G is for Gretchen

First day at her new school....

All Grown Up!

Today is Gretchen's last day at her current daycare.  On Monday she starts a different place that has a preschool curriculum.  We hate leaving but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.  Gretchen loves her current teacher so I think the transition might be hard but she would have moved to a new room next week regardless of what school or daycare we're going to.  I was always worried that I would envy the people who my child bonded with at daycare but instead I'm relieved.  I feel good that there is someone at school that she trusts and cherishes (and I'm not overdoing it when I say cherish....  she loves her teacher).  We met the new teachers a few weeks ago and one of them said something that I can really relate to...  She said kids want to please their teachers...almost even more than there parents so they are in a very meaningful position to teach respect, discipline, kindness, etc. to our young ones.  I just hope every year we get someone who understand this and takes it seriously and respectfully.

It's the little things

Gretchen never ceases to amaze me.... It truly is the little things in life for a four year old! Even though we had a busy weekend with birthday parties, parades, carnivals and swimming, Gretchen was the most happy about two things. Lenore, her grandmother, bought her an accordion which she loved the moment we handed it to her. She played it on and off all weekend. Then last night, I gave her a Scooby Doo nightgown to wear that Steve's sister made from a t-shirt. She told me she wanted to wear it every night! When Steve came in to say goodnight, she yelled "look what Auntie Sharon made me!" I can't predict it but boy when it happens, she is like a light bulb shining bright!

First Camping Trip

I already blogged about the camping trip we just took this week but I didn't mention my little Gretchen much. The truth is, she was pretty good - a little ornery but nothing you wouldn't expect from a 4 year old who is battling for attention with two baby brothers. I thought she might freak out in the tent about bugs or critters at least in the dark but she was pretty tired most of the time. While she has a big imagination it did not take her down that scary road that sleeping in the outdoors might lead (to my relief). Steve's sister brought bandannas for all of us so we were "camp girls" as Gretchen liked to say. While I think she was bored some of the time at the camp site (we spent the first evening getting camp set up), she did amuse herself and us with songs. She found a big flat rock near our site that she called a stage which she stood on and sang at the top of her lungs. I'm sure everyone else enjoyed it! (maybe?) Steve wanted to take the girls fishing but with two babies with us we were lucky to get in a hike. There is always next year!