Can I Bottle Your Enthusiasm?

Is it possible to bottle up enthusiasm? If you figure out how, please let me know. Because I don't want Griffin's excitement for school to fade. EVER.

This past week was quite possibly the best week of Griffin's life. Not exaggerating. At all.

First Day:
Cinnamon Rolls for Breakfast? Check!
Photo Shoot with Mom? Check!
Smiling ALL DAY long? Check!
Seriously. Excitement was oozing from his pores. I am not sure how his face didn't hurt.

Like any curious mom, I grilled him with questions the moment he got off the bus each day. Here's a sample of our conversations:

What was your favorite part of the day? EVERYTHING

Did you pick out a book from the library? No, we need to learn how to pick out just the right book first.

Did you read any books? (with fists pumped into the air) Kindergarten, Here I Come.

Oh, with the teacher named Mrs. Bindergarten? Hey, how did you know that?

Did you sing any songs? Um, yeah. It was about going to the moon. And space.

Anything else you want to tell me? It was someone's birthday. So for snack, we got a cookie! And I got to go outside. TWICE!

Are you excited for Day 2? YES!

Hey Mom, can we schedule a play date this week? I want to tell someone other than you about my first day of school.

Did you read any books today? Yes, in fact I read two! And watched a video.

And Mom, we did math today. We got to compare shapes. (yes, he used the word compare). I got to tell Mrs. Egan which shape was bigger.

My new favorite shape is the .... what's it called. It looks like a circle with a lot of sides....an octagon? YES!

Kindergarten Starts Tomorrow!!!

(Picture from Open House on 8/30/2011)

Griffin starts Kindergarten tomorrow, and I am a puddle of emotions. I am so very excited for him to start school, but I am also sad to let him leave "my" nest. I can no longer monitor his choice of friends (at least not to the extent that I can now). I won't be there to help him open all of his lunch fixings. I won't be there to help him pick out a book from the library. I can't remind him to say please and thank you. I can't make him remember to bring home his lunch box. I can't help him get on the bus to come home. I can't be there. And as much as I know he is ready and doesn't need me to do any of those things, it still makes me tear up just thinking about my baby in school. In a classroom. All day. Like the one I teach in. Do you hear that? Those are my tears falling on the key board you hear.

Griffin and I went for a run tonight, and we talked about school the whole time. He just beams with excitement when you ask him what he is looking forward to doing. And he could hardly contain his smile in bed when I went through some last minute reminders. There is no doubt in my mind that he is ready to enter the world of education. I might not be, but he definitely is :)

Sadness aside, I am excited for tomorrow's sendoff and welcome home. I bought cinnamon rolls to make for breakfast and root beer floats for dinner. I am thrilled that his teacher is letting me bring him in early to take pictures before I have to get to school to welcome my own students. I plan to fill up my camera taking pictures, and I am glad that the excitement of my own classroom will help make the day go by quickly.

Because let's be honest, I also can't wait to see him get off the bus.

End of Summer

Recent Griffin Quotes

After I explained what a Root Beer Float was, Griffin responded, "Root Beer and Ice Cream! How does it get any better than that?"

When asked what he is most looking forward to about Kindergarten, he responded, "Being there ALL day!"

When asked what he is most excited to learn about, he replied, "Nature."

When asked what he wants do first when he gets to school, he responded, "Check out a book from the library!" (Can you tell he is my son?)

Running in the Fall/Winter

Okay friends. What's the trick to running when the sun is rarely out?

Here I was, ready to run this morning at 5:45AM. I got dressed, ate a banana, grabbed my iPod, and was ready to go. That was, until I realized it was still dark outside.

Change of plans. I went to our local clubhouse and ran on the treadmill instead. Remember, mine is broken. I HAD NO DESIRE TO RUN ON THE TREADMILL!!! Cranking out those three miles this morning was torture! Normally I don't mind running on my treadmill, but when you are prepared to run outside, it is hard to shift your mindset.

So, how do you run outside when it is dark most of the time? Do I have to buy one of those dorky headlights? Are there paths you know of that are lit?

HELP!!!

Change is Hard

Today I started back to work. And that was hard.

Let me be clear. I LOVE TEACHING. I cannot imagine my life without a classroom. Really, I can't.

But at the same time, change is hard. I have spent most of my summer loving on my kids, and today that was Gail's job. Even though my kids have been going to day care for a few school year's now, I cried when I dropped them off. For the mothers who tell you it gets easier. They're lying!

Thankfully I got two huge hugs when I picked them up. And another one when we got home.

Going back to work has also put a damper on my running schedule. I'm TIRED. I don't want to run. But at the same time I do. Did I mention I broke my treadmill? So, now I can only run outside. Since summer is ending and fall is starting, I can no longer run outside past 8. And dude, I am NOT getting up to run before school. So, while I wait for my treadmill parts to arrive, I have to be super efficient with my time so that I am ready to walk out the door when two little G's go to bed. I don't do well with that.

Did I mention change is hard?

But alas. School is back in session. I will continue to run. It's just taking me more time to get used to it than I would like!

Final Days of Summer

We are living it up in the Dunigan House this week! With only a few days left before I start Teacher Workshop, I am trying to cram in lots of fun! Yesterday we went bowling and to Bunker Beach.

What's in store today? Swimming. Haircut. Park. Run.

So excited to go for a run with Griffin. He has asked me twice this week, but my legs just didn't want to go. Today's the day!

Pretending fall isn't right around the corner...