Red and Yellow and Orange and Brown...

Enjoy a video clip of Toby (front row in yellow) singing with his classmates during their preschool Thanksgiving program. It was extra special for us because last year he developed a terrible fear of the stage and church sanctuary at the preschool. He had a really hard time during practices and bravely survived the program. So this year it was fun to have him in the front row, singing and enjoying himself!! We had not talked about his fears last year because I didn't want to put any ideas in his head but this morning he brought it up. I asked him why he was afraid last year and not this year and he chalked it up to the fact that he is now 5, and that was long, long ago when he was only 4. Kids are unpredictable!

Back to School!

We really had a GREAT summer, and I've enjoyed reflecting on it:

ONE wonderful pool which Toby learned to swim across
TWO dear parents (my mom and dad) who we so enjoyed having here
THREE trips: Minnesota, Mammoth Lakes, and back to the family farm in New York

But it also feels GREAT to get back in to a routine! Toby had his first day back at preschool Friday. We like his new teacher, Miss Diane, very much already. Our kiddo was happy to be reunited with old friends and excited to make new ones!

Nervous excitement as he stands outside his classroom door ready to go in!

No problem settling in. Can I get a "Bye Mom?"

Busy Days

We have had birthday parties, special events and other activities that have kept us busy over the last two weeks. A highlight was going to Katie's 5th birthday party. Katie was born 6 months before Tobiah to my friend Illin and we often talk about how they were each other's first friend. When Katie started talking she used to call Tobiah "Biah". It is hard to believe she is now 5 and will be off to kindergarten next year! Here are some cute pics of the two friends together:

On Saturday, May 3rd, Tobiah's preschool had its annual Trike-a-Thon fundraiser event. Toby has been looking forward to this day since last year! Parents sell raffle tickets to "sponsor" their little racers, who ride their decorated tricycles and scooters in a circle around the parking lot. Toby couldn't get enough of it!

Here is Toby with some of his friends at the starting line.

Making his way around the loop. Below: Taking a much needed water break. It was a hot day!

Toby's biggest fan. He was saying, "Go!" from the sidelines.

On Sunday, May 4, we had another friend's birthday party, so we waited to celebrate Toby's "half birthday" on Monday. He is officially 4 1/2! Because waiting for his birthday to come around only once a year is so hard, we thought it would be special for him to have a 1/2 birthday celebration (just with mom, dad and Asher in attendance). Here he is posing with 1/2 a cake! Asher has been singing bits and pieces of songs lately, and with all the birthday parties we've been to lately, after we sang, "Happy Half Birthday to You!" to Toby, Asher started quietly singing, "Hap Day to You!" on his own. It was adorable.

Proud of our Preschooler!

This evening Tobiah's preschool had their Open House. Toby was proud to show me all the things he is learning and doing at school! I loved having him lead me around his classroom and point out which projects and papers were his. They are learning about caterpillars turning in to butterflies and on one bulletin board Toby pointed out that his butterfly was the highest - just a little window in to my son's oh-so-competitive spirit! But hey, we're happy that he is aiming high!

His teacher, Miss Val, is SO wonderful. She really nurtures the children and teaches them to care for each other. Toby's teachers are very important to him. As soon as we arrive in the classroom in the morning he does what I call a "teacher check". He makes sure Miss Val and Mrs. Shryock, her assistant, are both there before he feels comfortable enough to say goodbye to me. When I ask Toby about his day at preschool a lot of times the highlight of the day is if he got the "big shovel" or not. He loves to play in the sand! He has many great friends in his class and they all seem to get along so well. We are thankful that preschool has been such a positive thing for Toby. Because of his late fall birthday, we are planning on keeping him in preschool one more year - he will start kindergarten in the fall of 2009.