READY...SET... PRESCHOOL!

There comes a time when a young man must leave the nest and embark on a journey. Khyri's journey started today. He went to preschool!

We've been looking for a new school for Khyri for the last few months. We were able to get him into the Little Apron Academy (LAA), a Bright Start center very close to the hubby's job. We pulled him out of his daycare and for the past two months, Khyri has been enjoying his summer with Kielle and I at home everyday. I have gotten so used to having him around. Literally every morning he comes into our room and gets on the outer edge of the bed on my side and waits for me to open my eyes. How sweet is that!?!?! What a great way to wake up each morning! I love having Khyri stay home with me, but I know that he has to grow up and spread his wings. Some things can stay the same though right!?!?!?

I woke up this morning, Monday, August 6th, to my baby boy on the edge of my bed again :-) He must have known we had a big day ahead of us, because he wasn't awake. He was in a deep sleep. While looking at him, I reassured myself (for the umpteenth time ahha) that this is a great next step for Khy and I got up and got dressed. I was super quiet because I didn't want to wake him up. I wanted him to get as much sleep as possible and, more importantly, to shake off my nerves before he woke up ahahha. I had laid Khyri's clothes out the night before so we were ready to go. I had also packed his Georgia Tech bookbag with back up clothing and sunscreen. Time to get started. But before I woke him up, I had to snap a few photos :-)

Khyri knew that he was starting his new school today and though he seemed excited, he still took forever to get dressed. I mean really?!?! How long does it take to put on your socks??! Good thing the hubby, Kielle and I were dressed already - half the battle was won.We were not going to be late on the first day! Not.On.My.Watch.

Since we had visited the school back in May, Khyri wasn't surprised or nervous en route to LAA. He actually seemed calm and ready when we pulled up to the front door. He surveyed the area and got reacquainted with the building.

 

After we got some new brochures about the curriculum,  read the classroom procedures, and learned how to check Khyri in and out, we went down the stairs and headed to Khyri' classroom.

When we got to the classroom, Khyri was a little hesitant to go inside. We opened the door and his teacher came outside to talk to us. Khyri was not budging. This was going to take some coaxing hahahaha. I got down on my knees so I could be eye level with him and explained to him that he will have a great time here making new friends, learning new things, and playing with toys. As I was talking to him, a little boy literally came bounding down the hall towards the classroom next door. His mother could not keep up with him; he was so so excited to get into that room! I said, "Look at  how happy he is to go to school Khyri! Man it must really be fun inside if he's so excited!" Next thing I know, Khyri squared up his shoulders, turned the knob, and walked into the classroom.

As the teacher came towards the door to welcome him in, I ducked behind the outside wall and started crying. He looked like a big boy! This is the beginning. I saw Khyri's whole life flash before my eyes. First he leaves me for preschool, then for college, then for his wife. So. Not. Ready. I probably cried for about 2 minutes... ok maybe 3. I got myself together, wiped my eyes and walked into the room with a huge smile on my face. I didn't want Khyri to feel my anxiety. I thought I heard Khyri call for me. I thought Khyri needed my assistance. I thought I needed to scoop up my baby boy and take him home. I was wrong. By the time I got into the room - home skillet had moved on and didn't need me at all! He was over at the sink with his teacher washing his hands (they have to wash their hands every time they enter the room). Geesh!?!? Doesn't he remember the good times at the house with me??!?! *pouting*

After the hubby and I met all three of Khyri's teachers, including one that has the same name as me!, we placed Khryi's bookbag in his cubby and snuck out while he played with an abacus. We took some photos on the way out - doesn't this place look GREAT!??

I was pretty proud of myself for not completely breaking down, in front of the children, at the school hahahahha. I took some pictures of the building after we walked out. Kielle looked back at Khyri as we left and said "Bye Bye Rhee". The smile on her face let me know everything was going to be just fine. After we dropped off Khy, Kielle and I headed off to Publix supermarket. There's nothing like purposeful shopping to distract your thoughts :-)

At 2:30pm I headed over to LAA so that I could get my security badge. The badge office closed at 3:00pm so I figured I would just take Khyri home after I got my badge. I sat down, snapped my photo, and became an official LAA parent :-)

When we got to Khyri's classroom, I peek in and what do I see?, Khyri sitting at a small table eating baby carrots with two other kids :-)

The teachers said that Khyri did really well! One teacher said that he ate 3 helpings for vegetables. Is this the same kid that had a pea stand off with me?!?! Another teacher said that he went straight down for his nap. All three teachers were amazed that Khyri can read. They said that he read 3 books to the teachers. One teacher said that when Khyri worked on the computer he started reading the prompts on the screen and she was impressed :-) I told them that I work with him at home and that I would appreciate them challenging him as much as possible. Let's keep the knowledge train moving forward! After speaking with the teachers, I sat down at the table (after washing my hands of course), and chatted a bit with Khyri and the other kiddos. 

