Children's Garden School Spring Program

It's hard to believe that Finn's first full year of preschool is over. It really flew by. Even though technically he went two days a week in DC, we moved before he finished the year, so I'm calling this his first full year. What a year it has been! I can't believe how much he has grown and matured in just 9 months. The Children's Garden School has been a real blessing. The teachers have been warm and nurturing (to both of us) and we have met some wonderful friends. Everything is so laid back and the kids, especially Finn, has thrived in that environment. One of my favorite things about the school is all of the extras they get to do: spanish with Ms. Andonia, yoga with Ms. Rachel, music, jump and jive, and cooking with Ms. Lois. Here is a side note--Ms. Lois founded the school 25 years ago and still comes every week to cook with the kids. They practice measuring and pouring and stirring, they plant a garden and use the plants in their cooking. Here's the best part, Ms. Lois is 90 years young. Yes, you read that correctly. She loves the kids and they love her and she makes some mean hot cross buns! 

I know I will probably say this every year, but I can't believe how much he has grown and changed and learned this school year. I never thought it would be possible for him to sit still in a circle, walk in line, follow directions (still not entirely sure about that one) and basically conduct himself like a big boy. The moms get to be really involved too, bringing in snacks, lunch, popsicles, reading stories, doing crafts, which helps ease the pangs of separation when you are so used to having them with you 24/7. I couldn't be happier and look forward to the next year of school, but right now we are going to enjoy our summer!

To mark the end of a wonderful year of school, the kids held their spring program, sang beautiful songs, we watched (and cried) through a slideshow cataloging their year in pictures, and then PARTIED on the playground! 

A look back: 1st day of three year preschool (August 2012)

Finn and one of his teachers, Ms. Kim

Practicing his yoga meditation. Laugh all you want (and we do) but it's amazing to watch the
kids calm and settle themselves and of course, strike all of those hilarious poses

Best buddies

School out for summer! The sugar high is kicking in


Watch Finn get his sway on!

Walk of NO Shame

Here is something to ponder: If you could walk naked (nekkid, for those below the Mason-Dixon) down the street, without being embarrassed or ashamed, would you? 

Days of May

Another month has come and gone and I'm still trying to play catch up. I promise there will be more and better posts to come. School is out for the summer and we are wrapping up work on the basement. I say wrapping up, but what I really mean is that we are about to be done with this current project before moving on to the next one. I don't think we will ever be done with the house. My mom had a good way of putting it, "with an old house you never finish it, you basically just keep it going until the next owners take over." Anyway, here are a few snapshots of what we did this month.

Check out this beauty . . . our newest lawn ornament! Only kidding, we had it delivered over the weekend and managed to fill the entire thing up and then some. I had the nerve to throw away an old toy of Finn's that he didn't play with and didn't work and guess what, he spotted it from the porch and almost stroked out. Seriously. It's that little blue "dot" in the bottom left corner of the dumpster.

More beach days with the boys! This never gets old

Birthday drinks at sunset! To ring in the day before my 33rd birthday, we rode bikes down to 

the boathouse to sit and watch the sun go down. Not a bad way to celebrate the day before your birthday--only problem was that we had to ride back.

Not too shabby

This is how I celebrated my actual birthday. While Finn was at school, I made myself a picnic and biked to the beach. Heaven.

Homemade mother's day presents are the best (from Finn). From Mark, I like a little more effort :) Which he always puts forth.

Too hot for the hot tub. Yes, this is what you think it is, a dozen 4 year olds chilling in a hot tub. Mark called it preschool jersey shore. It started out as a pool party but was pretty chilly so the kids moved to the hot tub. 

Finn has crossed over to the dark side . . . this is what he selected to wear to school one day

Finn has long had this thing where he likes to "snore the cold off of night-night." Basically, he likes snuggling with a cold blanket. He always throws a hissy fit when I take night night out of the dryer because she's hot. This is where I found her one morning after I had taken Finn to school--chilling in the refrigerator. Guess he wanted to speed up the process

The kids participated in a bike-a-thon at school to raise money for their pen-pal in Ghana. 

We collected spare change and the kids rode around and around and then got to put all of their money in a big jar to send. Sometimes simple is the best way to go!

Zack, Declan and Finn at the starting block

We had to divide up the riders because it quickly turned into a roller derby 

Some of the kiddos showing off their certificates

Girls Weekend

I hosted my DC girls for a long weekend of fun. I call them DC girls, but no one actually lives there anymore, nor did they ever. Alisha and I met in Philadelphia during business school. Amy was Alisha's roommate in college and she lived in Virginia during the time we were in DC so we got to be good friends. These were the same two ladies who went to Paris with me last December. Mara lives in Chicago and went to college with Alisha and Amy. It was such a treat to have everyone out to Sullivan's Island. Finn especially loved it. He called everyone "the moms" and wanted to know why they weren't up when he got up. 

This weekend is one of many weekends like this we have planned. A while back, we made a pact with each other that we would take at least one trip a year together (a minimum). To celebrate each other, our friendships and a few days of child-free activities and conversations! Only two rules: no mom-clothes and no kids! Well, I sort of broke the second rule since Finn was ever-present, but Mark helped out and planned many daddy/Finn activities so we could have time to ourselves. It was the perfect weekend--we hit the beach, a swanky downtown restaurant (with nary a chicken nugget or grilled cheese sandwich in sight), but mainly we just hung around and drank wine and made each other laugh. I cannot wait for our next adventure, where ever it may be!

Finn's just one of "the moms"

Who else but a REAL friend will not only bring your child fake moustaches,
but also wear one AND pose for a picture.

Me, Alisha, Amy (plus baby Kate in the oven), Mara

April

These are some of the things we did during the month of April. Between Easter egg hunts, egg dyeing, beach days, spring break and the bridge run, it turned out to be a pretty busy month.

Easter egg hunt at school

So proud of his haul

Comparing goodies

Tearing into his stash

The egg hunters!
All of the moms had to fill eggs for the kids to find and one creative mom filled hers with baby carrots.
It was hilarious to watch the kids open the carrot-filled eggs. Some were sorely disappointed and then there is Finn who was so excited he ate all of them. Seriously? I put baby carrots in front of him at least a few times a week and he throws them back at me. Now I know how to get him to eat them . . . hide them in eggs around the house. Wonder if it also works for spinach or broccoli?

Dyeing and decorating eggs

My two Easter bunnies

Spring Break! Luke and Mary Daniel came down to hang out with us and Finn loved every minute of it.
He always has fun with his cousins and they are always so sweet to him.

Digging holes and chasing birds

How cute is this? Lily is in hog heaven

Bridge Run 2012! After a SLOW, SLOW start (over an hour delay), we made it to the starting line

Up, up, up the bridge we go. This was my first race up the new, improved bridge. I must say
that it is way, way better than the old one. 

Celebratory mimosas with Kriya and Nicci post race! 

The Benich bunch was in town for the Bridge Run and spring break. We got to spend a day with them. Finn and Wade have finally rediscovered that they really are good buddies and enjoy playing with each other (it wasn't looking so great last summer). The boys had a blast and so did us girls! We can't wait for their next visit.