Raising Watsons

For the 2016-2017 school year, Emilia is heading to a new school (Juan De Anza), conveniently located around the block from our house.  She hasn’t graduated pre-school yet, but they decided to include her in the end of year ceremony as she’s been part of St. Michaels since she was six months old.

Emilia, however, was not in the mood for the ceremony.  She left the group to sit with me during the reading of “The Hungry Caterpillar” and while the students stood for their certificates and parents took pictures of their children Emilia could be heard yelling (multiple times) “Mommy, don’t take a picture of me, okay???”

OKAY.

And while the graduation ceremony was rough, I took Emilia shopping with me afterwards which is something she very much enjoys.  We both bought handkerchief dresses for the birthday party the next day, which just so happened to be a SPA party.   Post party, the whole family went for boba’s and chocolate shakes.

Mimi and I at St. Michaels during the ceremony.

A lovely picture of Ms. Vanessa.  Ms. Vanessa has just loved Emilia the past year in her class, she even bought her a birthday present this year (which teachers never do!).  Emilia’s certificate said “thank you for sharing your spunky personality and love all things sparkly”.

New dresses at the spa party.

First time getting our fingernails painted.  Emilia did not mind.

Treats with daddy!

Tucker showed me a skill he learned from a friend at roller derby, Jaxsen –  who happens to have a big brother:

T: Mom, Jaxsen told me never ever to do this to your parents.

[presents middle finger, but palm facing out]

I don’t know why though.

M: Well, that’s the middle finger and it’s a very rude gesture.

T: Look Mom, I’m doing it to myself

[presents middle finger, palm facing in.  Thereby accurately displaying his middle finger]

M: Whoa buddy!  Put that thing away!

Tucker just finished his first year at Broadway Elementary.  Broadway is a language school, Tucker is enrolled in Spanish Immersion.  He spends half of his day learning in Spanish and the other half learning in English.   The unfortunate thing is Broadway is nowhere near where we (happily) live.  It takes me about 45 minutes to drive him to school in the morning, then another hour for me to drive to my work.  Add a drop off for Emilia and it’s a two hour commute.

On the other hand, he is speaking Spanish comfortably around my house and to my family.  And that makes the commute #worthit.

It’s been a long year for the Bub.  He’s really struggled with learning how to follow directions and keep his hands to himself (manos!).  There were many, many, parent teacher meetings and a handful of reward systems including: stars, chocolate milks and smiley faces on post-its.  Like everything else this far, we had to wait until Tucker was ready.

It doesn’t help that he is pretty bored.  I’ve stopped drilling so much math with him in hopes that he won’t be too far ahead of the class (in the three major tests he had two perfect scores and a 98).  Tucker has also started reading voraciously.  Which has been a bit of a savior in the behavior area because now he can be challenged to do work and projects on his own.

The last few weeks of school Tucker has been able to really pull it together.  He was awarded a second stripe in Jui Jitsu, received an award for 100 books read and earned Star of the Week.  Congrats buddy, you’ve worked hard for it and we are so proud of you.

pictured with Professor Rodrigo (of Rodrigo Freitas Brazilian Jui Jitzu).

This photo KILLS ME.  First and last day of kindergarten (note the tippy toes in the before picture). 

I realize it has been a long, long time since I updated the blog.  For that I apologize.  But rather than dwell on the matter, let’s move into update mode.

Christmas was swell.

Tucker turned 6 with a gigantic Kylo Ren party at Scooter’s Jungle.   It was epic.  Emilia turned 4 with a day at an amusement park, Knotts Berry Farm.  That was also epic.  We’ve decided that Mom & Dad can really only plan 1 birthday party a year and since we <3 amusement parks, we alternate birthday celebrations.  It’s a good system.