Fall T-Ball 2016

As if starting Kindergarten and the Y Wrap program weren't enough for one week, Parker started playing t-ball too!  This was her first time playing organized t-ball, we had only done soccer in the past.  

It is a very low-key league in the fall; perfect for first timers.  Practice is on Thursday evenings and games on Saturday afternoons.  The first practice was on Day #2 of school!  We lucked out and had another buddy from the JCC on her team, Aaron Allyn.  Parker jumped right in to practice and did a great job following directions from her coach.

The games are about what you would picture from a bunch of 5 year-olds.  Each kid gets to bat each inning.  They are only allowed to run to 1st base.  Then when the last batter goes, all the kids run all the way to home plate.  Our coach rotates the kids in the field.  Parker's team, the Blue Fireballs, has 6 kids on it.  Parker is one of two girls.

Goforth Electric sponsored the team!!

Fierce competitor after a VERY hot first game.  GE sleeve!

 

 

 Parker loves playing the game and has gotten so much better at throwing and batting.  

Graham wanted to "play baseball game" too, so after the kids were done, he ran the bases a bit.

 

Parker ready to field, closest kid in blue

Kindergarten

After a summer of fun at Camp Sisol, it was time for some big changes for Parker, who started Kindergarten.  In New York, children have to be 5 before December 1st to attend Kindergarten.  So Parker will be one of the young kids in her class her whole life, but we were assured by her Pre-K teachers who said she was so ready to start.  (Many parents hold their kids with late birthdays back a year.)

In our school district of Pittsford, it is still half-day Kindergarten.  They have been doing studies and drumming up support to switch to full day, so hopefully that will happen by the time Graham goes.  We signed Parker up for the AM class, so that she could ride the bus from home in the morning.  The program we got her into for the afternoon is a Kindergarten Wrap at the YMCA.  In April, Greg went and stood in line to secure one of the 18 spots.  We knew from our good friends, the Nudds, and others that it was in high demand, so Greg arrived at 1:45 am.  That's right!  He stood in line from 1:45 am until the doors opened at 5:00 am and got one of the last spots!  

The JCC has a wrap program also, but our school district does not bus there.  So the schedule was set...The bus picks Parker up at the corner down the street from our house at 8:01.  She attends Kindergarten at Allen Creek Elementary from 8:30-11:20.  Then she rides she "short bus" with a couple other drop-offs before hers and arrives at the Y at 11:47.

The Kindergarten teacher is Mrs. Lusk and it turns out she lives in our neighborhood!  There is one other child in her AM class who lives in our neighborhood, Zac, and Parker has become very good buddies with him.  They have a lot going on in that short amount of time:  including 4-5 field trips a year, music class, library, computer class, and P.E. 

The Y teacher is Miss Heather.  Ben Nudds, along with another boy from the JCC, Devon, are both in Parker's group.  The program is great because it does provide some structure and learning, in addition to the play time.  Parker's favorite is going across the hall to the Adventure Center (with climbing and active play).  They also bring the kids to swim every Tuesday and Thursday.  Plus, we can sign her up for any of the Y programs in the afternoon and they will walk her over to it.

So, we had a lot to be excited about!  Parker was used to riding the bus all summer to camp.  She was used to being in school and away from us all day (since age 4 months).  We expected a smooth transition.

Here are the pictures of the morning before boarding the bus:

We walked down to the corner, along with the two other little girls (1st and 2nd grade) and their families, to wait for the bus.  Papa G came to watch the big event.  Our neighbor, Bonnie, even walked down the street.  When the bus came, Parker lost it and would not get on.  I was shocked and totally unprepared for that reaction.  We had to physically put her on the bus and let her drive away crying.  Very hard crying.  It was not good.

The morning passed and while I was pretty certain the rest of her day was going fine.  However, for piece of mind I drove to the Y at lunch time and parked so that she couldn't see me and watched her get off the bus.  She looked normal and happy and I was relieved to see she made it to the right place!

 
The next day getting on the bus was a piece of cake and it has been every day since then!  Phew!  It is a little difficult getting good information from Parker about her day but sometimes we hear some good stories.  She seems to be loving her teachers and is making new friends.

 

Girl's Trip to Toronto 2016

In August, Emily, Marcie, and I took a weekend girl's trip to Toronto.  We had such an amazing time!  We got the City Pass and so were able to see lots of sights.  We also had many great meals, drinks, and of course long chats.

Aquarium:

 Looking up at CN Tower:

 Steam Whistle Brewing Company:

 Dineen Coffee:

We love hockey:

View from top of CN Tower (and looking down through the floor). We could see downtown Rochester!:

Royal Ontario Museum (including a Chihuly exhibit):

 Distillery District:

Casa Loma:

 

Summer 2016

This post will cover all of the random fun things we did this summer.  It was a hot, dry summer (particularly by Rochester, NY standards) so we enjoyed a lot of outdoor activities.

Playing at Wickham Farms (this is the farm where we have a CSA share):

  Cheering on the Red Wings (AAA baseball):

 Running through the hose on a hot weeknight:

Girls day out (Mommy took off work to go back-to-school shopping with Parker):

Graham's phrase of the day, "Guess What?":

A Friday evening visit to Strong museum:
 

Backyard ice cream (with video of Graham's "Go Go Baba"):

 After haircuts:

Baking cookies:

Another way to play with the pool:

 Evening performances:

 Picking veggies at Wickham Farms:

Red Wings game with Goforth Electric, Parker (& Graham) running the bases:

 Ben comes over for a sleepover:

Picnic lunch:

Helping Mommy wash car mats:

Corbett's Glen hike:

 Visiting Neighbor's boat on the canal:

 Hike in Fishers Park:

TV snuggle time:

Playing with the neighbor kids: