Kindergarten--the half-way mark (and soccer!)

As Christmas break comes to a close, I thought I would reflect on the fall, and Whitney having completed the first half of her kindergarten career!  She loves school.  Plain and simple.  I am sure it won't always be this way, but we'll take it...for now.  Her teachers, Mrs. Anderson and Mrs. Wang, have been wonderful and she is making new, sweet friends in her class.  She even told us over Christmas break that she is going to marry a boy, Gabe, in her class.  When we asked her if he knew about it, she said, "Yes, he knows about it.  I told him.  He just needs a map so he knows how to get to our house.  Mom, can you draw him one?"  While I am choking back laughter, I wonder, is he moving in if he needs a map??!!  For the love of Pete!!

Whitney has adjusted far better than we expected.  The toughest part for the first month or more was the after school program, in which Whitney stays until around 5:30 p.m. a couple of days a week.  There were tears involved in the beginning, and lots of dreaded anticipation for those days (likely due to the wide age range of kids, unfamiliar faces, etc.), but now, instead of running to me with relief and excitement at the end of the day, she whines, "Moooom, why are you here allllllreadyyyyy??!!"  I miss the elated hugs, but am so glad she's adjusted and has a fun afternoon with the teachers and kids.

Another change that Whitney has embraced has been becoming a "bus rider."  It cracks us up how she labels everyone a "car rider" or "bus rider."  And when it comes to school lunch, you're either a "buyer" or "packer." She's been a buyer a few times, but prefers to be a packer for now. :) Back to the bus, Whitney enjoys riding Miss Charlene's bus.  As a proud bus rider until my Senior year of high school, I know that things can get fairly colorful on that bright yellow piece of machinery!!  So far, the worst she's reported has been about someone "picking boogers" (which I reminded her that she likes to do as well, so not to judge) and she said that Miss Charlene yells "Girls, pike down!"  Which I am guessing is "pipe down" from all of the noise!!  I remember childhood bus drivers who would bang broom sticks on the steel roof of the bus--while driving--to get everyone's attention!  Yikes!

It has been exciting to see how much Whitney is learning...and so quickly.  She practices weekly "word wall words" and is learning to read and write short sentences.  One of the first words she practiced writing at home was "Vizio."  She came and asked us what word she had written, and we couldn't help but laugh since she stands inches in front of our Vizio television daily!  I keep asking the opthamologist if that is normal, but he assures me she's fine!  So, great, she knows how to write Vizio!!  Parents of the year!

Another noteable mention from the fall came in Whitney's first (and possibly last) experience with city youth soccer.  Athletically speaking (compared to me), the apple doesn't fall far from the tree!  Whitney is "that kid" who really doesn't have a clue what is going on and just runs wherever the pack goes.  She's that kid who ducks when the ball comes near her...or she gets this sheer look of panic when all of the kids are trying to kick the ball at the same time.  She's that kid who yells to me, "I need to potty!" right during the middle of a play in her game.  And on one unseasonably cool game day yells, "Mom, can I have some hot chocolate when we get home?!"  Priorities.

The closest Whitney came to the goal was when she got her head caught in the net during warm-up and I look over and hear her yell, "Can somebody please help me?" as she tries to wriggle herself free.  And everyone knows I am her mom because she ran over to give me a hug at least 7 times during the games.  Focus--0/ Heart--Score.  We didn't miss any practices or games and Whitney seemed to enjoy herself, so at the end of the day, I'd call this experience a success, even though it doesn't appear that we have a future Brandi Chastain on our hands!  She had two spirited coaches who applauded her efforts and let her throw the ball in from the sideline (they found something she was good at)!

I am so proud of our bus rider, lunch packer, Vizio speller, soccer baller, kindergartener!  Looking forward to what this second half of the school year will hold for her!