May 10, 2008 Ship of Thieves! Stealing the Magic..AGAIN!!! Panama Canal FL to CA!!! Part 4

[Jhalkias]

Tyler turns 5 in May, so I was happy that he'll be a little older, since he doesn't adapt to change very well. But it sounds like him being a few months beyond 5 isn't really the deciding factor. Well, I have been slightly worried anyway because he has no interest in learning and absolutely fights it at all costs. I hope they do some sort of testing at the school he'll be going to in order to determine whether they think he's ready.

Alex and I share our birthday in June - so he started school just like I did, the fall following. No harm done for either of us.

Sophia, however, being born in February, would be an older Kindergartner.

I know people who held children back for sports or to keep their two kids closer in grade. Not that we had the opportunity,but we would do neither.

 

[kimerinc]

I don't think I mentioned how the conferance was for Samantha...luckily they schedule them during nap time so the children don't see you.
The teachers use an assessment book that has Fall, Winter, Spring - this was Samantha's first in this room and each assessment is based on 1, 2 or 3 with 3 being the highest. This in turn goes to their K teacher when them move to Kindergarten.
They started off telling me how she made a great transition into the room - she and two boys moved up at the same time, the two boys were new into the school. The teachers evaluate how the children interact with already made groups etc and said that Samantha plays with everyone and has already learned to back away from catty situations before they escalate (with other girls) - isn't it early for that kind of behavior???
She was already at a 3 level for most everything - so I am not sure where that leaves her for the next two evals...I hope she continues to thrive and grow, her 2 was writing her name. She can do SAM...but the rest is a bit sketchy. Her darn mom had to give her a long name!
They commented on her imaginative play and how she loves to dress up and that they think she'll work for Disney some day. I thought that was funny, if they only knew!

At first I was a bit sad that she won't be going to K this year - I had a Nov bday and started when I was 4 and turned 5 that year but the start date was different. As I look at all the children going most all just a few months older than her, I now realize the advantage the extra year will give her. Being the lone duck, these children move on and the next class moves up in August. Her teachers think she will be great at leading the class in terms of helping the new students learn the rules of the classroom etc.

I did ask about her behavior in class, if she listens etc and they both commented on how well behaved she is and she listens well, although sometimes has to use the restroom when pick up time comes around. I always worry how she is behaving because at home, we are pretty lax -- bad parenting I know, the girls know what they can get away with. I am happy to know that she does well at school.
Sorry this is so long, I am just so proud of her! I did pick up some K workbooks that have different activities in, I would like to set aside even 20 minutes and evening to work in them or on somthing so the idea of homework will be planted early! I know teachers start giving it out early, not sure of K though.

V - She sounds like she is doing really well... Also, the other really cool thinkg about waiting is she will have her drivers license earlier rather than being the last one....

You are a good mom!

 

[clynne]

to hold back....ready? So the kid will be older/bigger for ATHLETICS!!!! WHAT?!?!?

Isn't that just nuts? Now, my DD turned 5 in June, started K in August and is still, by far, the tallest girl in the class. The one boy who is taller has been six for about 6 months!

I wish we'd considered starting school later for our oldest. He really would have benefited from an extra year of maturation. Ah well. He did manage to graduate last year...barely...

Carolyn

 

[clynne]

Jackie...Please tell Miss Victoria hello from us all. Will she be coming to the meet in May??

Lisa/LiserAnn....meant to tell you how cute Drew was in the bike riding picture! Looks like he's ready to take on the world!

Carolyn

 

[clynne]

We are over at the Oregon Coast for a few days in our MH again. DrHug is working Wed-Fri here in Lincoln City. My mom and I are doing absolutely nothing today! Tomorrow we plan to visit a few of the shops along the coast highway, walk on the beach a bit and go to the outlet mall for Harry and David's dark chocolate truffles.

Sounds perfect! My aunt has antique mall spaces in Manzanita and Nehalem, but that's probably too far north for a tooling along the coast day, huh?

