Taj's First Day of Public School UPK (Pre-K)

Taj started public school for the first time in Fall 2014!  He attends Bemus Elementary UPK program, every day from 9-12!  Though shy at the orientation, by the time the first day of school rolled around he was thrilled to be going and meeting new friends.  His favorite class buddy is Gavin, but he's friends with everyone.  His teacher, Mrs. Lewellen, has a Montessori background and is an excellent teacher!  We are very pleased with everything he is learning, the art he is creating, the many hands-on things they do.  I love that they are learning to write and read…. so much emphasis on academics at the public school versus his private preschool last year.  His teacher told me he is her top student, and she is impressed with his counting!  He counts to 80, and practically up to 100!

his classroom, and Taj at his desk!  Look at our big boy!

After the first day of school ended, as a special treat we walked down to the ice cream shop and the boys chose celebratory ice cream!

IMG 4087 from jana grover on Vimeo.

Taj began riding the little bus home every day.  Its only him and his UPK classmates that ride the bus, and both bus driver ladies are so sweet.  Honestly, I was one of those moms who never wanted her child to ride the bus due to safety, bullying, blah blah, but I did want Taji to be happy and he was so excited riding the bus back home with most of his classmates…. that I thought my child's happiness for the tiny minute he rides the bus home outweighs my worries.  We'll see when he moves on to the big bus next year…. but until then, I will let him have his fun on the bus.  It was a bitter sweet emotional moment when he got off the bus for the first time!  It was like he was taking his first steps all over again!  Each milestone for me (i.e. his first steps, first time skiing, first time swimming, first time riding the bus), each "FIRST", makes me so teary-eyed and shaky! I fully absorb him growing up in front of my eyes and its both exhilarating and terrifying!

Outside of school, Taj participates in 2 extracurricular activities….. his Music keyboarding (intro to piano) class and karate!  He enjoys both, especially getting to see his buddy Matthew at karate!

Since Taj's beginning school and being at school every day for the half of the day, Mommy and Jax get to enjoy each other once again.  I am so blessed to be able to have this precious one-on-one time with our littlest.  He's had to share us with Taj right from the minute he was born, so this is his time to get mommy and daddy all to himself.  Brad doesn't typically go into the office until after lunch, so he hangs with Jax and I in the mornings and often waits for Taji to get off the bus.  This precious time with Jax has made me fall in love with him all over again!  Getting to spend the solo time to cuddle, play, and bond with him has been amazing.  He relishes the attention too, and getting to play independently without big brother's interference and with big brother's toys!  In the Fall, we would just hang around the house on Mondays and Wednesdays, go to music class on Thursdays, and play group at the YMCA on Fridays.  Tuesdays were reserved for the library and the weekly story time Jax assists me with.  We have such a great time picking out books for our friends, reading to them, coming up with a cool craft and snack that goes along with our theme.  Its the perfect excuse to get a lot of our buddies out to the library so its always familiar  faces we see, and some new friends we meet!  Jax LOVES the library, he is a book worm.