Today was Avery's last day of preschool at Hunter's Glen Baptist Church. What a wonderful year she had! Her teachers are so loving and warm and Avery always looked forward to going to school. Avery will return to HGBC next school year for the 3 year old preschool class 3 days a week.
First day of school Sept 2, 2008 -----------------------Last day of school May 28, 2009
Avery with her friend, Kali
With Mrs. Lisa
With Mrs. Martha Yesterday Ashlyn blurted out that she wishes she could ride in a taxi. I asked her why and she said that it would be so much fun riding in it and putting money in the machine. (she must have seen this on tv?) I thought to myself... you are shuttled around in MY taxi every day and for FREE!!! She clearly has never been in a taxi and still has a lot to learn about money! But I guess I can say she is 'adventurous'!
My newest nickname for Avery is 'peanut' because she wants to eat peanut butter everyday! Not just peanut butter, but cinnamon raisin bread with peanut butter, jelly, and more raisins. She insists on being the chef and says, "My help you!" She even asks to have it for two meals a day sometimes. So I tell her that she just might turn in to a peanut.
Ashlyn just informed me that she has 3 boyfriends. The conversation started with her saying, "Keifer loves me! Well actually, I have 3 boyfriends." I was silent and she continued with, "I had 4 but one moved to another school, so now I have 3 to go." I asked her what the "to go" phrase meant but didn't really get an answer so I then asked about the 'boy' that went to another school. She said "You know Jack. He was in Kindergarten last year so went to a new school this year." Well, no, I don't know Jack although she talked about him a frequently last year. So, last year Ashlyn was in the 3 year old class (she was 3, turned 4 half way through the school year) and she had a Kindergartner as a boyfriend. So at this point in the conversation I can feel my stomach in my throat. I asked her what does 'boyfriend' mean, but she skirted the question and continued to tell me the names of the boys... Keifer, Ryan and Ronan. Ronan is another boy she often mentioned last year, that she played with on the playground and also referred to as her boyfriend last year. Even her teacher last year commented on the friendship and said Ashlyn has good taste (jokingly), that he is a very cute boy from a nice family that she knows well.
Back to the car conversation... after Ashlyn told me the boys' names she then said, and I'm not making one word of this up: "This may sound awkward, but now I need to decide which one (she hesitated and then whispered) I'm going to marry." And she said it with a big smile on her face. By this time we are pulling in to the school car-pool line. I quickly asked her at what age does she think a person is old enough to start thinking about getting married? Well, the conversation was cut short and I got no answer as she jumped out of the car to greet her friends.
I wondered to myself, do I have a 5 year old or 15 year old? I realized how much she learns just from observation of people she views as being important. Our actions, values, priorities already make a big impression on her.
Avery randomly said yesterday, "Where is our Christmas tree?" Just out of the blue, no previous discussion about Christmas or Santa. She asked me several times until I explained that it is in the attic and that required more explanation.
Today, Ashlyn came across a picture in her drawer of herself with Santa from three of years ago. She looked at it and said, "That isn't the real Santa!" and tossed it on the floor. She is way too observant!
It is May, warm, even hot weather, and my girls are suddenly thinking about Christmas. Even though it is my favorite holiday, I simply can't even start to think about Christmas yet! Let's enjoy the summer!!!!
Sometimes kids seem to have their own language and it takes their parents to translate for everyone else to know what they are talking about. A couple funny things the girls have said this week that may need me to translate for anyone else to really understand:
Avery: "My do it my sep" = translation: 'I do it myself.' She always uses "my" for "I" and hasn't mastered 'self' yet, although she can be heard saying this phrase throughout the day with everything she does... getting in the car and buckling her car seat, getting dressed, etc. She doesn't want help with anything, but she needs help with most everything!
Ashlyn: if you ask her what she had for dinner last night she'd tell you "sloppy jones" = sloppy joes
McKenna's 5th birthday 2-21-09
