Connor Turns Five

Kindergarten

Connor seems to be enjoying kindergarten. He seems happy enough to go there every day, though we don't hear a whole lot about what goes on. Today he had to do some work in order to go to the play stations. He cannot remember what the work was.
They started off with lines, shapes, and colors. They are practicing writing and spelling their first names. This week's letter is "L." Connor has some homework related to the /l/ sound. They have some basic sight words to learn. The phonics curriculum is the same he learned last year.
Every day they attend one activity. Monday is P.E., one day is computer lab, one day is music, Thursday is health and fitness, Friday is library.
In the morning he goes with a neighbor to school. We pick him up from after-school care. Next week he will start riding the bus home.
There is only one thing that I don't like. In a matter of days, Connor's speech changed in one MAJOR way: he is pronouncing his I's flat in the good old southern tradition. You know when you read southern vernacular in novels? "Ah" and "mah" for I and my? Connor's got that going on. And I just about died tonight when he said "I cain't." We're both correcting him, but it's not helping! I told him tonight it better change, or we're going to home school.

Rock n Roll Connor

Connor was recently delighted to discover that his father possessed a "rock star" guitar. I don't know where he gets his "rock star" ideas from. Now we are just waiting for Connor to turn five so we can tour the Gibson Guitar Factory.

First Week of School

Connor had a great first week of school, and Thursday was his first soccer practice. Here he is with his coach and teammates. See the four kids in blue jerseys? Quadruplets. There's a set of quadruplets on his team.

Riley accompanied us to the practice. I believe she took this picture, where you can actually see Connor to the coach's left.

And, it looks like Connor's team may soon get another new coach - Connor's dad! Twelve kids under the age of six proved to be a bit much for one coach.

First Day of School

Riley and Connor

Connor Starts School!

last weekend in his first day of school outfit

last night in his new classroom doing a puzzle

He met his teachers last night and really liked his classroom - he didn't want to leave! I promised him he could come back today.

Riley will be in another class down the hall. They are both excited about their first day of school. We are too!

Connor at Work

Connor's been put to work this month, especially in the last two weeks, as both parents prepare libraries and labs for students' return to school. Last week he was very helpful in setting up a new computer lab. He learned how to spell "student" (login password) and proclaimed it a "fun day!"

Another Day at the Movies

Last weekend Connor and friends went to see the movie "Ramona and Beezus." Over the summer Connor has been read or listened to on audio book most of the books in the Ramona Quimby series by Beverly Cleary. He is a big fan. (I can't remember if I mentioned on this blog that during our road trip, we listened to three of the books on CD at least four times each.) So when he heard the movie was released, he was very excited. And since the main characters are girls, we convinced the girls to go with us. Below are a couple of pictures taken in the car en route to the theater.

Incredible Pizza

Soccer

We made it back home, and Connor was elated to see his friends. The first morning he let his dad shave a lot of hair off, which is great now that we're back in the Deep South. "Mommy, it's SO HOT," he kept saying the first day we were back, while running errands. We had not experienced such humidity so far this summer.

I find the short haircut adorable- he looks like a little soccer player- and I know it is much cooler for him.

In fact he will begin playing soccer in August-he is so excited. Upon our return we found a package from Aunt Shannon filled with all kinds of soccer - 3 pairs of cleats (some for him to grow into), 2 pairs of shinguards, soccer shorts, and a brand new soccer ball! Of course he was thrilled. (Thanks, Aunt Shannon!)

In a little while we will have a belated birthday fete for Isabella- we missed her birthday while we were away. There is a pink cake with sprinkles, homemade ice cream, and a big bag full of sidewalk chalk supplies for her.