When he finished his carrots, we grabbed his bookbag and headed to the car. On the way out, we had to stop at the aquarium (The Georgia Aquarium is a partner with the school) and of course pose with the dolphin statue outside!

 

 

Khyri will be going to LAA full time five days a week from 8:30am to 6:00pm. I'm still a little uneasy knowing that now Khyri will be spending most of his time with someone other than me :-( Now he will get most of his education from someone other than me :-(  I mean, I know just because he's at school doesn't mean I have to stop teaching him, but I finally realize that my teaching will truly be supplemental now :-( But... its ok! This is why we searched for the right school. This is what we have prepared for. This is just the beginning - and it was a GREAT start :-)

CREATIVE LEARNING

Even though its summer time, I want to make sure the munchkins continue to learn a little something each day :-) Learning never stops...

Kielle has started speaking! She has about 25 words in her vocabulary and she is even starting to say two words phrases like "Hello Daddy", "Night night Nas", and "Read (the) book". For the past month Kielle has been calling me Mama, but recently it has switched to Mimi. I think she's trying to say Mommy, but I've gotta be honest I get tickled when I hear her call me Mimi :-) To encourage Kielle to learn more words and express herself with words instead of hollers we've been doing a lot of repetition exercises with her. If she wants say the blanket, I'll say "Do you want the blanket?" Usually I get a groan or a grunt in response. Then I follow up with "Say blanket" and she'll try to repeat the word. So far its working well. She's awesome :-) I definitely think she's going to be a chatterbox!

I can't even believe that I was worried about Khyri's speech! He has blossomed so much. I'm still glad I put him in speech therapy, though, because I think it gave us the jump start we needed. Now his little lips don't stop flapping. hahahaha. He loves to ask, "What's that?", which is good because it helps expand his vocabulary. His current fixation is construction vehicles - tractors, cranes, and bobcats. You name it; Khyri loves it. With all of the construction going on in Cobb County, I am forever pointing out something to Khyri!

In addition to our trips to the zoo ... well ok PetSmart ahhahaha, I've tried to incorporate some different techniques to teach the munchkins their letters, shapes, and colors. Here are a few activities that we've been doing over the summer to make sure that we keep learning fun!

Shapes & Spelling with Qtips and Cotton Balls

 

Fun with Blocks & Legos

still working on sharing!

Spelling with Grapes

Writing

Reading

 

Crafts!

Counting... and Gymnastics

I came across a good deal on my favorite frugalista site hip2save.com for a Thomas the Train magazine subscription. I love this magazine and so does Khyri! He likes going to the mailbox and getting his very own piece of mail - just like Joe on Blues Clues...Mail time! ahahahah. The magazine has short stories and activities for preschoolers. So while I'm reading Parents magazine, he's reading Thomas & Friends. hahahaha

Khyri starts his preschool program in two weeks. He'll be going everyday from 9 to 6. I'm sad that he will be getting most of his education from someone other than me, but its a great school and I know he's going to love it and develop tremendously. Kielle and I will just have to hold it down at Mosley Academy while he's gone :-)

FULL CIRCLE

I have a few friends that I have literally known all of my life. My friend Najah has been in my life since I was born. Her father and my father were BFFs in undergrad at Columbia University! We go waaaayyyy back :-) For a good part of my life we even lived in the same building in Harlem.

Of course as the years went by Naj and I grew apart - this was pre internet and cell phones :-) hahahhaha. Naj came down here to go to Clark Atlanta and while I went to Tufts. I had no idea she was even down here. Then when I came down to Atlanta for graduate school my dad casually mentioned - you know Najah's down there!?!? Uh no I didn't!(My father is good for holding information back)

We reconnected and what do you know we both became preggers within 6 months of each other! Aziz and Khyri are seriously two peas in a pod. We have playdates often and I love catching them in their pjs! ahhahahah

I think its amazing that our fathers had two little girls that they raised together and now Najah and I have two little boys that play together. Its awesome to see how life comes full circle!

