Luka the Pirate

What is going on

Back to Nature School. Alyosha had his first day of spring nature school today. Unfortunately they had to move it to Sellwood, which is a farther drive for us, but the park is great and with the better weather coming along we will enjoy it. The good part is that the class is bigger, 8 kids, so I think it is more fun. Alyosha is keeping a nature journal with a picture of what he learned for the day--that is what he is working on in the photo; they learned about leaves and veins and how the leaf turns its food into sugar.

I made the kids pose for a photo in front of the pink tulips at Sellwood park. Niki wasn't too happy.

Niki getting some rest and some sun. I think that he is the king.

The Easter Bunny found us even though we weren't in Texas--he hid clues in the whole building that the boys found together. BUT that silly Easter Bunny dropped Luka's airplane bubble blower so we had to ask the toy store if they would let us exchange it for a new one. Luckily they take Easter Bunny exchanges.

Alyosha is working on his music school homework for his piano class. He already knows what each of the types of notes are. I can't wait for him to start Kindergarten next year.

Kindergarden--the first experience

I can't believe that we have to pay $300 a month for Alyosha to go to full day kindergarten! For that, I would put him in half-day for sure, but there isn't a choice because the only curriculum they offer is full day. I can pull him out in the middle of class at 11:30, then he would miss reading and writing every day. It is crazy and unfair to families no matter how much they earn--it is a public school for goodness sake!

On the other hand, we just started a really great music school with the kids. Both kids go for 3 months for only $70. the teacher is very good--actually teaching Alyosha at 4 and Luka at 2 about music, pitch, tempo etc... not just shaking shakers and singing Old McDonald like other music classes I have been to. The school is a non-profit and the teachers are real musicians who just truly love music and want to share that love with the kids. There is real value in this music class in the time and money we spend. At Chapman Elementary school, I feel like we are cheated on what they are supposed to provide the children.

Well, kindergarten round-up is February 24th. That is Alyosha's first step into the classrooms to see what they are like and what he will be getting into. I hope I will find out better things than the first impressions I have been given. Although, Chapman Elementary is supposed to be one of the best elementary schools - they need to figure out how to provide that greatness without $300 per child per month.

The pictures are from decorating cupcakes from Cupcake Jones cupcake shop. It was just by messy luck that any of the icing made it onto the cupcakes because it is much easier to eat the icing straight from the tub with fingers than to take the time to decorate the cupcake---then eat it!