Autumn

What a cutie. Not a performer but she likes to show you that she is cute.

Scabetti - what she calls Spaghetti
Comp-pillar Catapillar

1st day of Kindergarten August 31, 2011

I need to write about this day. He slept in till 7am. He never does that. He ate a cream cheese sandwich, a banana, and a bowl of cereal. He drank Strawberry lemonade. He wore a blue shirt and a vest. “James Bond wears vests mommy. I want to look sharp!” He wore his new sneakers. He loved his Toy Story backpack and lunchbox. I packed him 2 cheeses, a fruit bar, 2 juices, and an apple. He was only going for a half-day - no lunch. He put on a green baseball hat before he left. “My look is complete,” he said. He ran to the car. He couldn’t wait to get started. We went into the courtyard with all the other parents. The kids tossed their bags on the ground and went to play in the playground. Three teachers held up signs. I saw the one I wanted. She’s short, juicy, and typically French. She has big boobs as well and a melodic laugh. She just screams Kindergarten teacher to me. She is Ronin teacher. Her name is Madame Constantine. She has a name that has a sound that is not even in the English language.

Ronin’s name was called and he ran right towards her.

“After you left mommy, Madame said it was free play and I went back to the castle. After playing we all got our lunchboxes and had snack. Good choices today mama. I ate everything. Tout! Then we sat in a learning circle and learned about safety. Then Madame read us a story. Then she let me play with an iPad. We have four in the class. We talked about safety again and that we do not want to drop the technology. I made four friends. I know you said that I did not have to make any friends the first day but I did.”

Wilder Penfield Kindergarten

Ronin walked into Wilder Penfield Kindergarten orientation all smiles. He walked right over to a pile of books, selected one, and brought it over to Sean. He read along with Sean as other kids filed in. He looked around. Another boy walked over, saw that Ronin was reading and got himself a book.

When Principal Cyr called out each child's name they got a name tag. Ronin was thrilled and immedietely ran over to me and showed me his name. He then found some paper and a pen and wrote his name at the top of the paper and began to draw.

Three Kindergarten teachers started calling out names and collecting kids. They were going to observe the kids today and make the three kindergarten classes 18 kids each. Some kids cried and others were walked to the front of the room with their parents. When Ronin's name was called - he ran off to the teacher. "Mommy I am going with her to Kindergarten" said Ronin. "I love you mommy and daddy!" and he blew me a kiss.

At the end we waited for Ronin in the daycare room. He ran in all smiles with a new puppet he had made. Mommy, do you think it was bad that I ran out of the class when it was done to came straight to you? I missed you mommy."

He cannot wait to go back.

Autumn is potty trained!

There have been a lot of milestones lately. Sean and I have been having a hard time potty-training Autumn. There have been several starts and all were crash-n-burns. After a two-week break Autumn came home from school and said “I peed on the potty. I want a cherry candy.” I said yes and she squealed. Then on May 19, 2011 my mom came to visit us here in Montreal. We went out to dinner on Friday night and Autumn asked me to go to the potty in the restaurant. I jumped at the opportunity. I took her into the ladies room and placed her on the toilet. I held on to her and bent down in front of her. She said, “Mommy listen to my pee-pee sounds!” And she peed! And she hasn’t stopped since. In other restaurants, in other people’s homes, in the Civic Center and in my house! I couldn’t be more proud. She potty trained herself in a weekend (Victoria Day, May 24, 2011 weekend) and 3 and ½. Ronin trained himself at 3 and ½ on Memorial Day Weekend.

Autumn was shy for about 5 minutes!

Autumn had a shy moment this morning. When she walked into her classroom this she didn’t want to leave my side. I bent down and whispered, “What is wrong chicken?” Autumn pointed at two five year old girls and said, “I want to play.”
Then go play baby?” I said.
“I have a pink elephant,” Autumn said to the two girls and buried her head in my leg. I walked her over and said, “tell them again sweetie.” Autumn turned and saw that five girls had come over and wanted to see her elephant. One girl said to me, “Why do you call her chicken?”
“Does your mom or dad call you a little pet name at home?” I asked
“My mom calls me pumpkin and my sister turtle.” One girl said.
“See, that is why I call Autumn chicken.”
“Makes sense.” Said the girl. Autumn then takes her hand and pushes on my thigh.
“Mama, you go home now. First I want kissie.” I kiss her and she says, “okay you go home now.” The shy moment has passed.

Normal stuff Mama

"Ronin? Where are you?" I look around the room and down the stairs. He is not at the front door. I know if I can hear him then all is well. He is loud. I stop and hold my breath. Autumn reached up and grabs my hand.
“Where Ronin go Mama?” Autumn asks. Her brow furrowed as if she is accusing me of losing her brother. Little does she remember that I was up here trying to get her to say goodbye for the last 10 minutes. I want to head downstairs as quickly as I can.
“Let’s go find him baby chicken.” I say.
“Okay, we go and find Ronin downstairs.” Walking down the stairs as quickly as I can with an opinioned three year old is not easy. I bend down and look through the glass door to the classrooms downstairs. I then see Ronin. I breathe again. The glass door opens and Ronin turns around.
“Come on up luv-luv!” I say. Ronin turns to the man and says goodbye and jumps across the room the glass door. He flings it open and jumps up each stairs on opposite feet. This kid is nimble. None of those awesome genes come from me.
“What were you talking about with Tyler’s dad, Ronin?” I ask.
“Normal stuff Mama (he has taken to calling me Mama as it sounds more French to him,) like days of the week, when is Saturday, what month is it, numbers. It wasn’t a high level conversation but I liked it!” Ronin says.