Hope you have good weather for your shopping...

Carolyn

 

[fourmcds]

now I've heard as a reason to hold back....ready? So the kid will be older/bigger for ATHLETICS!!!! WHAT?!?!?

We have friends that did this...their son is very small and they are VERY competitive. So far it has worked out, but all of his friends are a grade higher than him in school....There were 6 of them in the same "new mom's" group and the other 5 are in 3rd grade and he is in 2nd. He doesn't understand why he is a grade below. I couldn't ever understand doing it for sports reasons (but I know neither of my girls will become amazing sports stars (it just isn't in their genes)).

 

[mom_of_2_princesses]

Vanessa,

It will all work out in the long run. My DD is born in August so she will be one of the youngest. Our preschool gives out weekly packets just like Kindergarten so DD will be ready. Maybe, ask them if they can start giving her a packet a week to start on. They work on one letter both capital and little and the numbers 1 through 20. Also take a yellow highlighter and write her name on the big Kindergarten paper they sell at the dollar store and have her trace it once and then write it herself. Those long names kill you. My last name was Applegarth. I was glad to get rid of that. Maybe the teachers here have something to help you out also.

 

[cdnmickeylover]

Sounds like she's doing well. What is the cut off criteria? Sorry if I missed it.

Gave my son a long name too -- Christopher, and he wouldn't shorten it to Chris so for Kindergarten and grade one his name always took up two lines!

Weather is great here - a little cool but much better than it was. No more snow in the forecast at least.

We are probably going to do the 6.5K Tower of Terror event in October which should be fun. Incentive to get up and get outside and walk in this nice weather.

Fiona

 

[been2marceline]

not there yet Deb!!!! Maz went last week, we go tomorrow!


Just a flying visit as I still have so much to do before we go tomorrow, and we've been really busy the last few days so don't have time to catch up with all the pages...boo!!!

My friend's wedding went well on Saturday, she had a beautiful day for it, I have some photo's if anyone is interested?

Dad enjoyed his Birthday on Sunday with us there and my brother and sil too. We took them out to dinner on Friday night to our fave Spanish restaurant where the owners are the friendliest people I've ever met and still remamber us from when we used to live around there. I had the best paella!

Anyway, just spent a fortune on all those last minute bits and pieces for teh trip....should have waited and got them over there in the US, I'm sure it's much cheaper really.


Hope everyone is well....I'm keeping you all in my thoughts and will be thinking of you while I'm cruising...I may even have a glass of champagne and toast us Champagne girls for next year!

'Talk' to you all again in a couple of weeks or so!

Hi Mandy,

I knew you had a wedding, etc. this weekend, but thought it was far away.

You can always email us from the ship!! 2 weeks is a long time!!

Have fun!!

Karen

 

[LiserAnn]

Lisa/LiserAnn....meant to tell you how cute Drew was in the bike riding picture! Looks like he's ready to take on the world!

Thanks...he's pretty proud of himself. He rides everyday in our backyard--we put a perimeter side walk around our yard so that the kids could ride their bikes safely and not have to go out front.

 

[been2marceline]

I don't think I mentioned how the conferance was for Samantha...luckily they schedule them during nap time so the children don't see you.
The teachers use an assessment book that has Fall, Winter, Spring - this was Samantha's first in this room and each assessment is based on 1, 2 or 3 with 3 being the highest. This in turn goes to their K teacher when them move to Kindergarten.
They started off telling me how she made a great transition into the room - she and two boys moved up at the same time, the two boys were new into the school. The teachers evaluate how the children interact with already made groups etc and said that Samantha plays with everyone and has already learned to back away from catty situations before they escalate (with other girls) - isn't it early for that kind of behavior???
She was already at a 3 level for most everything - so I am not sure where that leaves her for the next two evals...I hope she continues to thrive and grow, her 2 was writing her name. She can do SAM...but the rest is a bit sketchy. Her darn mom had to give her a long name!
They commented on her imaginative play and how she loves to dress up and that they think she'll work for Disney some day. I thought that was funny, if they only knew!

