First Day of Preschool

Beck started preschool earlier this week and all I can say is "it's about time!" I'm saying that because we've been talking about preschool in our neighborhood for a looooong time (and we've been paying since June).  I started touring preschools almost a year ago - yes a year. Talk about planning ahead, which is so not our style.   We decided on a preschool that has a great 2's program - it also happened to have the latest application deadline (February), and didn't require a play date activity to determine if your child could participate.  Beck would have done great (of course ;->), but it was one more hoop I just didn't want to jump through.  

I know Beck will have a great "school" year!  Below are some pictures from his first day.  He was in a pretty silly mood that morning and had a great time playing with all the new toys!

Gotta love the Thomas tattoo on his arm

Silly boy!

Playing toys

Snack time - yum!

The Physical vs The Mental

Yep -- these are my kids alright, trying to have it both ways this morning -- ready to leave to go play soccer but taking a moment to read a few stories first. We have an unconscious and nearly unfulfilled need to stimulate these two intelligences, which is why I've always been so high on soccer....constant physical movement is coupled with continuous analysis, strategy creation, geometry and physics. 

The only thing missing this morning were cheerleaders, but some of the moms are pretty cute.  

:->

Family Comes to Town

My brother Iowa Jim and his daughter Beth dropped by my office in Manhattan last Monday evening, just in time to ride home with me to Brooklyn. We rode the slow orange F train and hustled to get Tay from her afterschool activities, then hustled to buy sushi and lobster from our fish place, then hustled home to meet Jennifer (who had just returned to Brooklyn from Manhattan) and Becker, then hustled to prepare dinner before we all passed out. 

It was a lot of walking to cap Jim's & Beth's day of walking. Nevertheless, we managed to get in lots of eating, chatting and guitar playing that evening. Pics below of lobster in process.  

Lobsters before & during...

Lobsters after....shortly before being stuffed into toasted and buttered potato rolls.

All of us Brooklyners certainly had a great time. Taylor helped Beth with her homework --

And Beck helped Beth learn a few things about cars & trucks -- 

It all ended when, after further confirmation that they were in fact blood brothers, the men went their separate ways -- Jim to continue exploring the city of one thousand lonely stories, and I left Tuesday morning on a business trip to Houston (just in time for the onslaught of Hurricane Ike). Jennifer was kind enough to host the family in my absence -- duty awaits! 

Happy Birthday Grandpa Wendell!

Today is Grandpa Wendell's birthday, and we couldn't let the day go by without wishing him a VERY happy day!  Beck loves hanging out with Grandpa - they always have the best time - taking walks, watching the ducks, taking drives in the Jeep - Beckman is always entertained when they spend time together.  Grandma & Grandpa recently moved to Florida and it's so nice to have them closer -  we can't wait to come visit soon!!

First Day of 2nd Grade

It's official - we now have a 2nd grader in the house! Tay started school this week and is really enjoying it. Congrats Tay - we know you'll have a fantastic year!!

I've found the schools here in Brooklyn sure do things quite a bit different than back home. There's no "meet the teacher" gathering before the school year starts, and this year Tay's teacher didn't want the parents to enter the classroom on the first day.  Dad of course was having none of this and went in to see Tay's classroom anyway (surprise surprise :->).