Registering for Kindergarten

Today I registered my baby for kindergarten. She was so excited. They do a quick assessment with each child and while she was waiting her turn she said, "I'm so ready to start kindergarten. I already know how to sit criss-cross applesauce!"

During her assessment she wrote her name "the kindergarten way", counted crayons, talked about letters and numbers and colors and shapes, and cut out a smiley face. We left with some new crayons and a silly band, pink of course. We won't find out her class assignment until August and they'll do another assessment of her readiness before school officially starts. But she's ready. Of all my children, I feel the most confident of her readiness to start school. Part of it is her, because she is really ready to start more formal schooling. Part of it is me, because we've done this a few times now and I realize that I tend to worry about them more than I need to. At any rate, come September we'll have our youngest in kindergarten.

To celebrate I took her out to lunch. She chose Olive Garden. She had salad and breadsticks and cheese ravioli. She sat with her napkin in her lap and was so polite and well mannered. She even told me that she's not nervous to get her kindergarten shots because she knows that they will keep her healthy. We'll see how she feels when faced with the reality of a couple of booster shots in May, but for now it was a nice, calm - dare I say grown-up? - conversation.

Where in the world has the time gone?

Quotable

William - "I'm not going to kiss on the lips until I get married. Or go on my first date."

Hmmm. Nothing like setting a goal for yourself, I guess.

Also, can I just say how much I love having kids at the ages they are now (for the record, 9, 7 and almost 5)? They all sleep and go to the bathroom independently. They don't need me for Every. Tiny. Little. Thing. Oh, don't get me wrong, I love the baby phase as much as anyone. I don't even mind getting up at night with babies to nurse them, unless they are Tessa and still want to nurse multiple times a night at 13 months. But that's another issue entirely.

This morning Jay went to work early - 5:30 am - and I didn't wake up until 7:30ish. The kids were all up and downstairs and just hanging out. They did come up to see if I was awake, but they don't need me to be up with them anymore.

We're definitely in the Golden Age of Parenting. We'll see how long it lasts. Maybe until Henry decides to act all teenagery and want his own cell phone or something.

Dance Party USA

I finally got some video of the kids playing Just Dance. It's hard to catch them unaware but it's much more fun. Once they realize I'm taking a video they start preening for the camera, as you will see towards the end of this stellar dance performance:

Henry's favorite song on Just Dance is "Viva Las Vegas" and William's is "Rasputin" (don't ask). I'm not sure if Tessa has a favorite song but she sure likes to play the game. Of course Little Miss Drama Queen then lays around the house, saying that she's "exhausted" from all her dancing.

Imagination Movers

It's a wet, cold and snowy March day. Your mom has decided that today is THE DAY to catch up on cleaning and laundry. You don't have preschool or dance class and there are no friends to play with at the moment. You have already watched a bit of TV this morning while your mom was on the treadmill and you just need something to do. You put on your thinking cap and come up with what?

Apparently, if you are Tessa, this:

This game went on for quite a while. After I finished with my cleaning and sat down for a minute, I became the passenger and she and Tiana Bear flew my sisters (three Barbies who look absolutely nothing like me) to Hawaii. It was OK, though, because I read a book during my flight and my captain thoughtfully provided me with a pillow and a blanket to make me comfortable. I was even able to fold a load of laundry. Who knew flying could be so productive?