Kindergarten Report

Nicholas came home with a homework assignment on Friday. I thought, oh great, homework over the weekend. Oh no, it's even better than that. It was his homework for the next week which is to write a report. That's right, my Kindergartener, whom I have to fight with every night to do easy five minute homework, has to write a report and make a model of an animal in the ocean. Are these people crazy?? They send home his homework for us to redo when his handwriting isn't neat enough. Seriously, the kid is five, how neat can his handwriting really be, isn't he supposed to be learning?? Now he has to write a report. Granted, it's not super long, the questions are fairly easy, but come on - he's five!! Are my standards too low? Am I the one who is ridiculous? I don't know, but we are off to the library this afternoon to find information about hammerhead sharks. Maybe I'll get some clay and he can make a shark out of the that.

A Successful Trip

Nicholas did have a wonderful time with his dad. They went skiing, he rode alone on a snowmobile (great idea I must say), sledding, and rode horses. I think my favorite part of the trip was when (as told by Nicholas) he drank a ton of gatorade and then threw it up all over the restaurant because he had a stomach bug. According to Nicholas, it was the most he has ever thrown up and it was everywhere. I am sure that his father enjoyed that one! I am so glad he is home safely and that he did have a great time.

Snow Skiing

Nicholas has left for his trip to Utah with his dad and his new wife and her family. He was excited as can be and I am glad that his dad came through with the plans and taking him. I will be calling him all the time to make sure he is OK! It was very hard to watch him walk down the sidewalk with his dad, this is the first trip he has taken with him alone. I know he is going to have a great time!

The Star of the Show!

My son was the star of the show on Friday! He was singing and doing the arm motions, he was awesome! No other Kindergartener (except maybe Sebastien, who is lethal to fourth graders by the way) could compare! He was so cute up there in his plaid shirt and dress pants. I can't stop watching the video. I know he wasn't the real star of the show but he was to me!

Boat Parade

Nicholas had the best time ever at the boat parade last night. Not only did he get to see his best buddy, Steven, he also got to hang out with his friends. Talk about feeling like one of the guys! He even enjoyed watching the boats all lit up as they drove by. We had a great time!

Christmas Play

Tonight is Nicholas' Christmas play at school! He is so excited to be up on stage! I hope he doesn't get nervous. He doesn't usually so he should be great, keep your fingers crossed! Oh, I better go find the video camera!

My Poor Baby

My sad guy is having trouble in school. He is upset about the divorce. It has been two years but now he is having trouble in school with everything. His teacher called me today and she is worried about him. I don't know if he has figured out that his dad is remarried or if it's just the holidays. It seems strange that he would act out in school now when he hasn't done that at all this whole time. I am going to keep an eye on him. I did ask him if he wanted to talk. He said that it bothers him that everyone at dad's house says shit all the time. I don't know. Nicholas just isn't much of a talker so I don't know how to get him to open up to me. You would think I could figure it out, I am his mom after all.

Loose Teeth

Nicholas' best friend Sebastien lost a tooth a couple of weeks ago. Now he has another tooth that is loose. Nicholas is now trying to wiggle all of his teeth to see when one will pop out of his mouth! He just can't figure out why his teeth won't move. He thought for sure that one would get loose before Bash had a second one loose. He really wants the tooth fairy to come and visit!

Santa is Coming

Nicholas is so ready for Santa to come. I think his list is a mile long, if I actually wrote down everything he asked for!! Every single commercial, that isn't for a girl of course, he asks me to add it to his list. Some of the things I would have written down 20 times if I actually did it. I hope this Christmas is better than last year for him. I think it will be, he's getting some pretty exciting gifts. Today I am going to show him a website my friend Lori sent me to, www.northpole.com where he can write a letter to Santa and find out all about what goes on up there.

This can't be happening . . .

On Friday, while driving to drop the boys off at their dad's, the unthinkable happened. Nicholas and I had our first sex talk. Here is an overview of our conversation -

Nicholas - Mom, did you scream when Christopher was born?
Me - No, I didn't scream.
N - Did you scream when I was born?
Me - No.
N - Why didn't you scream? The Hulk's mom screamed when he was born.
Me - The doctor gives you medication that makes you feel better so it doesn't hurt and you don't have to scream.
N - Oh. The Hulk's mom didn't have that medicine because she was screaming. How does the baby come out?
Me - The doctor takes the baby out.
N - Where does the doctor take the baby out of on the mom?
Me - He just takes the baby out because it's time for the baby to come out.
N - But where does the baby come out of the mom?
Me - It's private for girls, you don't have to worry about that.
N - Where does the baby come out, just tell me, I won't tell anyone.
Me - It's not that you can't tell anyone, it's just that it's girls stuff.
N - Tell me mom, I want to know! (yelling at this point)
Me - The baby comes out of the mom's private parts.
N - Like the mom's penis?
Me - No, girls have different parts and that's where the baby comes out of.
N - What it's called? Is it the nuts?
Me - No, it's called the vagina, girls don't have the same parts as boys do.
N - So the baby goes out of your butt?
Me - No, it's down there but it's more like where you go pee from.
N - Oh, OK mom. So the baby comes out from where you pee.
Me - Something like that, yes. This is something we only talk about with our family. Babies and private parts are private, so if you have questions and want to talk about only talk about it with your family not your friends, OK?
N - Mom, can we listen to the air song now?

