4 Happy Family The personal blog of Kevin R. Hoffmann

Kindegarten Orientation

Holy Shit! Yes, the expletive is warranted and needed at this point. Our little girl is moving up to the big leagues this year and we attended her orientation last night. Blah, blah, blah they grow up so fast...you blink and blah blah blah. I know all the typlical sayings, but this is my kid, our little Maya who just yesterday seemed delayed as we swam with her in a pool in China. It is a total freakout moment.

We did not have time to even build it up for her because we read the letter home incorrectly and did not realize we were suppsoed to take her with us. The kids were in the bath when Court had her own expletive moment and called the school confirming that yes the kids probably should be at their orientation. Stupid parents.

The Evester went with us and we got there with all of thedocumentation, registered and walked back to the library. Total proud moment for me; our kid was absolutely thrilled that her school had its own library and we were thrilled watching her light up and be so proud that she has gotten so big.

The kids had a slide show and all of the parents watched as they stared intently at the screen. They talked about taking the bus, PE class, their 4th-grade buddy and other surface level come-ons like they were being sold a timeshare. The kindegarted teacher is about as tall as Maya, but a lot more pregnant, as in 8.5 months. SHe seemed super nice. Sh rounded up all the kids and took them to the classroom so the parents could listen to presentations from the nurse, the principal and other teachers and therapists. We got to learn about what is expected of us, what we need to buy and how best to support the school and our kids.

We went home and freaked out a little bit realizing how far we have come with her and as parents. This Fall it is going to be really weird watching her get on that bus in the morning; her little legs braving those tall steps up to the bus. She is definitely excited, but probably will not use an expletive. (I am sure she will learn that in school.)

Cabin Fever spawns Bumbo Sledding

Foot of snow and the girls were sick of being in the house. Even the greyhounds were loving the romp in the backyard. Courtney took the kids out on the sled and started the sport of Bumbo sledding. Evie seemed to like it and we are applying for the tandem event for the Vancouver Olympics.

For you non-breeders, non-adopters, a Bumbo is the polyurethane plastic baby containment unit that you can see Evie sitting in the pictures below. All is going well, we are getting ready for the chili cookoff and dealing with lawyers for the finalization of the readoption. Met a great lawyer today and I am hoping she can bring it home for us.

All is well, we have made it through the Snowacalypse even though Courtney broke my shovel.