Preschool Project

TJ and I had our first experience helping out with one of Keaton's school projects.  I knew this day would come but didn't think it would be when he was 2. This was a new world for us but I think we did pretty well.

Keaton's co-op preschool had an auction and each class worked on a class project to bid on.  Every parent has a job in the preschool and mine was to help out with this along with another lady.

The parents voted and decided on a bookshelf and each parent donated their child's favorite book to put in it.

A parent in the class donated the bookshelf but it was in rough condition so TJ refinished it so that it looked brand new.

Another parent Susan, who was also helping out on the project, made bookends that were images of the 2 teachers in the class.

We had pictures of all the kids in the class but didn't want to permanently put the images on the bookshelf since there were people from different classes at the auction making it less mass appealing.  So we decided to hang a decorative banner on it. This was the perfect opportunity for me to get rid of a bunch of miscellaneous scrapbooking paper that I had laying around...and I got to do something crafty since it has been months. 

 

TJ and I didn't stay for the entire auction but we found out that the winning bid was $200.  I thought that was pretty good!

Cousins!

Seeing the fun these three have together is so amazing...and exhausting to watch!  Each day they saw each other started with huge smiles and them running towards each other to hug!  Keaton has been quite disappointed this past week because when the doorbell rings it's not his cousins.  He was getting pretty use to it being them every time!

They were so busy that we couldn't even keep up with them for the entire week.  But we did fit in a lot of fun.

One night Keaton and I spent the night at Grandpa's with them and then helped babysit the next day while Becky was at doctor appointments.  Keaton got to try out some fancy high heel shoes.

 

Keaton has ALWAYS called me "mommy" or "mama" or even "daddy." He must have noticed a lot of others calling me "Rachel" because he started calling me "RachelMamma" when they were here.  It is really weird to hear your child call you by first name and I really didn't like it. Luckily I think he has forgotten who "RachelMamma" is.

 

Emerald's friend Claire came over to our house one day, which was really fun because we all got to meet Claire's new little brother and sister (twins).  I was surprised that Keaton was more interested in the babies than Emerald and Crystal.

 

Our intention was to go to Whirligig at Seattle Center one day but it was a giant craziness of bouncy houses that had "lost child" or "ambulance ride" written all over it.  So we went to the Children's Museum there instead, which was more fun and safer.  The kids sure liked the grocery store here much better than the ones I take them to.

 

The weather was pretty nice a few days so we went out to Alki Beach, somewhere we don't go nearly enough since it's in our backyard. 

 

 

We are probably due for a trip up to their house next time, perhaps for the Summer Solstice in June to watch the baseball game that starts at midnight (since it's light out).  Maybe Keaton and I can convince daddy to come for a few days also.  TJ has had plenty of practice "fishing" lately...just not sure the type of fishing he has been doing is what they do up in Alaska (another story another time...The dog + fishing pole=craziness!)

 

Easter Extravaganza

I was sure that Keaton would be ready for Easter egg hunts this year.  So sure that I got the Easter eggs out a week before Easter and started putting treats in them.  I'd leave a trail of eggs from his room when he was napping.  I even put the dog's treats in them.

We went to three Easter egg hunts but even with all the prepping, he was still a bit too young to get it.  The first one was at a community center in West Seattle and he just ran wild through the tennis courts where they had the eggs and didn't know he was suppose to pick them up.  The second was at the West Seattle Thriftway where they had over 35,000 eggs.  He'd open one egg, get really excited by what was inside, and be totally happy with just that one egg.  The third was at Lincoln Park and by that time I think he'd had enough.

So we didn't hide eggs on Easter, didn't even dye eggs (since none of us eat eggs so they would have gone to waste).  But we did tons of Easter celebrating as you can see by the pictures.  Keaton got lots of really cool stuff from the Easter Bunny (and his grandparents and cousin Wyatt).  And we were all given a beautiful, warm, sunny Easter day which doesn't happen often.  So we were very nontraditional and had a BBQ with friend's (Brian, Ryan) and family (Grandpa Morgan, Uncle Rich).

