Kindergarten Round-up!

I can hardly even believe that we're already talking about Kindergarten!!!  Tonight, we visited Emilia's elementary school, Sheridan Hills Elementary, for the Kindergarten Round-up.  We arrived at the school and the she got her name tag.  The person writing out the name tags asked Emilia if she spelt her name like Amelia Bedelia.  Nope.  Next, we turned in her registration paper work and went into the cafeteria for a cookie and a refreshment.  We were welcomed to the school by the principal before breaking out into 3 classrooms - 2 for the kids and 1 for the parents.

Emilia was a little timid as we walked down the hall towards the classroom she be playing in for a while.  When we got to the classroom the teacher could see Emilia's hesitation.  She knelt down to her level and asked her if she wanted to walk in the classroom with her.  Emilia turned and buried her face in my leg.  The teacher said I could walk in with her, so I did.  Then the teach pointed out a "secret door" that Emilia could peek through if she wanted to take a look at where mom and dad were sitting.  This gave her some relief and she agreed to take a seat on the carpet with the other kids.

Jeff and I went into the classroom next door to hear all about what the expect for Emilia in kindergarten.  We were comfortable with the curriculum and the environment and were wowed by the SmartBoard...a less messy and more technological version of the chalkboard from our days in kindergarten.  It was just a glimpse at one of the many things our kids will consider ordinary.  After our info session, we went through the secret door to get Emilia.  She was seated back on the carpet with a couple papers in her hands and quick to smile when she saw us.  She had a good time and is a little disappointed that she'll have to wait 9 months until she becomes an OFFICAL kindergartner on September 4th, 2012.

When we got home she told us she "wanted her ears pierced and a cell phone because she is a for real kindergartner."  Yeah...how about we start with a new backpack?  So it begins...

We're off to see the Wizard!

Emilia and I headed out for a special night, just the two of us, to see the Wizard of Oz at the Children's Theatre.  I was able to get 2 FREE tickets for us by using up some referral dollars I had from the Plum District.  Such a great deal - a fun night out with Emilia to an AMAZING production and it cost nothing! 

To surprise her with our special trip to the theatre, I wrapped up some Ruby slippers I picked up after Halloween along with the tickets for the show.  She was excited about the shoes and even more excited when I told her we were going to SEE the Wizard of Oz!  She had been Dorothy for Halloween when she was 2, so we found the basket and the puppy we named Toto for her to bring along to the show.  She wanted to wear her Dorothy costume and insisted on trying it on, but it was just a little too short two years later...  Her ruby slippers got a lot of attention at the theatre but she was pretty bashful by the comments.  She just looked down at her glittery shoes and smiled shyly.

We're off to see the Wizard!

Mommy and Emilia

Emilia and Toto

The play was AMAZING from start to finish - the acting, the costumes, the orchestra...all awesome.  It started out very dull in color and I quickly realized, this was because they were trying to make it appear black and white, just like in the movie.  After the tornado and Dorothy's arrival in the Land of Oz, the colors were incredible!  The costumes on the munchkins were great and we both got a kick out of the adult munchkins that walked on their knees.  Emilia was so shocked that Glinda was a witch that was beautiful.  Then came the Wicked Witch, flying across the stage, with her green face and hands and her long nose.  Emilia hugged my arm pretty tight when she was on the stage or flying through the air.  I had explained to her before the play that the Wicked Witch may be a little scary, but she is just an actress in a costume.  Emilia was also very interested in Toto and asked me every time he left the stage where he was...I would tell her he probably just needed a little water.  The play never lost it's luster, from start to finish.  And at the end, Emilia got to see the Wicked Witch smile and wave at the audience which left her reassured that she wasn't, in fact, wicked.

Such a fun night with my little lady!  I'm already thinking about our next night on the town!

Happy New Year!

New Year's Eve was spent close to home this year...just down the block in fact!  We were invited to an impromptu "night in" with the Govenat's where the adults could enjoy some food and drinks and each other's company and the kids could do the same :)  My parents were able to come down and get Olivia and bring her home for bed around 8pm while the older girls, Emilia, Emma and Hadley, got to keep on having fun.  We thought Emilia would be there for another hour or so after Olivia left and then want to head home for bed as well...boy were we wrong!  They were having way to much fun to sleep!

The girls kept busy in Emma's room for the first half of the night..playing with Polly Pockets, dressing up, jumping on and off the bed and posing for a few pictures.  Once they needed a change of scenery, they headed to the basement to cozy up on the couch for a movie.  We all thought they'd fall asleep as it was after 9pm at this point but that didn't happen!  When the movie was over, they came upstairs to see the huge snowflakes that were falling outside and to do a few sparklers.  Then they came back in for a sparkling cider toast and a dance party until MIDNIGHT!!  Yes - these three 4 year olds had the time of their life staying up to celebrate the New Year with their parents!!  I loved every minute of it, knowing that in the blink of an eye, they won't think it's so cool to spend New Year's with their parents.



Cozy Cuties



Emma, Hadley and Emilia

Three little monkeys jumping on the bed!

Big jump!!

Liv - playing with the big girls.

Cheers!

Snowflakes!!

Sparklers!

After it was officially January 1st, we walked down the block back to our house.  Jeff and I wondered what the next day was going to be like for Emilia who was getting to bed 4 hours later than usual.  I think in this case...the year went out like a lion and came in like a BEAR.  Roar!!! 

Cheers!

Happy New Year!!