Big Kindergarten

Aidan,

It's so hard to believe that you are starting Kindergarten 1. It's cliche, but it seems just like yesterday that you were born. And now you are a Kindergartner!

Self-Portrait: Kindergarten 1

We had some fun on the first day of school taking a few photographs here and there.

You did have a massive boo boo on your forehead, but that didn't deter you. A band-aid for the road, some photoshop for the official portrait, and you were good to go.

Here's a snapshot of you as a kindergartner:

What do you want to be when you grow up? "A Siamese cat...no...a beast tiger!"
What do you think you'll learn about this year? "Uh....fish!"
What is your favorite book? Mungo and the spiders from space
What is your favorite food? 'Pudding...and mango' <although, you have wayy been into
Sushi lately! "Orange" is your favorite!
What is your favorite movie? The Croods! <although, you have also been wayyyy into Star Wars lately too!>
What are you good at? Legos! I'm good at jumping puddles! Doing some things...

Friends: 'Max and Lennon and Gabe!'

Favorite song: 'shine your way' and 'dinosaurs! Bump ba dump BA dump' (dinosaurs marching)

Your teachers are, again, Mr. Lewicki and Ms. Mary. You get to be in the same classroom again this year, with your friends Lennon and Barron. You are in PS2 at White Rock Montessori School.

We've already had some wonderful feedback from your teachers:

And...surprisingly...we've had some feedback from you...who is notoriously quiet on the goings on of school!

You told us that you ate lunch with Max on the first day...and with Simone (with a blush) on the second day.

You told us that you got to feed the ducks and color a duck with Ms. Mary.

You have sung us a few of the songs you're learning.

You also do resort to your old tricks:
Me: Hi! How was school!
You: I...don't think I can tell you now. We're in the car. I'll tell you when we get home.

... later...at home...
Me: We're home! Can you tell me now?
You: I don't think so....

We've also gotten to witness some of the magic of your school.

Mommy and I spent a day pretending to be students Billy Madison style, and we both wish we could have gone to your school!

Also, Mommy dropped you off late the other day (you had an appointment) and witnessed the warm welcome you got.

Simone, Aoife, and some other young ladies ran to meet you at the chain link fence. "Aidan! Aidan hi! Aidan!" "Aidan can you come to my house and make cupcakes with me?" You seemed oblivious to the girls' requests, and were psyched when Lennon ran out of the crowd to greet you.

You were not at all upset to see Mommy go....you are so happy to be in kindergarten!

5th Birthday Party Fireworks!

Aidan, your fifth birthday party was one for the record books. It was  cold March day, and the snow from our big storms had just started to melt. Everyone was ready to get out...everyone was ready for a party.

Everyone was ready for your party! And man, was it a good one! It even ended in some fireworks!

The scene: the Little Gym.

The rules: Have fun, bounce around, do lots of fun activities, led by fun counselors.

The Guests: It felt like almost your entire class from school came, including your best buddies Lennon and Barron.

And of course, your best life buddy, Julia, was there too...showing off!

Brady came too!

As did Asher, Hollis and Willa, the Long triplets, and so many other wonderful friends.

Then, the real fun began!

You all gathered up, and you- being the birthday boy- got to show everyone your very own, spur-of-the-moment special trick:

Everyone got to participate, and play, and pretty much get really sweaty, crazy, bouncy and happy!

There was hopping...

Dancing...

Dog-piling...

Parachuting...

People may have started to get a little tired...but no worries. Everyone woke up and partied on!

You bequeathed your special birthday-spot-of-honor in the center of the parachute to your sister. So everyone sang happy birthday to you, while you spun Julia around in a circle!

Then they busted out the big guns...the air track. Which, as you know, makes everything get even more CRAZY!

And you, as the main party animal, were soaking it all up, taking it all in, and having a phenomenal time!

..despite the late hour and physical exertion...

Then, you were hoisted up high in the air, and marched toward your Birthday celebration grand finale!

Pizza...balloons...

...Angry Birds Cupcakes, made by your mommy...

...and Singing!

Now here's where I'll pause, because here's where the fireworks came. And all the signs were there: You didn't want to eat pizza, you drank a suspicious amount of water, your looked a little pale. And it all seemed to happen in slow motion. I almost got there in time. But I didn't.

"Happy Birthday to you!"- the last line was sung.

You blew out your candles.

Cupcakes were passed out and cupcakes were devoured.

3...2...1...

<slow mo Daddy...> "Oh no...he's going to...."

BARF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

See I promised you fireworks! You spewed like the fourth of july all over that green table cloth. I quickly escorted you away from the table and then knew you were going to spew again. So, I went somewhere to give you a bit of privacy...behind the counter. Where you spewed again...and you had quite some distance on that--- you even hit one of the counselor's purses. 

You had some puke on you, and didn't like it. So you stripped out of your pants and shirt immediately. Then, I knew that look on your face. I picked you up, grabbed the dirty clothes, leaped over the pile of vomit, and ran through the Little Gym to the bathroom at the back. We made it just in time for you to puke for the last time in the toilet.

You didn't cry. You weren't upset. You were mostly naked and you said "I threw up just a little bit." We washed your face, called your Uncle Jeremy to bring us the back-pack which had some spare clothes in it...but unfortunately no extra underpants for you. So...you put on Julia's underwear willingly, got dressed, and...totally rebounded happily.

You marched out of the restroom unashamed, unembarrased, and ready for more Little Gym. You started playing some more, and soon your party-goers joined in again.

"I just threw up just a little bit," you told them.

Epic. Totally Epic. 

Reviews were mixed. Some girls who were sitting directly across from you at the green table didn't get splashed, but were slightly appalled and apparently had awe-struck looks frozen on their faces. Some people at the opposite end of the table didn't even know anything had happened.

Brady, who was sitting right next to you, watched you vomit. Didn't move a muscle. Continued eating his cupcake and exclaimed "This is the BEST party ever!"

And it truly was. You know how to party, buddy. And we were all so honored to celebrate with you...a party with fireworks and true friends.'

Happy Birthday!