Friends + Fish = Fun!

We wrapped up September with a fun visit from our friends the Dymocks. They were nice enough to drive up from Portland to hang out with us for the weekend.

We spend Saturday at the Vancouver Aquarium:

 

On our way home we stopped for a bit at the Vancouver Temple. It's fun to bring the kids here since they don't get to see the temple as often as we do.

 

(Little friends Samantha and Connor)

Benjamin is 6!

 Excited to share a birthday treat with his Kindergarten class

 Turning 6 definitely calls for Boomer's and lunch at the park with Dada!

 For some reason we didn't take more birthday pictures, but here are the presents and cake. Benjamin wanted all his Cars cars on top.

 Happy Birthday, Benjamin! We love you more than ever!

Wednesday

 10:35 am: Two sillies sitting on a pantry shelf

And the rest of the day? I have no idea. I may have forgotten to do the 12x12.

Benjamin's First Day of School

 

Benjamin was so excited to start Kindergarten! We talked about it all the time, and I don't remember him expressing any anxiety or fear about it at all. (I was certainly more fearful and anxious than he was.)

During the first week of September he had an "assessment" and was then placed in Ms. Statham's Kindergarten class. 

On Monday morning we took our "first day of school" pictures (of which Rhett and Lucy had to have a part, of course) then drove Benjamin to school! (He was disappointed that he didn't get to ride the bus for the first couple of days.)

I did all of the "my baby is growing up and leaving me" crying the week before he started school, so I was able to leave him at his classroom dry-eyed (though I can't say my heart didn't still ache.) But Lucy cried. A lot. She was so sad when we left Benjamin's kindergarten classroom and didn't bring him with us! (She also cried a few days later the first time the school bus drove off with him.) I think Rhett missed him too, but I could also see that it was nice for Rhett to have time without his big brother around!

I've heard many people I know whose children have birthdays in September or later lament the fact that their child can't start Kindergarten till he or she is almost 6 year old. They want to send them early because they are so smart or so ready or whatever else. I personally have always been so grateful that Benjamin got to stay home with me for another year! I never did wish that he could start Kindergarten early. When the school year started in 2011, I was mindful of the fact that I had exactly one more year with Benjamin entirely in my care. One more year before he would be in school, with a teacher and other students who would no doubt have an influence on him, for better or worse. One more year for me to improve my mothering such that I could feel confident in sending him out from under my wing, knowing that no matter what he encountered in school he would always want to come home to me.

It's only Kindergarten. I know.

But I needed that year, and I'm glad we both got it.

Soccer

Benjamin started playing soccer in the fall. Beginning in September they had a practice and a game every week through the end of October.

He was pretty excited to be on a team with his good friends Caleb and Harold. They practiced on the grass at the elementary school. I think you have to be a special kind of person to coach 5-year-olds at soccer.

The first game!

Let's just say that this season Benjamin did a whole lot of running! I don't think he scored any goals (though he did come close), but he definitely had a great time (he had a huge grin on his face the entire time he played) and is excited to play again in the spring.

Rhett and Lucy were sure troopers (especially Rhett). They came to every game and practice. We wish Rhett could play in the spring too, but he'll have to wait till the fall.