Easter Party at High Point Community Center:

 

 

Thriftway Easter Egg Hunt:

 

Easter Sunday:

 

 



Super Saturday

Keaton had a super fun Saturday! 

It started out going to a carnival way, way, way out in Redmond that turned out to not be that super...but we did get some books that we are going to donate to the preschool.

Then we went to a retirement home in West Seattle that had a bunch of animals to pet.  I didn't know how Keaton would do but he loved it.  I guess he has had lots of practice petting his dog so he knew just what to do. He even got a little too comfortable towards the end and started opening the cages...so it was time to go.  We ran into one of Keaton's babysitters (Sarah) who is the gal with dark hair in the pictures.  They had 2 bunnies that were one day old here.  They didn't look much like bunnies.

Then later that afternoon dad had a great idea to go bowling.  There is a pretty nice bowling alley in West Seattle.  They even had bowling shoes in Keaton's size.  Keaton was really into it at first.

 

Then he discovered the ball return and only wanted to check that out so we had a short game.

We ended the day having a quick dinner at the bowling alley restaurant and then getting cones at McDonald's (Keaton refers to ice cream cones as just cones).

Five Times the Fun

Today Keaton, Grandpa and I went over to my cousin Kari's house to watch her 5 kids.  Kai (7 yrs.) , Kian (4 yrs.) and the triplets (1 1/2 yrs.), Liam, Brielle and River.

We were really hoping to give Kari some time to herself since she doesn't get any anymore.  She got a little but not much. I guess we will just have to come back!  I couldn't imagine my life changing in the way that her and Sidney's has since the surprise of the triplets.  But they seem to have a good system down at their house...she even goes out with all 5 kids by herself which is extremely impressive, actually just taking care of 5 kids now a days is extremely impressive!

The kids were all really fun and had so many cool toys for Keaton to play with.  It was such a fun time and I know we will be back....actually we have to go back since I only got a picture of the back of Liam's head. :)

 

 

 

 

Ready for School

Keaton started co-op preschool 3 weeks ago. It is one day a week for two hours and I attend with him.  Each of the parent's have different jobs (mine is helping out with a school project for the fundraising auction they do in April). The parent's also help out at the different station's in the classroom and get to participate in adult discussion every other week (while the other half of the parent's watch the kids in the classroom).

Keaton didn't enjoy the first class at all and wanted to leave the entire time and wanted his blanket.  This was the first time ever that we had attended a kids activity where he didn't enjoy at least part of it so it was very weird and I was second guessing joining pre-school...

But the second and third time we have gone he has loved it and forgot all about that blanket.  Each week they have different activities at the different stations in the classroom so it keeps it new and exciting for the kids. I think Keaton loves how there are so many fun things to do all in one room.  His favorite activity is dancing (of course)!

During the week we talk a lot about school, the rules they have, his teacher Sara, the other kids and the fun stuff to do there.  Next week is school pictures so this is almost like "real" school!

Here are a few pictures of Keaton having fun with the art projects.  I would have never thought to put a toy car in paint and then drive it on the paper!

 

We are proudly displaying his completed projects at home. Last week they did shamrock's with bingo blotters and he loved using them so we bought some (and he is having just as much fun with them at home).

 

This week one of the stations had a bathtub of water with little babies so the kids could give them a bath. This was a hit because of the water!

 

 

Here is the dancing man, he's quite a performer!

 

Next week, school pictures....I'm sure the class photo will be a classic (about 15 toddler's trying to look at the camera....good luck).

 

 

 



My Crazy Friend George

Keaton's first "friend" is his pal, George.  He has really taken a liking to this guy and loves to have George play with him and join in his daily activities. 

 

Here they are having a snack together.

 

Playing in Keaton's sleeping bag.

 

Going for a ride in the wagon.

 

Getting ready for a nap. Keaton was nice enough to get him a bunch of blankets and even moved them off George's face.

 

Here they are taking a nap, doesn't look like either of them are tired.

 

Keaton sure is lucky to have such a great friend who plays with him all day long! Thanks to Grandma Tarr who got him his first friend.  He refers to his buddy as crazy, saying over and over, "George is Crazy!" He also says "Manny is Crazy!" over and over.  Perhaps this little guy is really the crazy one!