3 Weeks In

Yes it has already been three weeks of Kindergarten. Johnny is having a blast, maybe a little too much fun. In the past week he has given me an Indian sunburn, a strawberry patch and the wrong terminology for female anatomy. Awesome, clearly he is learning a lot and I am researching ways to keep him in a bubble.
He is still adjusting to his teacher and testing her boundaries, which are pretty strict. He has come home just about every day with a check mark. (those are not good). He is doing good during class (which is a big deal!) but must be saving his wiggles for the hall. He had his best day yet on Wednesday, he ran off the bus bragging that he got no checks and instead got 3 tickets. I asked what he did different today and then I saw his shirt. It was a boosterthon fundraising event at the school that morning. The kids ran laps and got pledges to raise money for the school. Yea guess how many laps Johnny Blue ran, no really guess you got that number in your head. Alright he ran 40 laps around the track. 40 LAPS! That is like 5 miles at least, so next week we are getting him up to go for a morning jog. LOL

A new found love

Johnny has always liked playing baseball but I will admit sometimes we have to drag him to the ballpark kicking and screaming. I get it, there isn’t much action on the field unless you play circle or first base which are usually the positions taken by the coaches kid. Plus it is a sport that involves dirt at the kids feet so making a big dust cloud can be much more entertaining than waiting for the ball to come your way. So Johnny was very wishy washy about playing ball this fall, he wanted to do soccer (which was pure torture our last attempt) or gymnastics but I bribed encouraged him to play baseball. It was a good decision.

To get him excited about the season I pulled out my old baseball cards (which is a pretty impressive collection), we have had a lot of fun going through them, seeing who the players are and looking up how much they are worth. Johnny has selected a handful of cards and claimed them as his own so he can also start a collection. I told him every good game he has we will go buy a pack of cards. When I was cleaning I came across an old baseball card of Johnny that was made from the first season he played. I stuck it down in the box of my baseball cards for him to find. After a few days had gone by I heard a gasp from the playroom and he ran to me holding a card up in the air. "Mom, mom, mom look it’s my baseball card, I am adorable" he then ripped one of his other cards out of the protective case and very carefully replaced it with his own. He then handed it to me and said "let’s see how much its worth". So cute, of course I told him to me it was priceless but I also took the opportunity to give him some motivation and explained the amount it is worth depends on how well he does in the season. Goal accomplished, Johnny was excited and ready to play baseball.

So then we met the team, the Reds. Now let me tell you fall is a great time to start the sport there are less kids because of football and it is when the players transition to the next level the season is much more laid back. Last season Johnny's team was amazing these kids were playing real baseball hitting homeruns, and making double plays. It was pretty awesome, and Johnny really learned a lot by playing with these kids. Yea well they were all 7 and had to move up to pee wee. The Reds are made up of all new players and a coach who has never coached before. As the first practice was going on I was concerned, it was going to be such a long season I mean I was considering soccer while sitting in the stands. But Johnny saw things differently; he was so excited when he came off the field "I am the best on the team." He was right he was by far the best on the team. This was going to be his season, finally his chance to shine. The next few practices the positions were being figured out and while Johnny really wants to be a pitcher he was very happy with being placed at first base. He has been practicing harder than ever before, the kid eats, sleeps, and breathes baseball right now. He is only watching baseball movies and carries those cards with him everywhere. This is going to be a fun season. I will post the schedule when I get it, I am sure he would love to see a fan club in the audience.

Until then here is him practicing his pitching:

Pocket Hearts

Alright, lets talk about these little cute pocket hearts I made for Johnny's first week of school. I really wanted to do something special to let him know I was thinking about him throughout the day and seeing as he cant read yet notes were not going to work. So when you need a good idea where do we turn, yes Pinterest. That place is crazy it really makes me feel like an uncreative, boring person. lol

When I saw these I thought they are PERFECT! Then I saw there was sewing involved. Challenge accepted, I followed the step by step instructions starting with the knot tying. You think I am kidding, sadly I'm not and here is a great knot tying tutorial. Buying all of the supplies, cutting the hearts out of felt, learning what a blanket stitch is then filling those bad boys with what some may call poly fill I like to refer to it as my love. Whenever I am doing anything  Johnny likes to be in my face, he was excited to see all the supplies and what I was going to make. Yea, then he said I sure hope those hearts aren't for me, all the kids will laugh. He then snuggled down next to me picked up a heart pattern and a sewing needle and also learned what a blanket stitch is. As we were sewing together I explained why I was making them, and to know whenever he found one I am thinking about him. Once he saw the finished product I guess he decided he didn't care if anyone laughed. He liked it.

So far this week he has found them in his book bag, pencil case, lunch box and pocket of course. I think this may be a year long project he likes to come home and tell me where he found my love. Heart melt now.

Part Two

So I survived the first day of kindergarten, and so did Johnny. I am just going to take yall through the morning where I left off waiting on Johnny's alarm. At 6:25 with camera in hand I hear Master Yoda, alright let’s do this. Johnny literally sprung out of bed; I think he was only half sleeping so excited to start his day. He did think the alarm sounded more like a burglar alarm then a clock. Most mornings when we have to get him up and going he wines and complains about everything but not today, he is a big kid getting ready for school. He got up brushed his teeth and put on the clothes I laid out for him. (Which by the way were ridiculously cute) the entire time he was rambling on and on jumping from subject to subject and honestly I didn’t really hear a word, I was so lost in my own thoughts.

