Our Kindergartener!

Gigi started kindergarten on Tuesday, August 14th!  Of course, LAUSD moved the start to before Labor Day when we start school.  Ah well....we get out early!

After a breakfast at Noah's, the whole family escorted Gigi to her first day.

Gigi's teacher (Miss P) has been teaching kindergarten for a LONG time.  She was probably teaching kindy when Mama was in kindergarten.  She has a great energy and is well loved by all.  Gigi was giving her hugs on her first day.

This is the classroom where Gigi will spend the next 9 months (or is it 10)?

Our neighbor, I, is also in her class and her sister, R, is in 3rd grade at our elementary school.

Gigi's backpack is the one with the horses and the lunchbox attached.  Mama and Grandma spent a long time researching just the right pack for our first kindergartener.

Blowing Mama a kiss goodbye.

And a hug from little brother.

Second day...

Jordan went with his unusual outfit of mixed jammies and firefighter boots.

The Graduate

I graduated from preschool and am headed toward kindergarten.  How could that have happened so quickly?, Mama wonders.  Pepa and Grandma and Grandpa and NannyG all came to see me get my diploma.

There were "tears" of happiness and shock that we were all graduating.  We sang songs and danced with Peter Smith, our music teacher, at the keyboard.

Setting the table

 Lately (for the past few months), Gigi LOVES to set the table.  She makes sure there are two forks, a knife and two spoons.  Who really uses that many utensils?  Not us, but she insists we might need them.

Some Developmental Updates

Jordan....he is talking some. Words like Mama (referring to Mommy AND Daddy), Gigi, Juice (even Orange Juice at Thanksgiving), Ball, Mil (for Milk), Go, Shoes, More....and that's about it. But, beyond words, he talks with his body A LOT! He loves shoes and clothes. He is wearing his sister's shoes above, but he is often donning Mama's or Daddys or even Gigi's princess shoes. He takes shoes off and wants us to put them back on....off and on. In general, he hasn't liked toys. But, from the first 3 nights of Hanukkah, it appears, he is starting to take a turn in the I like toys direction. Or maybe he just likes unwrapping presents. He really seems to get it. Allen's colleague put a gift up in his gift area and he kept reaching for it, wanting to open it. Jordan is also teething A LOT. Gigi didn't really teeth so we don't really know what to do with it. He also loves anything electronic (the vacuum cleaner, Ipad, Iphone, TV remote) and MUSIC. He loves to dance, play music. He really has the beat.

While Mama was away in "Yew Nork" last week, Gigi learned to write her name. Sometimes the "hook" on the G goes in the wrong direction, but we are starting to improve as to how often that happens. Gs are a ball with a "J". If she remembers that, we are good to go.

Reenergized and ready to go

Well, I have finally found a solution to be able to post again (with pictures!), so I am going to spend a little time this evening catching the blog up. I stopped posting just before Gigi's 4th birthday (9/19/11). We have had a busy fall and are almost at Hanukkah.

Jordan finally learned how to sleep (through the night) when we were in Florida for Thanksgiving. Since then, it has been all down hill. Two nights this week, he not only woke up, but one night he was up at 2:30 am and never went back to sleep and last night he was up between 11:45 and 2:30 am. As he was giggling upside down tonight, I saw two new teeth! To go with the other from a month ago, so now, he has 11 teeth :) Hopefully, the others come soon so that we can get some sleep around here.

Today, we had a Parent/Teacher conference for Gigi at her 3 day/week school. Her teacher raved about her manners (ALWAYS says please and thank you) and how well she treats her friends. She is right on par with her learning and her teacher really enjoys her. She said we should be proud of her, which we are! When I went to pick her up at school, she had drawn a picture for me -- her family. The picture had me, Allen, Gigi and Jordan and at the top of the picture were Mema and Eliza. Wow. Gigi loves doing her homework...she gets her homework on Monday and it is due Friday. She almost alway wants to do it Monday when she gets home from school (even if I don't want to!)

Well, those are a few recent updates....now to posting some pictures of the last few months with more updates...

Jordan Slept Through the Night!

At one year, 2 weeks, Jordan finally slept through the night!! From 8:30 - 6 am....maybe it was the ocean air?

or a game of peek-a-boo at the ocean when we went for sunset?

whatever it was, repeat please!