew from the slideshow, where all the kids thanked their parents.  Too sweet.  Yes I admitted I was a sappy mess.  My Dad leaned over at one point and said, "wow you're really gonna miss this place".  It was the music!  I swear! :)
 
Then the kids came in marching to Pomp and Circumstance - all my pictures of the entry are blurry... darn.

We started with the pledge of allegiance followed by the kids singing "God Bless America"

Drew is in the back center.  Naomi happens to be in the bottom left, Troy to the bottom right.  You will see them frequently in the following pictures.

The Graduating Class of 2012

The kids did several songs for the parents, some of which were hilarious!  

He was so proud of himself there.... (back center)

The kids then each received their "diploma" (it was really just a rolled up paper).  Again, I got blurry pictures of them handing them off.  But he put his diploma to good use....

That would be Drew trying to "spy" us in the audience.

Our little graduate

The only non-blurry picture I have of Drew marching out as a preschool graduate.  That's the school Director Mrs. Kim helping him down.  Notice he's capless?  All the kids threw their caps in the air when the teachers told him they graduated!

We then filed out after some much deserved juice and cookies we found everyone in our group and took pictures

The Family shot

L-R: Uncle Matt, Drew, Adrina, Auntie Rana

L-R: Grammy and Drew (GrampC was MIA)

Oh GrampC was looking for props...
L-R: Grammy, Drew and GrampC

Great-Grandma Geri (GG) and Drew

And of course Ms. Stephie, his former day care provider who is also Troy's mom.  She has been an important part of his (and our) life since he was just shy of 4 months old.  WOW time flies.

So what is next?  Well TK as I mentioned last week.  But what does Drew want to be when he grows up?  According to the program...

Who knew!?!  Uncle Matt said if he had a "do over" he'd be a firefighter too - for those who don't know he's a police officer.  We aren't quite sure where the Firefighter ambition came from, but we suspect from the neighbor boy who Drew loves to play with.

Graduation is bittersweet.  It's a milestone in his life, and sad because it means our baby is growing up!  I cannot fathom doing this again when he's 18... so as one of the songs during the slideshow says... "Let them be Little". 

Good Friday Easter Festivities

Sorry for the late updating and posting of all of our Easter festivities - which began on Friday. I had every intention of posting a blog over the weekend, but this mama came down with some sort of bug.  So instead I'm getting a late start this afternoon...

So Friday was Drew's Easter celebration at school.  I've mentioned it previously, but in case you forgot he goes to a Christian Preschool - which we LOVE.  So they really focus on the reason for Easter. I came in for them to talk about the symbolism of the holiday - the rock, the cloth, the cross, the empty tomb etc. 

Then we got to have a bite to eat - which Drew had to leave the table shortly afterward because they were serving hard boiled eggs along with fruit, donuts etc.  He has a major aversion to eggs and vomits at the sight of them.  So he spent "brunch" in the school's library.  And nearly threw up as I was still chewing on my way over.  He thought I was eating an egg, but I was finishing his donut.

He was relieved when it was time for the egg hunt.  Here he shows off his Easter basket he made - which is upside down if you can't tell..

Then the kids went upstairs to where their eggs were hidden.  One of the teachers shows off the jellybeans the class planted earlier in the week... and how they grew into lollipops!

After the kids grabbed one lollipop they were off!  It was nearly impossible to get pictures in the chaos.  They were running all over the place!

The above picture - Drew's in the background.

I managed to snap a picture just after he picked up an egg.

Daddy made a surprise appearance just after the kids finished their hunt and were checking out all their loot.  

School closed early for Good Friday so I brought Drew to work with me for the remainder of the day (which was short lived because that's when I started feeling off).  But while he was there he had some "work" of his own.  My co-worker brought a bag for him to decorate and had some Easter Eggs hidden around the office for him to find.

Ignore my messy desk...

He loved looking at the additional loot he scored!

Self Portrait

On Friday night we had a dinner fundraiser at Drew's school followed by an Open House.

Dinner was yummy and we won a balloon prize of 2 tickets to the Jungle -a place for kids to run around and climb on everything -aka get all sorts of germs.

Then for the Open House I volunteered to help clean up from dinner so I couldn't really see much of what the kids had to show off. When I did come in it lead to drama so I went back to finish cleaning up... But just before leaving for the night I spotted this masterpiece from Drew:




Its his self portrait. I asked him what all the dots were - he said his freckles. All the hair - he said his crazy hair and beard. The frown? - he was sad about something.

The information on his portrait says:
My favorite food: sausage and hash browns
I like to play with: Jayce
My favorite part of school is: playing boxing

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

My Little Valentine

Anyone who knows me well, knows I don't celebrate Valentine's Day.  I flat out boycott the holiday, but I don't let Drew know that since someday I'm sure he'll meet and fall in love with a woman who is my polar opposite... a far as this holiday is concerned anyway.

So I bucked it up and went to Drew's Valentine's Day party at preschool.  Getting 30 kids together to accept 30 different forms of sugary packages... let's just say I was happy to be back in the quiet of my office when all was said and done.

Drew had a great time though!

I arrived fashionably late - and got there when the kids were enjoying their snacks.  Drew didn't see me sneak in at first.


After snacks, the teachers had the kids go to the "library" and find books to read while they cleaned up from the snacks.  Drew was the only one actually reading.  I read the story to his friend Naomi - the girl over his shoulder.

Then it was time to gather their valentine mailboxes!

This is where things were especially chaotic!  Helping 30 kids pass their treats out one at a time and make sure no one was skipped... craziness.  I didn't get any pictures of that since I was helping 1-2 kids at a time.

After receiving Valentines - the Director came in and they all did a little dancing and song.

I have to say it was really cute, and Drew did great when it came time for me to leave.  Usually he's ticked because other kids leave (the Part Timers) while he has to stay.  Despite my loathing for this holiday, I had a decent time and it was kind of cute.

A Story About What Not To Do

I go to pick Drew up from school earlier this week and I see some new art projects on the wall.... and before I get to the drawing Drew did, let me give you the back story (that I didn't have at the time of seeing his drawing).

Turns out they recently read this book:

He was talking about it at home, but I didn't put two and two together until the day and saw the project and book together.

Here is the Amazon Review:

Officer Buckle is a roly-poly bloke, dedicated to teaching schoolchildren important safety tips, such as never put anything in your ear and never stand on a swivel chair. The problem is, Officer Buckle's school assemblies are dull, dull, dull, and the children of Napville just sleep, sleep, sleep. That is, until Gloria the police dog is invited along! Stealthily pantomiming each safety tip behind Officer Buckle's back, Gloria wins the children's hearts. Meanwhile Officer Buckle assumes the cheers and laughter are all for him. As the master comedian Jerry Lewis once explained, every slapstick artist needs a straight man! Children will be highly entertained by the laugh-out-loud, adorable illustrations in this 1996 Caldecott Medal winner, while learning the value of teamwork and a pawful of nifty safety tips. (Ages 4 to 8) --Gail Hudson

Well here was the "safety tip" Drew drew for his project....

 

That's right - Drew's safety tip, never pick  your nose... and the drawing in yellow... is someone picking their nose with a "don't circle".  

Now if only Drew would follow his own "safety tip" all would be well.