While we were upstairs John was down making him the usual for breakfast; cinnamon oatmeal and a blueberry waffle. Johnny ate one bite, put on his book bag (he packed the night before) and started to open the door. When I asked where he was going he gave me that duh look and with attitude said "well I don’t want to miss bus # 2 now do I?" I managed to get him to go back to the table and eat a few more bites of breakfast before giving in and heading out there 30 min early. But that’s fine just more picture time for me haha. The bus stop is about 3 houses down the street from ours, he walked and skipped his way down and sat. Johnny was so ready to start the day, so ready for new friends, new teacher, big kid school I could see he really is ready for Kindergarten. In all that excitement I am sure there was a bit of nervousness in there somewhere but it was hidden good. Not too long kids started to come out and the bus stop grew. Johnny’s friend Aaron, who is also starting kindergarten and in the same class, (that poor, poor teacher) came out and it was so cute to see the two of them talking and comparing book bags and school supplies.

While he was going through his book bag he found one of the pocket hearts I filled with love for him. You know the ones he was so embarrassed by. Yea he loved it.

One of the little girls at the stop said the bus in about to be here I smell it, while I was hoping she was wrong I pulled Johnny to the side and gave him a hug and kiss and gave him the daily reminders.

1 - Listen and follow directions

2 - Be respectful to your teachers and friends around you

3 - Have fun

And then I turned to my left and stopped breathing as I saw the yellow bus driving up the hill. All the kids cheered and lined up, Johnny in front of course. (cause if your not first your last) As soon as the doors opened up Johnny was on the bus. He RAN on the bus, I got one picture, LOL. I saw where he sat and crossed the street, my eyes filled with tears as he pressed his hand to the window and then I lost it when he threw up an I love you. I feel as if it was his way of telling me I got this mom, I am ok and you are too. I sure do love that sweet mama’s boy! While it is not the best quality photo, it is one I will cherish forever!

John and I walked back to the house with the realization that our baby is growing up. Then we got in the car and went to the school. John thought I was a little crazy for following him to school but trust me I was in good company. There were a lot of mamas out there crying with camera in hand. (So if you ever doubt your sanity then just go to school on the first day of kindergarten.) I was so happy I beat the bus to school and got to see him get off and the follow him to class. When he realized I was there I got "so are you just going to follow me all day or something" But I am very glad we went up there, it made me feel so much better about this entire kindergarten situation. All of the administrators were outside getting kids off the bus and about every 2 steps there was a teacher directing kids to their class. We watched Johnny turn down A hall and I was really proud of him. Now to wait... and by wait I mean go home, download all of the pictures and cry all over again while looking at them. LOL

Around 2:30 I started pacing, every time I heard a bus I grabbed the camera and ran outside, finally I just went out there to wait. 30 minutes and 3 wrong buses later bus # 2 passed by. I was so excited to see my baby get off the bus run to me and give me a hug. Yea that didn’t happen. Instead he didn’t get off the bus. I checked my phone and sure enough had 3 missed calls from the school. Apparently they had him as a car rider and would not let him get on the bus. (This is what happens when dad takes him to open house and starts filling out paperwork, just sayin). We rode up to school and got him in the car and he was exhausted with an attitude. I had to pry out information, I got that he played on the big playground, he wants to buy lunch and he cannot sit by Aaron for the rest of the year. Not exactly the homecoming I was hoping for but we get to do it again tomorrow.

Today is the day

Well I am sure that Being Blue will flood your inbox today, there is no telling how many posts there will be or if my ramblings will even make sense. LOL because today is the day Johnny starts Kindergarten. I am sitting here this morning waiting to hear the new Yoda alarm clock go off in Johnny's room filled with so many emotions. It really brings me back to the first day I went back to work and left my little 6 week old for the day. Filled with so many fears and what ifs; what if he is crying and can’t be consoled, what if he gets hurt, what if he can’t sleep or while he is sleeping he stops breathing- who is going to watch him sleep to make sure he is ok? I cried the entire way to work. That’s about where I am with all this right now.



You should see how big the halls are in elementary school, he is going to be walking down them without holding my hand. And lunch, who is going to make sure he eats all his food or tell him what he can and can’t have? And the big kids, what if they pick on him or tell him horrible truths that I have been protecting him from? The bus, the teacher, ok home school is looking like a good option. Just kidding, but not really I did research it last night. ha. But I keep reminding myself of when I picked up my baby after that first day of work. He was fine, and he will be today. Another milestone and another stage of life. Johnny has been waiting to get on that big yellow school bus since the first time he saw it, and this morning I have to let him go.



Ok enough about all that for now; here are John and my kindergarten pictures! Have a good morning

The List

Ok just a small disclaimer; if you don’t want to hear me freaking out about Kindergarten please check back in September, and there is no guarantee I will be over it by then.

As you know by now there is not very much I can clearly remember from my childhood, but one thing I can remember about school is, the list. It seems throughout school there was always a list, an important list that would determine the fate of my entire year. Did I make the team, what teachers did I get, who is in my class, did I make honor roll (HA! gottcha on that last one). I can remember that excited and nervous feeling, on the verge of throwing up at any moment walking closer to the list trying to make out the letters GOLD knowing I was about to cry or jump for joy. (so I’m a little dramatic). Well I got that same feeling yesterday, and it was all I could do to hold back my tears as I watched my baby walk up to the list titled Kindergarten, and look for the letters BLUE. He found his name and smiled, "I’m going to kindergarten, who is my teacher?" And so it begins, for Kindergarten Johnny has Mrs. Graham.  Bless her heart.

And let me tell you this boy has very high expectations of Kindergarten. His vision is a room full of legos with a young and beautiful teacher throwing candy to the class whenever they do good. Cross my heart those are words straight from Blue's mouth. I guess his first lesson will be in reality. LOL

I am taking the day off on Monday to send him to school, when I told him that I will be taking pictures when he gets on the bus he said ok. Then informed him I will follow him to school and take pictures of him getting off the bus he rolled his eyes and said "That is where I draw the line mom."