EGGSELLENT!

Well spring is here, the birds are chirping, and It's Egg Hunting Time. But - where can the Mosley munchkins hunt for eggs?!?!?! Well, let's start from the beginning...

For the past 2 weeks I have been slaving away at our backyard so the munchkins can enjoy it this summer. I didn't have a real plan or a timeline. I just knew I wanted an area they could go explore, while I lounged in my pajamas if need be :-)

Let me give a little background info here... my backyard was DA FOOL. No for real. I have not gone back there since 2009. Yup 2.0.0.9. It was literally a jungle. The weeds were up to my knees and these random little trees had started to sprout. For 3 winters we haven't even raked the leaves. Sadly, I think that people had started using my backyard as a dumping site :-( All bad. So imagine my task!

View from the couch - day 4

I wish I would have cataloged my progress from the beginning, because the few pictures I do have don't do the drastic change any justice. I don't know what motivated me to start but I just decided that I wanted to straighten up the backyard. So one day while Kielle was napping I went out to the shed and pulled out my tools - a saw, a pair of hedge clippers, regular scissors, a rake, and trowel.

Before

After

I knew it was going to be a huge undertaking so I paced myself. My first goal was to rake and clear all the way to the first big tree on the right hand side. With Khyri raking and putting leaves into the yard waste while Kielle napped and in the evenings, we accomplished our goal quickly - 7 leaf bags and 3 days later. I sawed down a few little trees and trimmed the big ones hoping that some sunlight would filter through. Some is exactly what I got hahahaha. It just isn't meant to be for the backyard to have fancy grass.

For awhile I considered doing a clover lawn, which is said to do very well in low light areas and in Georgia clay, but the white flowers tend to attract bees so that was a no go.

*sigh* The clover lawn would have been a real nice look for the backyard and easy to maintain, but it wasn't right for all the running and romping I had envisioned. I decided to pay close attention to hidden 'jewels' like this ivy that I planted back in 2001. I had totally forgotten about the ivy so it was a nice surprise. I decided to plant some more to create a border for the back fence.

 


I also knew that in addition to sprucing up the yard, we needed to do something about the part of the fence that had gotten damaged a few years ago in one of the storms. Before we couldn't really see it because it was covered by trees and debris but now it is in plain view. I got quotes for the fence and let's just say... it's going to be janky a little while longer. ahhahahaha

So I focused on what I could accomplish in the near future. I packed up the munchkins and headed to The Home Depot. I grabbed a bunch of plants that said they would survive in low light and a big ole bag of garden soil. I also got some of our favorites - the ivy and daylillies. Daylillies are some hardy plants because they've survived being neglected in the front of the house for about 6 years; so I thought I'd give them a try in the back. hahahahaha. I was seriously motivated now! I had even brought along a simple sketch of how I was gonna get some bushes and plants to add to the back. I noted the 3 large trees and tried to think of how what I needed to pseudo landscape back there.

When we got back, I got to work. Please take note - the hubby is taking photos of ME doing the work. hahahaha I think he thought I was going through some sort of midlife crisis. I was seriously on a mission! Must clear play area NOW! ahhaha

Nas enjoys the fruits of my labor

The bushes I planted are so small, but with time they are supposed to grow to 3 feet wide. I feel really good about clearing out the backyard. I still have some more plants to put out back, but we'll see if I get around to them. If not, they are gonna go right back to Home Depot  - I am the return queen! The other day Khyri asked if he could go out back and I psyched that he wanted to go back there. He put his shoes on and went right outside while I sat inside on the couch and read my magazine. My vision was coming true!

The inaugural event for the backyard was fittingly an Easter Egg Hunt! I hid the eggs and Khyri and Kielle searched. Daddy was in charge of making sure nobody peeked while I hid the eggs! *that didn't work* We did 7 rounds of hiding the eggs.

 

While we were egg hunting our backside neighbor yelled over the fence to introduce himself. He asked us if we had just moved in. Nope we've been here 12 years... and just decided to use our backyard. *hanging my head in shame* But, you have to start a makeover somewhere and I started ours 2 weeks ago. We still have some work to do, but today's hunt gave me renewed spirit to keep on digging, weeding, sawing, and cutting - The smiles from backyard fun are SO eggsellent :-)

As many celebrate Easter Sunday I'll share a video of Khyri who was moved to sing a little diddy while focused on his puzzle and a video of Khyri spreading the happiness :-)

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE :-)