At first I was a bit sad that she won't be going to K this year - I had a Nov bday and started when I was 4 and turned 5 that year but the start date was different. As I look at all the children going most all just a few months older than her, I now realize the advantage the extra year will give her. Being the lone duck, these children move on and the next class moves up in August. Her teachers think she will be great at leading the class in terms of helping the new students learn the rules of the classroom etc.

I did ask about her behavior in class, if she listens etc and they both commented on how well behaved she is and she listens well, although sometimes has to use the restroom when pick up time comes around. I always worry how she is behaving because at home, we are pretty lax -- bad parenting I know, the girls know what they can get away with. I am happy to know that she does well at school.
Sorry this is so long, I am just so proud of her! I did pick up some K workbooks that have different activities in, I would like to set aside even 20 minutes and evening to work in them or on somthing so the idea of homework will be planted early! I know teachers start giving it out early, not sure of K though.

Most of the kids in DD's group that were delayed because of Birthday have benefitted from it. There are a couple of her friends that are August girls that probably should have waited an extra year.

Of course, they are all different. One of her best friends is also one of her youngest friends and she is very mature and at the top of her class.

Good to get her rolling with homework. When our DD was in Kindergarten they did not do homework, but they are starting some of the patterns that she did in first grade in K now!!

Just too little time for them to be kids anymore!!

You should be proud!!

Karen

 

[HollyTyler]

Thanks...he's pretty proud of himself. He rides everyday in our backyard--we put a perimeter side walk around our yard so that the kids could ride their bikes safely and not have to go out front.

That's such a cool idea! I've never heard of anybody doing that......I'd love to do that too!

 

[been2marceline]

Tyler turns 5 in May, so I was happy that he'll be a little older, since he doesn't adapt to change very well. But it sounds like him being a few months beyond 5 isn't really the deciding factor. Well, I have been slightly worried anyway because he has no interest in learning and absolutely fights it at all costs. I hope they do some sort of testing at the school he'll be going to in order to determine whether they think he's ready.

Our DD, Alex, is a February kid, so it was a no brainer! She falls right in the middle of things too!

Is Tyler reward oriented? (Read Bribary Oriented...) It's always good to see if you can "reward/bribe" him into learning to love to learn!! Good teachers help with that too!

Karen

 

[been2marceline]

We are over at the Oregon Coast for a few days in our MH again. DrHug is working Wed-Fri here in Lincoln City. My mom and I are doing absolutely nothing today! Tomorrow we plan to visit a few of the shops along the coast highway, walk on the beach a bit and go to the outlet mall for Harry and David's dark chocolate truffles. We will head back home on Saturday.

We have our photo A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes framed and hanging in the bedroom now with our Disney ship's clock under it and DrHug got a horn that you can put your own tune on and we recorded the DCL ship horn and put it on. Too fun!

What a wonderful day you are having!! And a wonderful life too! Just going to live vivaciously through you as I LOVE Harry and David's dark chocolate truffles!!!

Karen

 

[HollyTyler]

Our DD, Alex, is a February kid, so it was a no brainer! She falls right in the middle of things too!

Is Tyler reward oriented? (Read Bribary Oriented...) It's always good to see if you can "reward/bribe" him into learning to love to learn!! Good teachers help with that too!

Karen

Actually, after I typed that about him fighting learning and me being worried about him being ready for kindergarten, he proved me wrong when I picked him up from day care after work. When I got there, the teacher was doing letter flash cards with the kids. I hid outside the door, peeking around the corner to watch and listen. Tyler was the first one to yell out every letter, including saying something that starts with that letter. I told the teacher about how I had been worried about him and she told me he was the only kid there that could tell her every single letter (I got there at the tail end of the alphabet). Because they learn stuff all day long and practice lots there, he probably just doesn't want to do any more when he gets home. Makes sense to me!

