Eliot's First Day of Fox-Hill Kindergarten!

We REALLY lucked out.  Last year when I went around checking out preschools, I had a hard time with it.  They probably all would have been fine, but when I walked into Fox-Hill School in Danvers (FHS), I knew IMMEDIATELY that THIS was the school for Eliot (and selfishly, a little nit for me too).  I didn't even need to hear the teachers' explanation of their methods or tactics, I just knew.  From the learning towers to paint on the walls, to the play farmer's stand, it was all just what I was looking for.  So, yes, he had an awesome time last year and really learned a lot.  Each time we had a teacher/parent conference, they would tell me how pleasant and sweet he was and that they could tell he was really learning.  Their whole program is based on literature.  They have different curriculum units that they do all year long and they always find supporting literature.

Anyhow, FHS has this amazingly awesome program for kids like Eliot who were born just after the kindergarten cut-off.  Eliot would have had to be five years old before September 1st to qualify for any public kindergarten, but FHS made a tailored program for 10 children whose birthdays are in the Fall who are just about ready to go to Kindergarten, but because of that cut-off date cannot attend kindergarten.  So Eliot is in his second year at FHS, but it's a whole new curriculum and in a whole new building.  Technically, it is private kindergarten so if we wanted to, we could send Eliot straight into public (or private) first grade next year, but we are pretty sure we will give Eliot the advantage of doing another year of kindergarten next year, but in a different setting (either the closest public school to us, or to some sort of private school).  Ted and I are on different sides of the fence on this argument, so I guess a little time and communication will have to come to pass before we decide where Eliot will be next Fall.   THIS Fall, however, is going great! He loves his new school and his new teachers--- and most of his classmates.  It's pretty much a full day too (5 hours) so it is truly like the kindergarten experience that just about all five year-olds are having.

Here is a snapshot from the first day of school this year:

 

And one with Odie :)

August

(Still trying to catch up here),  August was over in the blink of an eye--or so it felt.  I think that's kind of always how the Summer goes.  Eliot spent a lot of time outdoors and at the park with our awesome babysitter Christina while I worked either photographing weddings, or editing them. 

Eliot did have the chance to go to a camp put on by his Fox-Hill Preschool though and that was super fun for him.  They did all sorts of arts and crafts and reading on rainy days and lots and lots of outdoor sprinkler play on sunny days.  On their very last day of Camp, they went on a field trip to the beach!  Eliot loves the water-- beach, lake, pool (big or small), sprinkler, or even rain-- it doesn't matter, he loves to play in water! (Funny how getting him to take a bath lately is so challenging). 

Ted and I really try to make a point of finding things to do as a family.  I think this is the age where memories really start to stick so we want him to remember a childhood full of fun adventures, trips, events, fairs, parks, etc.  We found two kind of cool things to do in August.

First, one of my very best friends, Kerri, invited us to come and see her compete in a 1950's "Pin-up Contest."  It was kind of an event where everyone came to show off their classic cards and the women dressed as 50's ladies.  Eliot had fun looking at the cars (and looking at the ladies!).  We ended the VERY hot event with some nice cold ice cream.

 

  

                                                                    (The Lovely Kerri)

Another great friend of mine, Chad, let us know about the Peabody Mayor's Picnic where there would be some cool and fun things to do so we went there for a little while too on (thankfully) a cooler day!  I think I'd be lying if I said that Eliot had more fun than I did making bracelets at the carts and crafts table!

 

(Me & Chad)

Eliot's Ice Cream

Back in May, to commemorate Father's Day (since the kids wouldn't be in school for Father's Day), Eliot's school held their annual "Not a Box Day."  The instructions were simple.  Dad and child were supposed to create something out of a box so that it was no longer a box, but...... something else entirely.  Ted and Eliot (OK, with a LITTLE help from Mom) turned our old 50" Plasma TV box into... an ICE CREAM TRUCK!
It was AWESOME (to say the least).  We were SURE that we would have knocked them dead at the event (where we would see everyone else's "Not a Box" project. 

Boy, was I surprised at the over-achievers at Not a Box Day! Holy Cow! There was a pizza oven, a grand piano, a lit clock tower, WALL-E, among many, many, other creative ideas.  These Dad's (and probably Moms) must have spent a TON of time on these things!

So after the Not a Box event was over, we came home with an Ice Cream Truck.... made of a box.

Well, it just so happens that for the last few years, Eliot and I create our own Summer Pail List (instead of bucket list).  One of our activities on our list to do for the Summer was to have a lemonade stand.  Well.... since we already had the ice cream truck, we thought why not do an Ice Cream Stand?

Ok, so it probably wasn't as successful as a lemonade stand would have been, but Eliot had so much fun and you could see how excited he got every time a new customer would come by.  He made something like $12 that day (and I think $5 of it was from Daddy), but he was so proud and we both had a lot of fun. 

Annual Cape Post

This year's Cape visit was very  much like previous years-- nothing really new to report except the kids-- oh.my. how the kids have grown.  They're bigger, more independent, and closer than ever... and isn't that what the Cape Trip is about anyway?

 

 

Eliot had a TON of fun "surfing" with Dad at the beach.

