The Night Before Kindergarten...

I asked Andy this morning if he was going to start drinking at 7:05 tomorrow morning, but he said that his boss doesn't allow him to drink on the job. At first I thought, gosh what a bitch and then realized that I think his boss might make an exception tomorrow :-)

Tomorrow begins full day kindergarten and Andy and I could not be more ready! Declan? Well, he's getting there... Last week we did all the prep work. Andy and I had parents night Wednesday night where we met his teacher and all the parents of the kids in Declan's class. We met Jack's parents (Jack will sit right next to Declan in class). We all came to the conclusion that it likely won't last long as they are two peas in a pod. I'm predicting Jack will be Declan's new best friend. We love the parents, as they too come from the school of "my kid isn't perfect" and are quite different from many of the parents that we've met so far... The next day we had Kindergarten "sneak a peek" where the kids visit their classroom, meet their teacher and the best part, get to see the gym, lunch room and playground. He met Jack and sure enough they hit it off (or like Declan says, "we were friends just like this - BAM!") Declan was very polite to his teacher before he and Jack started chasing each other around the room. His teach, Mrs Warren, just looked at us and said "I'll take care of that." Andy and I have bets on him being in the principals office by week 3. We'll see. But regardless it seems like he is ready and isn't saying "I hate school" every couple of minutes. Now let's just pray for his teacher :-) From what we heard, she's the best in the school for Kindergarten so I think we really lucked out. I'm sure she'll have Declan whipped into shape in no time :-) On Friday morning we did a test run on the bus and the parents could come with. Friday also marked the first time in about 4 years since Declan has woken up before 7 AM. As much as we've been blessed with late sleeping kids, it's going to be a rough first week. The bus picks him up at 7:04 AM and drops him at 2:40 PM - during that time will be bliss time for Andy with just having to manage the girls and the timing couldn't be more perfect since the girls are still sleeping that early and should be napping when he is dropped off. Will give Andy the first opportunity in months to not have to pack all the kids up and run Declan too and from places. Hence the reason I fully expect him to be hammered all day long tomorrow.

Here are some pictures from these few days... This is Declan's reaction when I told him I couldn't believe our 'baby' was going to kindergarten and I was reminding him of when he was a baby and I wasn't sure he was old enough to go to school... I was doing the same thing tonight and Declan said, point blank "geez mom, just relax - and go take a nap." I'm not sure he's ready... Again, I pray for his teacher.

On the playground. This school so reminds me of where Declan and I went to elementary school, but bigger and newer :-) It's got a wide open parking lot for the kids to play in and an old school cement track. I foresee a lot of girl kissing during recess.

Early morning bus ride :-)

Here are a few other pictures from the weekend... Kids in the choo choo - and Aven hitting Declan.

Love this photo...

Swinging!

Declan, Stevie, Aven and Bria - no one looking, per usual...

Still not looking...

Oh - we have one looking! and one with a very soggy diaper :-)

Stevie picking her nose, per usual...

BFFs

Aven showing daddy the imaginary water on her hands...

Shortly after Aven pushed Stevie out of the way...

Declan and Bria having an intense conversation. He's telling her that mommy will give him $5 if he can get all of them to look and smile for a picture. He did not make any money this day...

Aven giving me the oh mom look...

Daddy and Declan...

And a note to future babysitters... Aven wakes  up naked, every. single. day. So be prepared to wash pee soaked bedding every morning and afternoon. And Bria only takes purple nuks. No lie, only purple and even when it's 2 AM and pitch black, she has night vision and knows when you try and put a pink nuk in her mouth. So you mush search around a pitch black room for that one purple nuk. Oh, and we only have one left and stores don't carry the same kind. We may have an issue soon :-) Also, Bria only takes her blanket one way. You must put it on her at bedtime with the print side up. No reason, it's just the way she likes it or she will scream until it's fixed. She could of course fix it herself, but she's 2 and not very reasonable. Stevie likes to play games. If you enter the room to settle one of her sisters at any point in the night, she will throw her nuk, blanket, socks or whatever else she thinks is funny so that you will be forced to give them back to her and pat her back. She just wants to be sure no one forgets her. That is all. Just another day in the life 4 kids :-)