Summer Flashback: Zoo Camp

Both boys signed up for zoo camp ways back in December.  Freddie knew he definitely wanted to do it this summer since he had such a great experience the previous year.

This year a different friend joined him, but the boy could care less if he knows anyone when he joins something. He's content to do his thing and make new friends along the way.

Camp posted another blog this year so I was able to pull some pictures to add here to help him remember his week.  Not the best quality photos, but good to help jog the memory.

Zoo camp is a good mix of activities perfect for Freddie.  He gets his fill of two of his loves:  animals and crafts.

Middle roe, right in the middle, between the F and the W

Hansie had his very own camp experience this year, and his very first experience away from his brother.  He was completely on board in December when we signed up, but not surprisingly he was reluctant when camp finally rolled around in August.  He got a brand new lunchbox to mark the occasion.

He kept telling me over and over in the weeks leading up to camp that he didn't want to go.  I was completely prepared for tears on the first day.  He gave me an extra tight hug and held on for quite a long time but he did eventually let go and wave good bye.

He was all smiles when I picked him up.

There was still another mention or two of not wanting to go but by Friday he was pretty much excited and proud that he was a camper.

His experience was just as rich as Freddie's and I fully anticipate he'll want to do it again next year.  I also anticipate he'll be nervous and may say he would rather stay home at the last minute, but I know he'll be ok.

So proud of my baby boy.  He's growing up!

Bottom row second from left

The First Day and Hans Starts School!

Note:  I've been away.  I'm behind.  I'm catching up.  Posts won't quite be as detailed and they won't be in order (expect some flashbacks to summer) and I certainly won't be able to cover everything.  But I'm back.

School started rather late this year...September 9th.  We waited until the week before to really get into our routine and begin talking about school.  Part of this was making a trip to Target for school supplies.  I ended up getting most of the boys supplies online but because I remember how much I LOVED school supply shopping as a kid I wanted they boys to have the same experience of going shopping with their lists, picking out folders and glue and new thermoses.  Between Amazon and Target we managed to get everything on their lists before the first day.  It is quite the ordeal to walk to school on the first day with huge sacks filled with supplies!  Thank goodness for huge IKEA shopping bags.

We also continued our tradition of the Back to School Feast, complete with table decorations and stained glass stars marking their grades for the school year.

The night before school was pretty calm with early dinner, picking out outfits, and getting backpacks all ready.  Or future Pre-K student seemed a bit anxious but overall both boys were very excited.

Let's see if I can do a new design each day for the lunchbox (times two!)

 Everyone was up and at them bright and early and out the door in record time.

Hans' nervousness began to show once we were on our way to school.

Freddie INSISTED on getting a plant for his teacher on the first day.  Nothing
like making a trip in search of an orchid at 10pm the night before school.

He held on tightly to my hand and wasn't interested in pictures.  Freddie wasn't interested in pictures either, but it was because he wanted to get on with it and have his family out of his way.

He's got a big class, 32 kids, including almost all of his classmates from last year.

PreK had a delayed entry on the first day so Charlie and I headed back in an hour with Hans.

Had to have a wardrobe change before going back to school.

 He was very nervous and held on to my hand tightly.  He asked me not to leave.

We found his classroom and he found his cubby.

He eventually let go of my hand, and there weren't any tears.  He quickly found a spot and got busy with the materials the teacher had set out.

I left for the 1.5 hours scheduled or his first day, and returned to a big smile.

We met Charlie for ice cream to tell him about the day and celebrate our PreKindergartener.

The next few days of school were similar.  Reluctance to separate but he did it.  There was one morning of tears, but I stood outside to listen and heard him settle quickly.

Walking to school on the 2nd day

 Hans has seemed to adjust to school.  Now a month into school he still asks if he can stay home with me, but when we get to his classroom he usually runs in without even saying goodbye.  I see him on the playground (without him spotting me) and he's very busy organizing two buddies into games that mostly look like races or superhero play.

1st full day of school for Hans

Freddie got back to his school routine without any issues at all.  He's thrilled to be back to school, doing homework, and having his own thing.

I'm proud of both of these boys and so excited to see how they grow this year.  I cannot believe they are both in school all day, every day.  Seems like I have waited for this day for quite a long time, but in reality I cannot believe how quickly it came or just how bittersweet it is to drop them off each morning.

Our Family doing Cartwheels in the Grass

Mom, Dad, Freddie, and Me.  This is a flower and this is the grass,

Hans' drawings are beginning to look like... something.  I think this is the first family portrait.  He's quite prolific and comes home with lots of papers from school.  This is my favorite so far!

New Scene

One of Charlie's benefits at work is 20 days of childcare.  (He also gets 20 days of elder care as well in case we ever need someone to look over aging parents.)  The childcare benefit means you can have someone come to babysit for $6/hour which is about one third of the going rate in NYC or you can drop off at one of the childcare centers for $20/day with each additional child being $5!

drop off

I can't believe that in the 5 years he's had this benefit I used it for the first time last week.  The babysitter reviews I got from others were hit or miss, and I couldn't imagine either of the boys napping anywhere other than their own cribs so I never really entertained the drop off center as an option either.  Of course I would have used it in an emergency but we always found a way to cover things without it.

But last week one of Hans' buds was going to the back up center and I had a doctor appointment so I decided to drop him off.  He bawled all morning long that he just wanted to stay with me.  It was rather heartbreaking and doesn't bode well for his week of zoo camp in August.  Thankfully when we got there he settled in easily and didn't cry when I left.

Getting a shake afterwards

When I picked him up, he ran over to see me and started to tell me about his day.  A little girl came over and watched for a minute before commenting "so you can talk now, huh?"  I suppose my poor little bub was too shy to talk the entire day.  He told me his day was good but he didn't want to go back, that he just wanted to stay with me.  Ah, to be loved so much!

I'm proud of this guy.  Not an easy thing to ask of him, but he did it.

Hansie Swims (For Reals!)

It started today with his wanting to swimming up from the bottom on his own, since he and Charlie have been diving together to retrieve things from the bottom of the pool.  And then he decided he'd let go and go for it with kicks and scoops and all.  He really wanted Charlie to stand further back, but he needs to get a little more power in those kicks before anyone is stepping that far away from him.

Sorry for the lengthy video.  I do realize no one (other than maybe grandparents?) is interested in watching my kid swim for this long!

Ski

The video is a little rough, but you get the idea of Hans' first run on the slopes. And no run down the mountain would be complete without kisses for Mama and fist bumps all around.

And some footage of my Freddie…

 

He did great!

Hans Skis

Hans got on skis too!

He went dow the hill a few times, but really wasn't thrilled about it.

He really just liked riding the lift.

He liked it A LOT!

And riding the magic carpet.

Who needs skis to have fun?

And being skied down, over and over and over.

Directing Pudge to "GO!" that way.

I predict he'll be keeping up just fine come next winter.  He isn't so concerned about control, although he seems very concerned about speed.  Should make for an interesting day on the mountain.