School, This, That

Her first day went great! I'm feeling a little "eh" about this class because the teacher has communicated so little to us parents. Last year's teacher gave us a schedule of daily activities and every month we got a sheet telling us the lesson themes and special activities. This teacher seems a little less "planned" which makes me feel like it's a daycare instead of a preschool. So Wednesday I think I'll ask her some questions about what they'll be doing this year. Last year I would've been fine with no structure or routine but this year, McKenna is 3 and learning to spell words and write them out so I'd like to know that we're paying for her to actually learn something, ya know?

She seemed to enjoy her first day. The teachers said she did great, played well, barely touched her lunch (that's not at all unusual for McKenna!) She made another little girl friend named Bella. They shared dollies. She brought home 3 art projects, all kitty-themed. I'm sure I'll be updating McKenna's art project folder for anyone who likes to look at preschool art. : )

Here is a picture of her before we left:

I actually had a really cute pair of boots that were supposed to go with this outfit but in the weeks that passed since we bought them, McKenna finally broke out of a size 4 shoe and into a size 5. Figures! She wore a size 4 forever it seemed and of course the first day of school is when we noticed "Hey, these don't fit anymore!" So she wore these instead which we now realize don't fit her either. Time to go shoe shopping! But anyway, you'll have to imagine how cute this outfit was with little tan boots with embroidered flowers on them. And a little cream colored knit beret which I actually bought for pictures but had no intention of sending her to school in. LOL! Is that wrong? That I bought a hat because I knew it would make for cute pictures?

Here is one of her in front of the classroom:

Notice that the photo is blurry and McKenna is looking away? That's because Kyla, the fastest crawler in the west, was making a break for the exit gate. Little stinker!

So how did Kyla do without her big sister around you ask? Well on the walk home she kept looking at the back of the stroller where McKenna usually sits and saying "Sissy? Sissy?" then looking at me with an alarmed look on her face. I think she thought Kenna fell off the back of the stroller and we lost her somewhere! LOL! But she did fine. She napped for 3 of the 4 hours that McKenna was gone and woke up to have lunch so the schedule worked out perfectly for us. Here is a pic of her being happy that she gets to watch one of HER shows for a change! Gooooo Wonder Pets! Yaaaay!


And just for fun, here she is playing "Where's Kyla?" She's funny when she plays this game because she always has to leave one eye uncovered because she likes to see your reaction:


And here she is "flirting":


Here's a layout I did to commemorate McKenna's first day:

Credits can be found here.

So that was a successful start I think. Today was busy because we had to run to Party City to get supplies for Kyla's birthday party. Of all the themes, I think she recognizes Dora the most. So it's a Dora the Explorer party which is good because we'll have just as many little boys as girls there. At least with Dora you can find some more gender-neutral goodie bags and such.

After Party City we went to Hills Capezio. That's a dance shop where I used to buy my dance supplies and now we were there to buy McKenna her first real dancewear. *sniff* Erick reminded me of a time that we were there to buy for me and we said "One day we'll be here buying dance clothes for our little girl." And today we were. We bought her the prettiest pink lace skirted camisole leotard, nude ballet slippers and of course - a pink dancer's duffle bag. I think she already has white tights but if not, those are easy enough to find. The only problem we're having is tap shoes! So far we haven't found them in anything smaller than an infant's size 7. McKenna is a size 5. We could probably get away with a 6 but any bigger and she'll be slipping and falling during class. I looked online and have found some in a size 6 but I can't tell if it's a toddler 6 or a child 6. So I have a call in to the instructor of the class to see if she has a recommendation. I'll be sad for McKenna if she doesn't get tap shoes though because she thought those were just the coolest when she tried them on at the shop. And Kyla thought it was hilarious that sissy made a tapping sound every time she stepped down!

So this week is going to be pretty busy for us! Tomorrow McKenna has school and Erick (even though it's his day off) has a staff meeting and then I have to work for 3 hours in the evening. Thursday is my MIL's bday and then Erick works. Friday is our only day to run any errands we need to get done. Saturday McKenna has dance class and then Erick works. Sunday is Kyla's birthday party and then Monday - HAWAII!!! It's going to be so hectic but at least at the end of all that chaos I can relax on a beach with a mai tai and my husband. Actually, I've never had a mai tai. Are they good? Do I want that? I'm not much of a hard liquor girl, even with fruit and slushie stuff mixed in. But I don't think you can really drink a merlot on the beach. It's just not the same. The point is - I will be forced to relax! Which is exactly what I need. Ever since DST started, there really is no down time unless I make it a point to ignore all emails and PMs long enough to scrap. So this will be good because I can't take my computer with me and I'll just have to do nothing more than enjoy the trip!