So Proud of You

Today was Xander's last day of kindergarten and I am so proud of him I could burst. His writing has come a very long way this year. I would say writing was his weak point at the beginning of the year; now at the end of the year, his writing looks like most of the other kids'. His teacher and I and Xander all had a mid-year goal to improve his focus so he could work without becoming distracted until his assignments were completed. His end-of-the-year report card says that he has accomplished that goal. I thought that was the case because he didn't have extra homework anymore due to not finishing at school. The report card was 100% satisfactory/achieved, which may be normal for a kindergartner, but I am still so pleased. His reading level has been above expectations all year and ended at level 10. Whatever that means. He and I made an off-hand goal for the summer: He would like to learn to read chapter books by himself. His teacher gave us a list of all the first grade sight words and he knows them already, so that will help.

He has loved school all year long and never had a complaint - not one time - about his teacher. I am also impressed with what his music and art teachers were able to teach him in just nine weeks apiece. I wasn't quite as sure what he learned in theater arts because I don't think he got a summary sheet or any kind of portfolio from that class. When I used to ask him what they did in theater arts, it sounded like they went to stations and he mostly drew things. He loved his teacher and the class, but he said they didn't work on pretending anything or making stage props or acting anything out. What do I know? He loved it, whatever it was. At the beginning of the year, his favorite class was P.E. Sometimes lunch and recess. I asked him just now and the answer is still P.E. :) His P.E. teacher is fantastically cheerful and nice. He is male, and I think male elementary teachers tend to be very popular with the students. He is definitely popular with the students.

Xander received a dog tag today that says, "On the Tracks to Success" with panther paw prints along the edges (their school mascot is a panther). He is now spinning around several times in a row to see it fly out in the air. This is not an unusual activity for him.

I cut both boys' hair again today. Short hair makes them look younger, I think. Xander looks so young to be six years old and officially promoted to first grade for the fall.

That picture on the right sidebar under the heading "The Boys" is Xander when he was just two months older than Nick is now. I can hardly believe that. The phenomenon that my friend Valerie pointed out is so true: You think your oldest is so old as he passes through every stage, and in all of the same stages you think your youngest is so young.

I have been proud of Nick lately, too, along with my moments of frustration at his screams, loud voice, and desire to have me sleep in his room at bed time. Nick has a new phrase, "Got proud fum you," which proves that I must have said it to him a lot. He has decided to sit on the potty a few times when the pressure was off (I have allowed him diapers when he wants them - my failure to deal, not his) and he had a success all by himself, too. He has been walking holding hands with me instead of always having to be up in my arms. The new chore chart is a huge success. He will clean up a few full sets of toys all by himself to earn a star toward an ice cream cone. He will also fully clear his place and wipe his place as well. It has been a little bit cleaner around here because of his actions!

Now for the summer! I'm excited to have Xander home. I think it will actually be easier. Tomorrow is another birthday party and I want to get the boys out riding bikes. They both need the practice.

After Nick's birthday, we will have another tool in our playing-outside toolbox. I found a Radio Flyer two-seat plastic wagon at Goodwill today for $30. It's going to be another birthday present for Nick. I can see it being a game-changer when I am helping Xander learn to ride his bike and also for trying to walk to school next year instead of driving. It's a little over a mile and was just a tad too long to try this year. I was wondering how the walk would go next year with Nick, and now I think I have found the answer.

I seem to have gone overboard for Nick's birthday presents. None of the presents I've bought have been expensive, but I just can't stop when I see or think of something he would love. On my pending-presents shelf, I have a What Your Preschooler Needs to Know Activity Book, a Mr. Potato Head, Melissa & Doug lacing beads, and another How Do Dinosaurs... book. In the trunk of the car is the Radio Flyer. I also want to knit him up a monkey really quickly, which may or may not happen. I guess this doesn't sound like a lot, but he's also got presents from relatives, and the bathtub crayons I recently bought him just for fun, and the seahorse magazine I bought for the same reason, and the strawberry ice cream and ice cream cones for the chores reward, and the Swedish Fish hanging out waiting for me to make a Go Fish cake or maybe Fish Bowl Gelatin...

Xander got an end-of-the-year present from me and Erik: new dinosaur faceplates for his Yubo lunchbox that he can interchange with his pirate faceplates from this year. I was thinking of rushing to get his knitted mustang finished for an end-of-the-year present, but I wasn't going to be quite ready. All I have left to do is press the pieces, sew them together and stuff with fiberfill, and add the details like eyes, mane, tail, etc. That could possibly take longer than one night. Then there's the saddle blanket and saddle which I wasn't even trying to get done right away. Then there's the knitted cowboy he wants to go with it, but that may have to wait for a project or two.

We were able to eat a leftovers dinner tonight of lasagna, vegetables, and salad because of the kindness of a friend who brought over a meal that will actually end up being three dinners and three lunches for the three of us. I decided to make chocolate cake for dessert because I didn't have to do anything but serve the dinner. It was yummy. I also made homemade chocolate frosting because I didn't have enough store-bought on hand. Oh boy, was that good. In the middle of making this, I heard a loud lawnmower. Very loud. Xander told me there was someone mowing our lawn. We went outside to see and say thank you. It was our next door neighbor's fourteen-year-old son (the same neighbor I went to when Nick and I were locked out of the house). That was so very nice of him and of his mother - I have no illusions as to whose idea it was. So I brought over half our chocolate cake later. Now that I think about it, the fourteen-year-old will probably eat all of it by himself! I am in for a rude awakening when our boys get a few years older.