1st Day of School

Gracie's first day of pre-K is today. She'll be going to First Baptist Wylie every Monday, Wednesday & Friday from 8 - 12 NOON. She doesn't know anyone in her class (unlike last year), so it will be interesting to see how she assimilates. She was very excited this morning when she woke up.

Our prayer for her is that she continues to find joy in learning and that she will grow mentally, emotionally and socially.

We love you, Gracie.

Meet the teacher

The Cearley 5 went to Gracie's Meet the Teacher night last night at FBS. I was impressed with the whole operation. It's going to be a good, healthy environment for Gracie to develop. She'll be going 3 days a week (M, W, F) from 8 - NOON. Since she went 2 days a week last year, this will be the perfect transition since she'll go all 5 days a week next year (full days no less). Kindergarten, wow. Getting ahead of myself...

They've got a really good curriculum. She'll be exposed more to music and PE, plus she'll start learning on a computer. I try to teach her things on the computer at home, and she gets the fact that typing on the keys produces letters on the screen. But beyond that, I don't think she understands how it works. She'll learn, which I am happy about.

I feel like she's going to be in a good place, developmentally, this year. Last year's exposure to a classroom setting and everything she learned should really help her. Steph's work with her can't go unnoticed, either.

Although it's tough to come to terms with her growing up, it's comforting to know that she is growing up good.

Gracie's check up

Gracie had her 4-year old, pre-school well visit yesterday. She weighs 34 lbs, is 3'5" tall and has a little bit of her dad's eye genes. The eye test where she had to cover her eyes produced slight concern (20/50 in her left eye). We'll get her checked out by the same eye doctor who took care of (and operated on) Max's cyst. Then, we had the shots, which didn't go well at all. She had to get 4 and after trying to reason with a 4-year old about shots, I learned very quickly that the best way to have those administered is to hold her down with the help of the nurse and just do it. She didn't like it (which is a kind way to put it), but by the time she was on the way home, sucking on that sucker, I think she was over it. The swine flu vaccine is coming up at the end of October and that is 2 shots. I don't expect it to go much better.

These boys

Ah, boys. Growing boys to be exact. Our boys have, overnight it seems, turned into 2 Tazmanian Devils. They destroy anything in their path and sometimes each other and/or themselves. They climb. They fall. They hit. They break stuff. They run. Everything's a game, even they know it shouldn't be. And they know. These are smart boys. I suppose not all boys are smart at this age, but the Cearley boys, they're smart. The phase of sweet, little, fairly calm boys has now passed and as far as calm goes, I don't expect it to return. Oy vei.

Pics of the kids

Backyard Project Pics

Gracie

Gracie loves to peel the wrapper off of colors. She's liked since she could actually grip the paper.

Backyard Project 6

The backyard project is finished. May 22 - August 8. Awesome.

Dad's last day

My dad is leaving today. Off to Santa Fe. It is bittersweet, for sure. I'm happy for him because I know he needed a job and it was pretty time sensitive. Aside from providing a living for him, it sounds like a good opportunity, too. It's just so far away. I don't know how long/much we'll see him and that bums me out. For the last three years, we could pretty much see him whenever we wanted. He's been a big part of the kids life and for me, it's been great to have him so close. We will miss Saturday morning breakfasts with him. Next time he sees the kids, they'll be one step closer to talking and kindergarten. Sadness.