Since I am the worst blogger that ever existed, I need to do a few rewind posts to bring the blog up-to-date. I have the hardest time just blogging about recent happenings, which there are some exciting ones, when I know there are important memories from the past few months that will soon be forgotten if I don’t at least mention them here in this space. In fact, September feels like ages ago and I had a hard time even recollecting what happened during that month. Thankfully, a little stroll through our pictures jogged my memory and reminded me that a huge milestone in Kaiya’s life happened in September. 

Kaiya started preschool! Yes, that’s right, our little baby girl at age 3 started school…where she goes twice a week…without me…and she LOVES it! I must admit it was one of the hardest decisions I had to make. Andrej and I researched various preschools, talked to other seasoned parents, fretted over if she was too young to go to school, played around with the idea of homeschooling and in the end decided to hold off one more year and let her start preschool after she turned four.

However, as September approached I began to regret the decision. Especially as I passed almost daily a co-op preschool in our neighborhood that had a huge sign out front that read, “Enrolling Now!” I contacted them for more information and was pleasantly surprised to learn that because it is a co-op, which just means it’s run by the parents, that the tuition cost is relatively low. I was really excited about the parental involvement in that the parents are required to help in the classroom at least once a month and participate either on the board or on a committee. Another huge bonus was that it is within walking distance to our home.

It seemed perfect for us, but I first wanted to meet the teacher and see the classroom before I made my final decision. On the way to the school to meet the teacher, I explained to Kaiya that I was going to let her make the final decision as to whether or not she wanted to go to school this year or not. She had been expressing fears about going to school and since I wasn’t completely sold on it either, I thought ultimately she could make the decision. I could not have been more impressed with the teacher, Ms. Wilson. She was so warm and friendly and bent down to chat with Kaiya specifically. She then told Kaiya she could play with anything she wanted while we finished talking. Kaiya had so much fun that she didn’t want to leave the classroom that day. During the days that followed she talked about school and her new teacher non-stop and kept asking when she could start school.

Months later I know we made the right decision. I’ve seen Kaiya grow socially by leaps and bound. She comes home spouting off nursery rhymes and singing songs I would have never known to teach her. She gets to paint and play with playdoh during every class, both things I hate doing at home because of the mess. She got to go on her very first field trip (without her parents) to the zoo. She has also learned fun things like yoga stretches, “green” living tips and eating healthy. Plus, I feel like I’m a part of it all. Even though it has been a task juggling Tobi during the times I have to work or help out, I have loved being so involved in the school and getting to know the other kids and their parents really well. However, the best part by far is when I, or Andrej, pick her up after class and she runs happily into our arms saying, “I had the best time at school today!” Priceless.

Other September events as seen in pictures include two back-to-back super fun birthday parties. We helped Braylen celebrate her second birthday and then Erica celebrate her fourth. Andrej took tons of pictures that day so they got their own album, which is located here.

We went with our good friends, the Crains, to watch the elephants march from the circus arena to the train station headed for their next destination. It was free and quick, but fun as the kids had never seen an elephant live and in person. Those pictures start here.

Along with our good friends, the Bucks, we took the kids to the Children’s Museum and had a blast. We are still wondering why we don’t go there more often. Those pictures start here.


Also with the Bucks, Andrej took the kids to a small carnival being held at a church in our neighborhood. Overall, they had a lot of fun and came home sticky from the cotton candy and treats they consumed, but Kaiya did NOT like the swing ride and protested so loudly they had to stop the ride for her to get off. They did like all the other rides even though you wouldn’t know that by their faces in the pictures. :-) Those pictures start here.

One month down, two to go!