Sunday, August 26, 2012

Grandpa Roger

Grandpa Roger was in the neighborhood recently and he stopped by to say hi.

It was a good little visit :) We made plans for Grandpa and Linda to come over for dinner that weekend.

I didn't take many pictures but I really do love these...

James taught his Grandpa how to play Angry Birds on my iPad. It was pretty cute.

Lots of giggles.

I edited this picture a bit, I like it a lot!

Thanks Grandpa Roger and Linda for playing with James!

Randoms

Naked fish feeding. Don't know why.

"Mom, you're the best cooker."

I taught James how to mop. I think Jim was amazed that there was cleaning going on!

James watched the Brady Bunch episode called the Hustler. James was fascinated.

 

Blankie

 

 

 

 

 

Golf Pro

One of James' golf lessons was rained out so we headed to a make-up session on a Monday night. Just me and James. The lesson was an extra fifteen minutes which was a great bonus!

There weren't as many kids due to the different time/day, so the kids were broken up into groups of two with an instructor. James was very lucky to have George. I loved George. He was funny and so patient with the boys. He got down to their level and really explained things.

 

And cheered for them!

 

 

 

 

 

James loved his lesson so much that he asked to go golfing the next day. How could I say no? It was actually a beautiful, slightly windy day. I loved the weather!

I taught James how to carry his golf bag on his shoulder, like the pros.

 

And since he's only five years old they let us buy a bucket of golf balls for half the price. James wanted to go right for the driving range, no mini golf for him. He was all business!

George told him the "secret" to using his "boomstick" (driver). Bend your knees!

 

 

Knucks.

 

 

Fun Day aka Saturday

Swim lessons were first.

 

 

 

 

 

The excitement continued at the Lego museum!

Give Piece a Chance!

I took a picture of this playground because James really wants to recreate the swings. I hope we have the parts.

Cemetary with Buffy and Willow! I didn't notice this before! The geeks were proud of me when I asked them to verify what I was seeing.

Light rail model.

Friends coffee shop!

I don't know if the Mister Rogers trolley is new, but it was the first time I noticed it.

I like the underground subway station but I really liked the movie posters in the background.

Lego car racing!

And then we went to Tia ChaCha and Uncle Rich's house for dinner! James was pretty excited to challenge Uncle Rich to a checkers game. He told Rich, "I've never lost!"

Self-confidence.

I think Uncle Rich threw the game...

Thanks ChaCha for a great dinner!

 

Monday, August 13, 2012

Kindergarten Preparation

We started to play "School" one morning and I had the brilliant idea of dedicating the whole day to kindergarten preparation. The one thing I forgot to do is take him to where I suspect the school bus will pick him up, but that will come later.

We began with his "lessons". He loves to call me "Teacher" and raise his hand for questions!

Lesson: Follow your teacher's directions, always.

We went on a Fieldtrip to our nearby park and brought a picnic.

Lesson: Eat what is in your lunchbox! Recycle what you can and learn what you can throw away and what you keep for Mom/Dad to wash out.

James learned to keep plastic utensils and reusable sandwich/snack packs.

Playing at the playground.

Lesson: You don't need to kill EVERY BUG you see!

 

 

Lesson: How to smile for pictures.

 

James rode his bike home.

Lesson: Look both ways before crossing a street!

And then I decided to take him to his REAL Kindergarten playground!

Lesson: School is not too far away. It will take Mom/Dad about 12 minutes to drive from school to home, or home to school.

The playground!

Another smiling lesson!

 

The playground is on the older side. You can see the paint chipping off and you just know those metal play structures are OLD. Newer structures are all plastic nowadays.

There are huge open spaces next to the playground, probably for kickball or other physical education activities.

Lesson: On a fieldtrip, stay close to your teacher.

Uh... that lesson obviously didn't stick!

Lesson for Mom: Kids don't notice the chipping paint, weeds, or aging equipment. James exclaimed, "COOL!" when he saw the basketball hoops and picnic benches.

 

 

James and Mom "driving" the old structure.

 

 

 

What a great day!