Field Trip Chaperon

Since it's the month of the military child, its fitting to do a post about my recent chaperon experience with A's school.

When I was growing up, my parents were never able to come to any of my field trips.  I don't resent them for it, I understand that they were busy working and providing for our family.  I can't say that I wasn't jealous of the other kids whose parents tagged along.  I always wished my parents would come.  I know they would have if they could.

So when A's first field trip came up and her school was asking for chaperons I totally volunteered!  Right after, I immediately became nervous.  How would I handle all theses preschoolers?  I know I wouldn't be doing this alone, but the task was daunting....I'm not the best with kids. lol :)  For starters I don't have patience and I hate going to places with big crowds {unless its the mall}.  Either way, I was excited and stoked about getting to hang with my sweet pea and her school.  She was really excited too, it had been awhile since we had done something together.

Since sweet pea is attending a new school, this was actually their first field trip.  The plan was to go to the aquarium.  Its not just any aquarium, its the 3rd largest aquarium in the world.  It used to be 2nd, but a new one was built in Dubai.  We've been a handful of times before as a family so I was familiar with the place.  That put me at ease a lil bit.  For this being the first field trip this school has every put together, it was coordinated pretty nicely.  I'm sure its no picnic to plan and travel with 60 plus kids and a handful of adults.

 We traveled in nice buses up there and back.  The kids were watching Finding Nemo on the way up to get pumped for the trip.  It ended up being a beautiful spring day. We had a great time.  I loved seeing the kids light up witch each tank we visited.  I loved that A was so happy that I was there.  She made it a point to introduce me to everyone in her class.  I loved being able to talk to the teachers and staff, putting faces with names.  I loved seeing sweet pea interact with all her lil friends.  She is actually quite popular...there were lots of kids who wanted to be her walking partner. :)  It melted my heart. I literally stressed for no reason.  And I would do it again in a heartbeat.  I love that I am able to be involved with my kids' school and help when needed.

                                     

      

                            

                             

Parent Teacher Conference

Went to a parent - teacher conference for Amelia yesterday.  To be honest I was a lil afraid of what I was going to hear.  I know I have my ups and downs with her, I could only imagine what her teachers had to say.  Don't get me wrong, Mills is a very smart, sweet, funny, creative, and playful lil girl....when she wants to be.  She has days when she is down right NAUGHTY!  I mean, we all do, but its hard to hear it from someone else.  Especially a teacher.  This is the 2nd year that I have been to a conference for Mills.  She had one last year at Kuwaue Preschool.  So this is my first one at her new school, Early Learners International school.

I really don't know what I had to worry about.  Her teacher and the teacher assistant had nothing but great things to say about Mills. I immediately felt guilty for being worried... gosh I wanted to punch myself.  I felt like a terrible parent.  I'm glad I kept my thoughts to myself, but I shouldn't have thought that.  I should have kept positive thoughts.  {Kicking myself} She has only been there since October, but she has improved a lot.  They showed me work that she was doing in the beginning to where she is now and its crazy how much has changed.  They mentioned that she is awesome at crafts and she loves to do them.  I'm not much of a craft person, but I think I'll get into it now that I know she loves them.

All in all she is doing well.  I'm really happy to see that and hear that.  The school she is going to is new, so I had some speculation.  I see now that my daughter is learning and she is happy. They are preparing for their Holiday Program.  I cant wait to see :)

{on a side note}

I can't believe Christmas is 19 days!!!

Today Nolan had a complete melt down in the store, it was crazy and mortifying.

Morgan has duty tonight, lame

Halloween Parade

Halloween Parade

Amelia had her first Halloween parade at her new preschool.  I've never heard of it before but it was pretty fun.  The whole school walked down to the streets singing songs and saying happy Halloween in Japanese.  Lots of people came out of their houses, stores, and businesses just to take pictures of the kids and with the kids.  All I could hear was "kawaii", meaning cute in Japanese.  The school made a couple of stops on their parade route, they stopped at the Japanese police station, where they got candy and some info on being safe on Halloween night.  Then we stopped at a Japanese preschool and trick or treated.

I don't know if the Japanese celebrate Halloween.  Off base there is no trick or treating.  On base it's open for the night of Halloween to all local nationals to trick or treat.  It's pretty awesome seeing all the kids trick or treating, it's nothing I've ever seen....it's just kids as far as the eye can see. Most people sit outside their houses or keep their doors open because trick or treaters just keep in coming!

Hope everyone has a fun and safe Halloween

The Struggle Begins...

The struggle begins…

For a looooooooooooooong time I’ve taken pride and joy in picking out what Mills wears.  Baby and little girls seriously have the BEST clothes.  Nothing like what I grew up with.  Baby and kids clothing now is just regular clothes only small.  Unfortunately I don’t have the option to go to the mall and buy clothes to my heart’s content.  So I go online and spend lots and lots of time shopping for the wee ones.   Anyways, I’m getting off topic.  Mills is now interested in picking out her own clothes!!! ::gasp::  I know!   She doesn’t even take a look at the options I lay out for her, she just go to her closet and starts picking.  We struggle , a lot!  She of course doesn’t understand the concept of matching, dressing for the weather, or dressing of the occasion.   Morgan just laughs at me while I stress out.  I knew it was coming eventually but I thought when the time came she would still love the outfits I pick for her and keep wearing them.  ::sigh::  Right now we are taking it slow, its more of a team effort then a one woman show at this point.  But off she goes…growing up so fast ;)

Her outfit of choice with a lil bit of help from me-

Hello Kitty tank & shorts: Target

Heart socks: Old Navy

Foofa purse: Unknown

Shoes: Stride Rite

First Day of School

It was a crazy day for both of us. I think more crazy for myself then for Mills.  She had her first day of Pre-school!  Now I didn't realize that kids went to pre-school so early, I thought the going age was 4, but I guess now it's 3.  This whole pre-school business started May 2012, that is when open registration started.  Normally I wouldn't even think about signing up Mills for school in May when school starts in September, however there is only ONE pre-school on base in all of Okinawa.  To make matters worse, I found out that there were only 32 open spots for Mills age in that school.  This island is all about first come first serve and competition is stiff with about 55,000 families on island.  So 55,000 families, 1 pre-school on base, and 32 spots for 3 year olds, hmmmm the odds were stacking up.  So I decided that I would go super duper early to the school on the day of sign ups.  I heard horror stories of Moms waiting in line the night before to get their children into that school. Sign ups started at 7 am and unfortunately were happening when Morgan was out on an exercise.  So I enlisted my friend Len to watch Mills for me and I went to the school at 4 am, oh and I was 9 months pregnant!  Well, I was able to get her in and in the time slot that I wanted so it all ended up working out.

Fast forward to September and the first day of school.  It's not the first time Mills has been in a school setting or away from me for a few hours, so it didn't seem that big a deal to me.  I just figured I'd take a few pics, drop her off, run some errands and come pick her up.  But it totally hit me as I was driving away from her school after dropping her off, she is growing up.  *sigh* I mean she really isn't my baby girl anymore, she is a 3 year old, pre-school going, potty trained, big sister, and a little kid.  Now to her, I'm sure its just a fun couple of hours playing with friends but it's a big deal.  She shed no tears when I left and she seemed excited to be there.  All of which I am very happy for.  But now I know time is only going to fly by faster and before I know it she is going to be walking down the aisle to get her high school diploma.  I know its cliche to say, but kids grow up so fast.  Here is to a wonderful first year of pre-school.