We had the chance to enjoy one more blissfully hot beach day on the long weekend before school started. Jasp was again protesting the close proximity of the water at first but once we started digging, the complaining stopped. Auntie Wendy and Evy joined in and we all had lots of fun before the reality of a school schedule started again.
Sammy attends a Montessori school and part of the program is that he is in the same class with the same teachers for 3 years (from ages 3 to 6). Next year he will change classes and be in the 6 to 9 years group. The idea is that the little kids can learn from the big kids and the big kids can learn to be role models for the little kids. Therefore Sammy was very comfortable starting school again (no tears and no sad days for the first time this year!) with Mrs Hammer and Mrs Feven. Being in P1(kindergarten) is a big deal in Bermuda as it is officially the start of school for all 5 year old kids on the island and it is time to start wearing a uniform to school. White shirt and khaki shorts normally and gym uniform twice a week. It still baffles me why white is the color for little kids. Sam is thankfully a clean kid (as kids go) but I am not too sure how many shirts I will have to go through when it is Jasper's turn to wear a uniform! Jasper wanted to be included in the school hoopla so he insisted on carrying a lunchkit and wearing socks just like his big brother.
When we arrived at Sam's school, Mrs Fahy, who is head of all the 3-6 classes, was greeting all the kids. She looked at Jasper and told me that he was not supposed to start until the next day (the different aged kids have staggered start dates to help transition the start of school), so I had to correct her and let her know that even though he looks like he can start school, my baby is with me for another year. One of Jasper's first questions upon arrival was if there was any Gombeys at the school because he remembered the ones that performed at Jake's going away party...man this kid has a good memory! After we walked Sammy to his class and I got a cute snapshot, I took Jasp's hand to leave and he said, "C'mon Sammy!" I thought Jasp was going to be lonely while Sam was at school but I think he is happy enough to play with Sam's toys at home and have some one-on-one time with Mommy. I sure do see big smiles when we pick up Sammy from school though.
So what does Jasp and Mommy do to keep busy? Apart from household chores, grocery shopping, a bit of Lego time in between chores, and perhaps a visit or two to the Barn (where we found some skinny jeans for $4!) and to Daddy's office, we have art class, kindermusik and gymnastics. Jasp has warmed up to his art classes and although he still prefers the non-messy activity stations, he will get his hands dirty once in awhile...as long as he is not far from the rinse bucket. Sammy was off sick from school one day (always around the time of his birthday!), so he joined in on Jasp's art class. Sammy loved it and Jasper was definitely more into it with his big brother around. Sadly, Miss Jen had to move off island but we have a nice new teacher, Miss Robyn!
Kindermusik with Miss Suzanne is also a lot of fun with Jasper. Although he stays pretty demure in class like his big brother was, Jasp will participate quite a bit more, playing with the instruments and even singing along a bit. Our first theme this semester is "Cookies and Milk" and Jasp was showing Daddy at home how we make cookies in class. (Measure the flour, pour the milk, stir the mix, roll the dough, etc) Even when he plays at home he will repeat some of the things he learns in class. Once I tried to copy what he was saying but said it wrong and he looked at me with a funny look and then corrected me. Ooopsies! Miss Suzanne always gives the kids a stamp on their arms at the end of every class and as you can see, Jasper loves it!
Gymnastics is actually a drop in class so it is nice to have the option to go or not go and not worry about paying a lot of money for missing classes. We meet up with Iris, Taryn and baby Trevor and have fun jumping, swinging and running around. Jasper's favorite activity by far is the big pit of foam blocks. Very similar to a ball pit so that is why Jasp calls it the ball pit. I of course have to jump right in with him so we "chop" each other down like trees and yell, "timber!" before we fall down. Since the gym closes right before lunch time, we head over to the park nearby with the Cundliffes to eat lunch and have a bit more playtime before we head home for our afternoon nap.
September should definitely be called "getting back into the swing of things" month. Whew!
