Lovin'

• Riding the ferris wheel twice this month
• Shake Shack twice this month!
• A visit with friends
• Summer countdown, for reals!
• Late sunshine
• Picnic plans
• Crocs sandals
• Freddie reading EVERYTHING

Four

Preschool Pictures

Long hair,  scratched up head from a tumble on the playground, and self selected outfit.... all make for the perfect preschool photo.

He'll miss this group of friends when he heads to Pre-Kindergarten at the elementary school in the fall.  Just like that, he's no longer a baby.

Double Header

Celebrating Father's Day and 37!

• Key lime pie for breakfast
• Rainy morning
• More homemade cards than you could shake a stick at
• Lounging
• Beer
• "Dad's the boss....today"
• A movie and too much popcorn
• Ice cream and sticky hands
• I love yous
• You're the best dad

Thanks for being my partner in this, for sharing this life with these boys.  Happiest of birthdays to you, my love.

Freddie's End of the Year Conference

• A great year!
• Working above grade level in all academic areas
• His reading has really taken off.  He reads on a late 2nd grade/early 3rd grade level.  Ms. S suggested he continue to read for 20 minutes each night.
• Ms. S said he is very capable and is one of the top students.
• He is kind, polite, and social.  He gets along with and is liked by all of his classmates.  
• He loves writing and math.
• She thought he should continue with the same routine next year as far as homework, with adding some more opportunities to work independently.  I agree it is time for a transition to more responsibility and independence.  
• A very positive end of the year conference.  He'll get his report card next week.

Spring Concert

Freddie was thrilled to get gussied up again for another school concert.  He got another tie and looked super cute.

With his buddy and his brother

Not many pictures of my boo this time.  We sat on the wrong side of the auditorium and he was standing next to his friend Diana who is full of personality and in constant motion so pics were hard to get!

In the middle, top row

Way over at the right, with his head behind Diana who is leaning over chatting.  Smile

The Kindergarten sang It's a Small World, Row Row Row Your Boat (in rounds which was a hysterical mess of course!), and Kumbaya.  Just a little bit....

 

I did get to see him as he left the auditorium.

Yep, the rockstar blew his mama some kisses.

And then there was this little sweetheart in the audience...

I love, love, love this part of having a school aged kid.  So sweet.

Love Notes

I write lots of lists, and the kitchen counter is my spot for list writing.  I love when I find little notes added to my to do lists.

Freestyle

He made it all the way across, but Charlie's phone ran out of storage space halfway through.  Boo!  Hans is a fish and really loves swimming.  

4 year well visit

Stats:

• 37.5 pounds (80th percentile)
• 41.5 inches (80th percentile)

Vaccinations:

• None. Since he was a few weeks shy of 4 years old, we have to go back otherwise the department of health would not consider him up to date.  He'll return in August to get a few shots.

Her concerns:

• None

My concerns:

• None

He was SO very shy and would hardly speak.  He did do his vision and hearing test with all answers being in a soft whisper.  Kinda funny.  Vision and hearing are all good.  So thankful to have a healthy, happy child.

A Day with my Bug

A day off of school!  Yay!  And Hans is in school so Freddie gets Mama to himself!  Yay!  But Mama had to go to the DMV.  Boo!  Don't worry, we had a great day.

After finishing up at the DMV we got a donut for breakfast.  My little New Yorker wiggled though the jam packed morning work crowd to find the one empty chair.  We squeezed in together and and had donuts and coffee and watched the suits and high heels walk by.

Then it was off to do some birthday shopping for Hans.  Freddie's been asking for a trip to ToysRUs for a while so this was the perfect opportunity.

I swear the kid looked at every single toy in the store.  He checked everything out, pressed all buttons, and asked how much everything cost.  He was even wowed by how many Barbies are available, commenting that some friends in his class have or want certain calls and ponies.  My little guy pays attention to everything.

We spent hours, yes hours, in there.

I walked behind him and did what he did, looked at everything.  What a thrill for a six year old boy to wander a four story toy store.

ToysRUs in Times Square will be closing soon (they can't afford the rent!) so I am thankful we were able to make a trip.

It was fun to talk about how some of the displays frightened him when he was little and then take a ride on the ferris wheel, something else that used to frighten him.

Then it was off to lunch at Shake Shack!  Yum Yum.  My boy is not intimidated by the line or the crowd and left me as soon as we walked in to scan the room to secure a table.  He didn't have much luck at first getting beat out by other customers, but he finally managed to find a table that was just about done and give them the eye until they finally relinquished the table to him.  He is a New Yorker.

Having days with just my Bug is a treat.  

Looking forward to summer adventures with him!

Lovin'

With a classmate on a field trip at the art gallery in our neighborhood.  Freddie's class has been taking
walking trips to various spots in the community.

• A walkable neighborhood (and city!)
• Spring showers
• Sandals
• That scrunchy noses
• "Am I 4 yet?" asked every single day
• A lighter schedule
• A voracious reader
• Puzzles

Not to be missed

Sunday night while tucking into bed...

Mama:  Now get right to sleep.  Tomorrow is Monday and it starts a busy week.  We have to leave early because I have a conference with Ms. S before school starts.

Freddie:  Ok, but can you wake me up a little bit early so we can still cuddle on the couch before breakfast?

Thank you for reminding me not to skip this.  It is my favorite part of the day.

I love that scrunchy nose

Hope I never forget that little smile and giggle.

Gymnasts

Both boys have completed a year of gymnastics.  Whew.  It was a big commitment to tram it over and then walk 11 blocks each Wednesday afternoon, a big commitment for all of us.  We made it in all kinds of weather, usually without much complaining because the boys really, really loved it.

Freddie said he learned a lot in gymnastics, and when I asked "like what?" thinking he'd say something about a pike or birds nest he said "it helped me to be brave."  So yes, all worth it.  He's definitely more confident when it comes to heights and trying new physical challenges, but he's also gained overall confidence and determination.  Although Hansie is not yet able to articulate his gymnastics take aways, I attribute some of his social growth and new confidence to gymnastics.

Freddie's ribbon has taken a place of honor, hanging from his trophy.  He's asked for a special table to display them!  I suppose he intends to earn several more.

Despite my nudging to just stick to swimming (which is a 5 minute walk) both boys opted to enroll in gymnastics again next year. So we'll make the trek uptown for another year.