Kindergarten Update

I wanted to do one big update on school now that we are six weeks in but since I touched on Caleb's experience so far in yesterday's entry, I figured I would go ahead with how the younger two are doing in "big school" so far this year.

Evan is still struggling with liking school. Two weeks ago I had to go pick him up from the nurse's office but the nurse, the teacher, and I all agreed that really he wasn't ill, and within seconds of me asking Evan if he was having a sick day or a sad day, he said sad. I brought him home anyway... how could I not when the tears filled his eyes?? He said school was just not fun and said that some of the other kids had teased him that he scribbles more than he colors. He told me, "Seven hours is just so long." Within minutes of getting home he asked for lunch and then taught himself how to ride his bike uphill without the training wheels... before that he mastered only downhill. I am having to do little bribes with him so he will go to school and stay there ~ no football, soccer, friend's house if you are "sick" kind of stuff.

I didn't realize the extent of Evan's love/hate relationship with school (there are things he really likes... his teacher & PE the best and learning to read... he also proudly shows me each and every piece of work he brings home) until his teacher told us last week that he had made it 2 days without crying ~ I hadn't known he was crying at school at all! Ugh. On a positive note he is learning to read quickly and he is doing very well academically and the teachers we have expressed our concerns with have been more than willing to help Evan find his place at school.

Today Evan is home with a fever and a terrible sore throat (he keeps saying his neck hurts) that started last night ~ definitely not faking it today. No school for him tomorrow either because even if his fever went away right now, he wouldn't be fever free for 24 hours by tomorrow morning. He is miserable and can do little else but lay on the couch and sip some gingerale. I am trying really hard to keep Nyah away from him but the two are very tight so she is very excited to have him home even if he isn't paying her any attention. Let's just say, and those of you who really know Evan will get this, that Evan had been given full control of the TV remote for the day and he is now sound asleep (9:30am). Hopefully staying home with mom will be very, very boring for him so he wants to go back to school and we don't start from square one.

Brynn, on the other hand, loves school still, except for the 1/2 our between 7:00 and 7:30 when I have to drag her from her sleep and get her ready for the bus ~ we have only missed it once so far. She perks up around 7:40 and then bounces onto the bus but always turns around to tell me, "Have a good day with Nyah." Today she added, "Take good care of my brother." She really is very, very thoughtful. Here is Brynn with a classmate (the original is so cute with their arms around each other but I don't know if the other girl's parents are okay with me posting it). She has seen her at the soccer field the past two Saturdays and they have played nonstop!

We are extremely proud of how Brynn is behaving and working in school. Brynn's teacher has told us that things do not come easily to Brynn but she is a very hard worker and always tries her best. She did tell the teacher she needed to go home one day because she was mad that the teacher didn't call on her even though her hand was raised. "When I raise my hand you need to call on me" was the quote I believe. So far the teachers find her entertaining... Doug and I hope it doesn't wear off! Brynn loves art, speech, and the playground with her friends. She loves all her teachers and most everyone at school... except "that girl" who is mean to her in line. She seems to have grown up so much in just a few months!

I'll save the Price update for later in the week along with a post on all the activities we have going on!