Back to School... Back to School...

Although he doesn't really look it, Kaleb loves his new school. After a terrifying experience at his previous school, Kaleb is finally happy. Sunshine Square is Jaden's old preschool, and we have missed it. Kaleb's birthday is just after the deadline, so he couldn't start here last year. But LLA's deadline was later, so we enrolled him there instead. He dreaded every day he went. But this year he is excited, and much more happy. They have a 3 year old class and a 4 year old class. Kaleb is in the 3's even though he turns 4 soon. So yes, that means 3 years of preschool for this guy.


What I love about Sunshine Square is that the class size is only 8. He only has one teacher. Instead of staying in one big classroom all day, the kids get to rotate between about 7 or 8 small classrooms, each with a different activity.


His teacher's name is Miss Leslie, and I have been so impressed with her. We were supposed to have a 10 minute meeting just to meet her, but after I told her about Kaleb's previous experience, she stayed and talked to Kaleb for about 45 minutes. At the beginning of our meeting, there was no way Kaleb would have been comfortable enough to give her a hug. But by the end, Kaleb gave her 2. It was amazing. I told her that he "doesn't talk to teachers" and she asked him if she could be his "big friend" instead. He really likes her. At home he calls her "Miss Naughty." Which is really a term of endearment.


It's weird seeing Kaleb be almost the tallest kid in the class. But I guess he is probably the oldest too. So far, he likes to play with a boy named Broox. He says he always sits next to him at snack time. Here they are lined up, ready to leave the parents for their first day of school. Way to go, Kaleb!


Jaden started 1st grade the week after Kaleb started preschool. He has not been looking forward to it. He really values his playtime at home and was not very happy to be losing more.


One thing he has been happy about was lunchtime. Now that he goes to school all day, he got to pick out a lunchbox and so he feels pretty cool.


Unfortunately most of his good friends from last year are in the other class, so when he came home the first day, he said that he has no friends, and he played by himself.


The first day was pretty rough for him. He cried and said he hated it. But the next day, he bought a school lunch (pizza), and also found some of his old friends and recess, so I think he had a better day.


That night he actually volunteered to say a prayer, (something he rarely does anymore) and in his prayer he said, "Please help me to have a good day, please help me to have a good recess, and please help me to have a good lunch recess." It's obvious what determines a good or bad day for him.


When I picked him up I saw him high-fiving, low-fiving, and hugging about 3 or 4 different boys. I don't know if any of them were from his new class, but he seemed happier.


This is his teacher, Mrs. Reece. I'm not quite sure how I feel about her yet, but Jaden will do fine regardless. He's a good kid.


I have been nervous for Jaden to go to all-day school because he has always been my big helper at home. He makes me feel less outnumbered. He's a really good big brother and really helps takes care of the little ones. But I have been pleasantly surprised with the change in Kaleb, since Jaden has been gone. Kaleb has taken on the role of "big brother," and has started to simmer down. So far, so good.


The first thing Jaden does when he gets home is his homework. Not because he enjoys it, but because for every minute he reads, that's how many minutes he can play Star Wars or Indiana Jones on the Wii. Jaden, you will be just fine... hang in there, bud.