 

Love this photo! Wish Bea was with the rest of the cousins in the foreground!

Fourth of July 2013

(This is just coming to you a little late--- as will be the case with the several posts following this one).

This year was the first year that Eliot has ever seen fireworks.  His new babysitter, Christina, invited the 3 of us to go with her and her family and friends to the Danvers fireworks.  We went and sat around for what felt like FOREVER (in that humidity and heat) waiting for it to be dark enough for them to let of the fireworks.  Eliot was a trooper.  He was having a pretty good time...until.. the fireworks started.  After that, he had an AMAZING time! He LOVED seeing the fireworks!  He was out wayyyy past his bedtime (even though we didn't even stay for the whole display), but maybe it will be one of those happy early childhood memories he'll keep in the back of his brain for decades to come :)

 

And for any photography buffs, I shot the above photos at ISO500 f/1.2 on a FULL FRAME camera-- and still my shutter speed wasn't fast enough to keep up with simple motion (or even camera shake)-- THAT'S how pitch black it was outside before the fireworks!

June

The month of June just came and went so fast this year.  (Of course, now that it's August when I am writing this, it seems like it was forever ago and details are blurry).  I guess that's what's so important about photographs.  They take you back to a place in time and help you to remember the details.  My camera hasn't been coming out of my bag as much as it has in years past and I think that's got a lot to do with a lot of things.  I am going through some tough personal and medical stuff right now.  It's all getting in the way of life...a happy, normal life.

Bleh.  That was bleak.  Back to fun.  We let Eliot get a slip n' slide.  From what I remember when I was younger, I wasn't allowed to get one because they were "too dangerous."  I didn't believe it was too dangerous for Eliot if used properly so we let him get one and try it out... and he had so much fun! His friend, Al, from next door came over to use it with him and they had a blast together.  Al is a few years older than Eliot and is experienced in Slip n' Slide techniques.  Eliot, on the other hand, (being his first time and all-- plus the fact that he is only four years old) had a bit of trouble nailing down the Slip n' Slide concept.  Honestly, it was hysterical to watch.

 

What next?  Oh yeah, ANOTHER truck day--- this time it was in Beverly though (closer to where we live now).  It was fun (especially for the littlest Baker).  They even had a helicopter (fun for the biggest Baker).

 

 Oh, and we took a chance on a new babysitter, Christina and we've made her an honorary Baker.  Needless to say, we are in love with her!  She does fun projects with Eliot, doesn't text on her phone constantly (problems with sitters doing that in the past), and plays whatever Eliot wants to play and really gets into it-- even putting her own spin on it.  I think what I like best about her is that she isn't all about conformity and keeping up appearances.  She let's herself get silly and just be herself-- not only with babysitting, but I can tell she's the same way in every day life.  We are so lucky to have found her!

Eliot's Preschool Graduation!

We've decided to put Eliot in a Pre-K/K transitional class next year.  It's really the perfect option for him since his birthday is in September and so close to the cut-off date for entering Kindergarten.  We didn't necessarily want him to repeat his preschool year and do the same activities he's done this year, but he's definitely not ready for all that Kindergarten has to offer.  His school, The Fox-Hill School, offers this wonderful program for a maximum of 10 kids--- and not only did Eliot qualify, but he got in!  It will be at a different "campus" with mostly different teachers and the program runs from 8:10-1:30 which is fantastic as far as transition for him and wonderful time-wise for me to work while he's in school.

Thus, Eliot participated in preschool graduation this year.  He looked beyond adorable in his mini cap and gown (I'll let the photos really speak for themselves!).  They each got up to get a certificate when their name was called and they sang songs and even did a dance.  I'm not saying this just because I am his mother, but Eliot surely showed the most character while doing his dance.  He took it very seriously and was nothing less than the cutest thing ever while performing!

Eliot performing his dance:

 CLASS PHOTO:

Eliot made great strides this year at preschool.  He can now write his name all by himself and he pretends to read books.  At the beginning of the year, he couldn't care less about arts and crafts and now he LOVES arts and crafts (which, of course, makes my heart sing!).

CONGRATULATIONS, ELIOT!

May Happenings

We've been enjoying Spring (even though we go from 50* to 80* depending on the day).  Ted and Eliot put together a nice garden for me for mother's day which we planted cucumbers, pumpkins, tomatoes... and I think some lettuce and melons too.  We'll see what grows.  I've been trying to turn my brown thumb green (with a little help from Eliot).

What else have we done? Well, Eliot decided our windows needed washing so I fashioned something to help him with that:

We've done some scooter and bike riding in the driveway:

We've gotten out to take some photos (Woohoo!):

We had an impromptu photo session before school one day:

AND.... Last, but not least Eliot's school rented out space at the YMCA for "Not a Box Day".  There is story called "Not A Box" where the little boy plays with an empty "box" and his Dad always asks him what he is doing with the box and the little boy always says "It's NOT a box, it's  A.... (rocket ship, dog house, etc.).  So, for Not a Box Day, Eliot, Ted and I worked collaboratively on this masterpiece:

 

And a few others I wanted to include: