Ian was there too...

Poor Ian has been left out on the blog a lot lately (there's that second child syndrome popping up again!) what with kindergarten starting for Nate and all of these big boy activities. Ian, of course was on the beach trip as well. We shell hunted, practiced a little karate on our own and the highlight of the day - digging big holes in the sand. Hours and hours of entertainment. Later in the day his BFF Lauren joined us on the beach and for dinner at the campsites.

We had a terrible time all day fighting off mosquitoes - they particularly loved to come after sweet Ian, and he ran around all day trying to fight off "burskeetos" with a balloon sword.

Gasshuku at Cape Lookout

Gasshuku - Training Camp

Yesterday we got up a the crack of dawn to go to a day of Gasshuku on the beach at Cape Lookout. Nate's sensi Guido, organized his third annual camp out and training at the beach. We arrived at 9am and the day began with 3 hours of basics, kata, and kumite on the beach. The Little Dragons, (there were about a half dozen of them) took a few 10 minute breaks, but other wise worked their tails off with the advanced class and the juniors. The kata finished at noon with the traditional Mae Geri (front kick) into the ocean. The whole training was FUN to watch!

Let me tell you this - while it was 85 and sunny in P'town, a mere 70 miles west at the coast we were socked in with fog and chill - about 55 degrees all day. Nate did his very best to get into that ocean, but by about his knees, he was chattering and in pain. I ran in to grab him and boy did that cold water sting!

We were invited to the campsites to spend the day eating and socializing. Thank God for the hot showers!!!

Gasshuku Training Video

Day 1 of K - the updates and dowloads

First Picture "This is our family, Nate, Dad, Ian, Mom. Those flowers have cotton candy on top for Ian because he likes cotton candy."

Whew! We made it through day 1. Nate survived and even seemed to enjoy it which is nice for his usual take it or leave it attitude. This is what we heard, in no particular order:

Top 5 things about the 1st day of Kindergarten, per Nate:
1. They have legos, and 3 bins of them at that
2. You get 3 recesses and 2 snacks
3. I get to sit by Nicholas (the ONLY person he knows, from Sunday School)
4. At lunch, you can choose chocolate milk
5. There are a lot of boys (revised count, 20 boys, 10 girls)


Last night Dave and I attended the new parents orientation - they don't waste any time! After the social in the cafeteria and going over the handbook , we spent an hour and a half in his classroom listening to his teacher, Mrs. Burrows. If we weren't 100% sold then (and we were), we are now. This woman is amazing. She's been teaching at K at Holy Trinity for 23 years, and she knows her stuff.

Top 5 things about the first day of Kindergarten per D and K:
1. Uniforms, we love the uniforms.
2. They went to music class yesterday, today they have computer lab
3. Mrs. Burrows way of teaching: "Here is what we say when we practice writing letters: d is 2 o'clock, 12 o'clock all the way around, tall stick up then come back down." Smart cookie!
4. Writing in daily journals: yesterday they wrote the words "Brown Bear" to correspond with the bear themed books of the week.
5. Personal responsibility from day 1 - "Your mommy doesn't go to school here, you do."

In the coming weeks Nate will get a 7th grade buddy to go to mass with on Wednesdays and a 7th grade host will assist the kids at lunchtime with opening packages and milk, etc. He thinks that is pretty cool.

Looking back - First Day of School 2005

September 2005, Nate at 2 1/2 heading to first day of preschool.

First (woohoo) Day (sigh) Of (sniff) Kindergarten (sob)

I think we are ready for this.
Gotta have cool kicks for the first day, and "socks that cover the ankle bones"
Brothers - going to miss each other
Official catholic school uniform

Happy family
Here we are out front.
Finding his hanger and shelf spot
Mrs. Burrows helping find name tag.
They've got legos, it's all good!

He's off! Up early and ready to go this morning, we arrived at Holy Trinity in time to hang the backpack, and dive into free play. Nate's class has 18 boys and 12 girls, 1 teacher and 1 aide. Not a tear was shed, by Nate anyway. Can't say mom and dad weren't a bit misty eyed

Nate is Mr. Helper and Mr. Fix it these days. He LOVES to do chores (toilets are a specialty as well as windows) for a price, of course! But in this house a quarter goes a long way! Today, Dave took back the lawn for the first time since we've lived here - actually, we do have a good excuse for mowing service - our lawn clippings are more than our recycle bin holds on a weeks basis. Don't even ask what we will do when the leaves come down of those big backyard trees. Nate was quick to volunteer to help, as long as he earned a quarter!