 

[tlb2864]

As far as I know, Alaska airlines will book about 11 months out for all flights (from the return date). I don't know if all airlines have the same policy though. I have June 25 noted on my calendar to start looking for good ticket prices. Are most people buying 2 one way tickets (if you need flights both ways) or looking into triangle flights pricing? Any idea which is cheaper?

I checked Alaska yesterday and they are only going through mid-march right now. We'll probably get multi-city tickets. Seattle to Orlando and LA to Seattle. Looks like they will cost around $375 - $440 depending on what time we want to leave Seattle. I've decided to buy my kids' tickets to Orlando/Seattle for Christmas, as they are going with us to the parks the week before the cruise. I'm hoping to use points for one and a companion ticket for the other. That way I should be able to get 4 tickets for about the price of 3.

 

[MrsMork]

Sounds perfect! My aunt has antique mall spaces in Manzanita and Nehalem, but that's probably too far north for a tooling along the coast day, huh?

Hope you have good weather for your shopping...

Carolyn

Those are north of Tillamook. A couple of hours drive from here. It would be doable, but we need to pick DrHug up for lunch in the middle of our trek so we will stay local. Florence is my very favorite town on the Oregon coast, but it too is a couple of hours south so not in the plans this trip.

 

[LiserAnn]

That's such a cool idea! I've never heard of anybody doing that......I'd love to do that too!

When we bought our house and I looked at the (then) dirt lot, I said to my DH, I know I won't be able to be out front all the time, and for now, the yard is for the kids (we adults can have our yard back a little later in life), so let's put in a perimeter walk and they can ride bikes, scooters, etc. and be safe and I won't have to be right there...I can watch from the kitchen. During Drew's first year he had reflux horribly, so I used to prop him up in the stroller (sitting up helps with reflux) and we'd walk round the yard while Ryan napped. I was never happier with that decision during those moments!!!

 

[clynne]

Those are north of Tillamook. A couple of hours drive from here. It would be doable, but we need to pick DrHug up for lunch in the middle of our trek so we will stay local. Florence is my very favorite town on the Oregon coast, but it too is a couple of hours south so not in the plans this trip.

Grew up in Coos Bay...big city compared to Florence...

Carolyn

 

[lillygator]

Vanessa,

It will all work out in the long run. My DD is born in August so she will be one of the youngest. Our preschool gives out weekly packets just like Kindergarten so DD will be ready. Maybe, ask them if they can start giving her a packet a week to start on. They work on one letter both capital and little and the numbers 1 through 20. Also take a yellow highlighter and write her name on the big Kindergarten paper they sell at the dollar store and have her trace it once and then write it herself. Those long names kill you. My last name was Applegarth. I was glad to get rid of that. Maybe the teachers here have something to help you out also.

Actually, her class has completed the alphabet already...they did a letter a week for 26 weeks and then went on to theme weeks (which is were they are now) and have done 1-20 as well -- actually to 100 and learning to count by fives...I remember when we all (parents) had to bring in small items so the kids could count them out....m&m's, pretzel sticks, marshmallows..... So she will get another dose this coming year. I can say for this preschool, the children are pretty prepared for K when they do go. She does bring home a weekly reader type activity booklet as well.

Fl's cutoff is now age 5 by Sept 1. Haley is a Feb baby so no worries there!!
In another sense I am shocked, shocked that my baby is growing up and then to have conversations with her....just amazes me - she is just such a sweet fun spirit. The other night I came home and talked to John and said you know - our lives are what they are, I am not going to be dancing with Alvin Ailey or on Broadway and you are not going to be playing ball for $$ - what we can do is be the best role model for these two girls and hopefully give them enough love that they will go on to grow into amazing individuals....

So --- we got home tonight to a PACKAGE! The outfits I had made for the girls to wear on the cruise came - they are GORGEOUS! I want one myself!!

Thanks for listening to me ramble....