Here we go again! Another new school year has begun, and Ella and Sterling are now in pre-kindergarten. What? Surely not! Not my tiny little 5lb. babies! Time is flying by and doesn't seem to want to slow down for this mama.
I know I look at this picture now and think they look so big, and another year from now I'll look back and be melancholy with how little they really still were. But today they look like giants to me...
The week before school started we received a call that Sterling had been accepted to the Kilby pre-k program. Acceptance is offered through a lottery, and we had previously declined Ella's spot when offered last March. But upon giving it a great deal of thought, Michael and I decided the Kilby program with it's hands on curriculum seemed like a better fit for Sterling than FUMC, so we accepted his spot in the class. Luckily one of his best friends, Ollie, was also going, along with several other children he already knew. Ella was actually the one who took their separation the hardest. We had explained before the first day of school that Sterling would be going to a new school this year, but on the first day, Ella started crying saying she wanted to go to Kilby too and could she go when she got bigger? So sad. She's back on the waiting list, but 5 more people will have to drop out of the class before she'll be offered a spot again...in other words, it's not happening. While I wasn't planning on separating them until kindergarten, I'm starting to think it was a very good thing to go ahead and separate now. Sterling has always kind of flown beneath Ella's wing. Because he's quieter and doesn't cause a stir, most people assume he can do everything Ella can do. I see the generalization every time we go to the pediatrician! And he can't. Sterling has his own strengths and weaknesses, as does Ella. And they both deserve the chance to have those weaknesses recognized and addressed. So, for the first time ever, they're really independent of each other. I would imagine there will even be children in their classes this year who won't even know they're twins. A little bittersweet, but I think it will be the best thing for both of them.
Heading to school. Here we come!
Our MOPS group also kicked off the new school year with an AMAZING Candyland themed kick off party. Hands down, this was the most extravagant event we've ever pulled off, and I think both children and their parents were awed by what we did. Even the dads came out to help! Michael was Lord Licorice, "the strongest man in the world", arm wrestling the children for a licorice surprise. All night Ella kept telling anyone who would listen, "my daddy is the strongest man in the world." Haha!
We had face painting...
And a peppermint forest where the children listened to a very important story and received a candy cane treat.
As you can see, we turned the gym into a living game board, with colored squares you followed from one station to the next.
And of course, we had some non sugary dinner available for the kiddos and their families.
Great minds think a like, many children came dressed in sweets themed clothes.
Grandma Nut read all the children a story in her nut house...which is exactly where one might think they belonged after gluing each of those peanuts to the walls! It was truly an incredible night. My kids are STILL talking about going to Candyland and when can they go back.
Our family...
And the wonderful women I have the absolute pleasure of serving on the MOPS steering team with. These women are a joy and an inspiration and work so hard to make our MOPS group the extraordinary group it is. I adore them all so much, and am honored to call them my dear friends...
I know the pictures are slim for August. It seems like with preparing for and starting a new school year consumed our entire month, and before we knew it, it was over! Here's a promise for more pics in September.
I know I look at this picture now and think they look so big, and another year from now I'll look back and be melancholy with how little they really still were. But today they look like giants to me...
The week before school started we received a call that Sterling had been accepted to the Kilby pre-k program. Acceptance is offered through a lottery, and we had previously declined Ella's spot when offered last March. But upon giving it a great deal of thought, Michael and I decided the Kilby program with it's hands on curriculum seemed like a better fit for Sterling than FUMC, so we accepted his spot in the class. Luckily one of his best friends, Ollie, was also going, along with several other children he already knew. Ella was actually the one who took their separation the hardest. We had explained before the first day of school that Sterling would be going to a new school this year, but on the first day, Ella started crying saying she wanted to go to Kilby too and could she go when she got bigger? So sad. She's back on the waiting list, but 5 more people will have to drop out of the class before she'll be offered a spot again...in other words, it's not happening. While I wasn't planning on separating them until kindergarten, I'm starting to think it was a very good thing to go ahead and separate now. Sterling has always kind of flown beneath Ella's wing. Because he's quieter and doesn't cause a stir, most people assume he can do everything Ella can do. I see the generalization every time we go to the pediatrician! And he can't. Sterling has his own strengths and weaknesses, as does Ella. And they both deserve the chance to have those weaknesses recognized and addressed. So, for the first time ever, they're really independent of each other. I would imagine there will even be children in their classes this year who won't even know they're twins. A little bittersweet, but I think it will be the best thing for both of them.
Heading to school. Here we come!
Our MOPS group also kicked off the new school year with an AMAZING Candyland themed kick off party. Hands down, this was the most extravagant event we've ever pulled off, and I think both children and their parents were awed by what we did. Even the dads came out to help! Michael was Lord Licorice, "the strongest man in the world", arm wrestling the children for a licorice surprise. All night Ella kept telling anyone who would listen, "my daddy is the strongest man in the world." Haha!
We had face painting...
And a peppermint forest where the children listened to a very important story and received a candy cane treat.
As you can see, we turned the gym into a living game board, with colored squares you followed from one station to the next.
And of course, we had some non sugary dinner available for the kiddos and their families.
Great minds think a like, many children came dressed in sweets themed clothes.
Grandma Nut read all the children a story in her nut house...which is exactly where one might think they belonged after gluing each of those peanuts to the walls! It was truly an incredible night. My kids are STILL talking about going to Candyland and when can they go back.
Our family...
And the wonderful women I have the absolute pleasure of serving on the MOPS steering team with. These women are a joy and an inspiration and work so hard to make our MOPS group the extraordinary group it is. I adore them all so much, and am honored to call them my dear friends...
I know the pictures are slim for August. It seems like with preparing for and starting a new school year consumed our entire month, and before we knew it, it was over! Here's a promise for more pics in September.
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