A Few Happenings in Pre K and 1st Grade

About a month ago I had the opportunity to go on a field trip with Lillie and Elliott's class.  We loaded a school bus, Lillie and Elliott's first time on a bus, and headed to the Central Park Zoo!

It was a fun trip.  Their class is studying animals and their defense mechanisms in school, so that was the topic of conversation at each zoo exhibit.

Elliott and a friend from class.

I was the only parent in my group so their teacher joined us.  They really liked having Mrs. Cornoni along.

Elliot was a little wary of the birds flying around in the Tropical Rainforest

Eating lunch before heading back to school.

Jack's class is studying parks and their importance for people living in the city.  Earlier this week I joined his class and we walked to Madison Square Park.  The park is a little less than a mile away from the school.  Everyone had a partner and they were instructed to hold hands as they walked.  It's a big responsibility to get 25 kids to a field trip destination walking.  Of course these kids walk everywhere, so they are pretty street smart, wasn't bad at all.

Each kid had a clipboard to do their work on.  They had a map of the park with about 10 key spots they had to find.  They also had a check list to mark off items they found in the park (benches, water fountain, recycling bin, statues, etc.) and a page to sketch something they saw.

Last night was the 8th Annual Art Exhibit at school.  Every grade works on a different art project and all projects are displayed around the cafeteria for the art show.  

Pre K did self portraits

(you might not be able to tell, but Lillie gave herself pink streaks)

Elliott and his self portrait

1st grade drew King and Queens

Jack with his King

Parker: 8 Months

This has been a big month for Parker.  He mastered sitting up and began crawling.  I often find him in his bed crying because he is up on his knees rocking and can't figure out how to get back down and go to sleep.

We've also done some sleep training.  Up until this point I was feeding Parker at least 2 or 3 times during the night.  Basically every time he woke up if it had been at least 3 hours.  For 5 nights the big kids slept in our bed and Freddy T. and I were on the couch so Parker could have the room to himself.  While we did break the mid night snacks, Parker is still waking up.  Some nights are better than others as far as how many times he wakes up.  He is typically rocking on his hands and knees and as soon as I flip him over he goes on back to sleep.

He only wanted to eat the sign this month, so it was a little challenging getting the date in a picture.

Tee Ball

This is Jack's first year playing Tee Ball!  He is very excited about this season and pleased to be on the Mets.  Freddy T. was also on the Mets during his little league years.

Last Saturday we had our first game.  Tee ball in this league is quite different than what I remember when my brother played.  Everyone sits in the dugouts.  If you want to walk on the field to help coach your kid you can.  Want to take a picture?  No problem, as long as you stay generally out of the way you are welcome to come and go.

Jack is not on a team with any of his friends, but the boys he is playing with seem fun.  I'm sure in no time they'll be considered buddies.

Warming up before the first game

Uniform on and ready to go!

Proud Daddy

Lillie and Elliott, the Met's biggest fans.

Parker was there too, he just slept in the stroller through the whole game

You can see our neighborhood in the background

First time on the field, playing 1st base.

First time at bat

1st base

 On 2nd

 Running to 3rd

Crossing home plate

Freddy T. bought him eye black.  He loved it.  I'm sure it will be an every week necessity

The tradition of the league is on the 2nd game day there is a parade through the neighborhood ending on the baseball field.  All teams gather with banners and the parade is led by a group of men playing bag pipes.  It was fun, felt very "small town" in the middle of the big city.

My 3 boys, ready for the parade

Bag pipers warming up

Go Mets Go!

You can see the teams still walking on the other side of the oval.  We were the first team in line.

Waiting to cross Avenue C over to the ball fields

Little team meeting

Lillie wasn't feeling good, but had an hour of feeling better and posed for the camera

Elliott, Lillie and Dylan

Cecil Fielder, former NY Yankee, who played when they won the World Series in '96 gave the league a beginning of the season challenge.  

Ryan and Jack