A Political Debate between Five Year Olds

Tuesday afternoon in the car on the way home from school:

Nicholas - Mom, did you call into the radio station and tell them you were voting for Obama?
Mom - No, I didn't.
Nicholas - Did you go vote for Barack Obama?
Mom - Yes, I did.
Sebastien - That's good, Miss Trisha, that's who I would vote for.
Nicholas - Yeah, me, too. I really like Barack Obama.
Sebastien - I don't like John McCain, he's a bad guy.
Nicholas - Whose John McCain?
Mom - The other man who is running for president.
Nicholas - I would vote for John McCain.
Sebastien - No, Nicholas, you can't for John McCain he takes away money and jobs from people.
Nicholas - No he doesn't, I am voting for him.
Sebastien - Well, I still want Obama. Go Obama!
Nicholas - Mom, do you think I can go inside at Sebastien's house and play the Wii for a few minutes?

We were off to see the Wizard . . .

Yesterday, Nicholas and I went to see the Wizard of Oz with Amy and Zachary. We had a fabulous time! Nicholas' eyes were glued to the stage. When he was asking questions, he wouldn't even turn his head for a second, he didn't want to miss what was happening! I thought about watching the movie with him before we went but then I decided that maybe it would be more fun for him to watch it the first time on stage. I asked him afterwards what his favorite part was and his reply was "The whole thing, mom!" What made my day was when I was getting ready he asked, "Why are you wearing pretty clothes mom?" I said, "We are getting dressed up for the play. That's what people do when they go. Why, do you want me to wear something else?" "No, wear your pretty clothes mom, you look very pretty."

Karate

Tonight Nicholas tried Karate for the first time. He absolutely loved it! He was even able to chop the board in half. The other moms were impressed with this, they said usually the kids can't do it the first time. The only down side was that when we came home, he kept Karate chopping me!

Hockey Player

Nicholas has really been improving in his hockey. A few months ago he didn't go near the puck very much when the kids played against each other. Last night, he was following the puck around and actually trying to get it! The kids have jerseys now so they look like a team, it was the cutest thing ever. He is going to try Karate on Monday. I wonder how that is going to go!

Just like Mom

Nicholas has discovered the nurse's office at school. I have received two phone calls home this week because he doesn't feel good. Both times I have been able to convince him to stay yet I think it's becoming a pattern. If he is going to take after me, then he will be up there everyday trying to come home. I just don't think God should punish me like this. I don't even remember all the things like this I put my mom through. Will Markie have perfect kids because he was so perfect growing up??

Starting to Read

Nicholas and I have practicing his sight words which is the beginning step of starting to read. So far he knows 15 words by sight. His teacher sent home a little book made out of paper that the kids are using to learn to read. It says "I see b, I see y, I see b, d, and y." Really simple, in a pattern but boy did it bring tears to my eyes when Nicholas read the whole thing to me!! The book has like 8 pages in it and he could tell me what every letter and word said. My baby is growing up, he is reading to me!!

Adjusting to School

Nicholas has been enjoying school. He loves his teacher and enjoys everything they are doing. The only thing he doesn't understand is why he can't just go home after lunch. He thinks I should be able to pick him up because all they do after lunch is take a nap and then play outside. In a way, he is right, it's just that Florida State Law that keeps me from actually doing it.

Hurricane Day

Our hurricane day was not a hurricane day at all. In fact, there wasn't even a drop of rain!! So we spent our day at the movies with Kristyn, Sebastien, and Steven. We saw Stars Wars The Clone Wars and we loved every minute of it. The best part was when Sebastien asked all of us to name our favorite parts on the way out. When did he get big enough to ask questions like that? These kids are growing up so fast! Back to school tomorrow!

The First Day

Nicholas was just adorable on his first day back to school. He had his uniform on and was ready to go! He loves his teacher and his classroom. He said a prayer, played outside, had snack, played in centers, and learned to clap quietly with his two pointer fingers. He demonstrated this by telling me to repeat after him, showing me how, and then telling me to try. It was so adorable I couldn't stand it. As for the second day of school, it has been cancelled due to the hurricane that is currently over the Keys. At least I won't have to wait an hour in car line tomorrow, that is one good thing!

The First Day of School Eve

Tomorrow marks the beginning of Nicholas' full time school career. Gone are the days of going to the aquarium, zoo, or library any time we want to. Now he will be in school from 8 in the morning until 3 in the afternoon. It will just be Christopher and I, wandering around waiting for Nicholas to come back home. As I have said a hundred times before, it's hard to believe five years has already gone by. Where did the time go? Why did my baby have to grow up so quickly?? His teacher this year is Ms. Ortiz and we met her today. She was very nice and the classroom is similar to the one he was in last year. I know he is going to have a great year, I just hope he doesn't spend too much time talking about playstation and videogames! So, at 6:15 tomorrow morning, the school year begins and Nicholas will officially be in Kindergarten.