It's nearing the end of May and yet it seems like Spring weather hasn't quite settled into Issaquah. The temperatures today were down in the 40's as a major storm system continues to make it's way through the Puget Sound area. Throughout the day the sky alternates from being bright and sunny to threateningly ominous and rainy.
Despite the unpredictable (and getting-to-be-frustrating) weather this year we did get to do one really nice thing today as a family.
I came home from work to find the Porter and Fallon all nicely dressed and their hair unusually well-kempt. Fallon had the cutest pig tails and a bright Spring-colored dress. Porter was wearing one of his cool button-up shirts and khakis. I could tell they were all really excited (and a bit anxious) for what we were getting ready to do.
After removing my Microsoft badge and catching my breath, we headed down the street to Issaquah Valley Elementary (IVE) for Kindergartern Open House. The school is within walking distance of our house, just a few minutes down Squak mountain, a quick left at the light onto NewPort Way and maybe a hundred yards or so from there.
When we arrived the place was already buzzing with lots of eager parents and somewhat bewildered and nervous children. Porter has been adamant that he isn't going to go to a different school (from Prime Time Learning Preschool), screaming in response to Toni's attempts to get them used to the idea, "No, no, no, I won't go to a different school, I won't, I won't, I won't!" He does it in a kind of cute way, however; not like he's throwing a temper tantrum or anything - just rather matter-of-fact.
Fallon, on the other hand, has at least been open to the idea, though far from looking forward to it - still wary of the unknown, I guess. Regardless, they both seem interested at least.
So, I was a bit surprised when I got home to find them dressed, calm and ready to go.
Anyway...back to our arrival at the school. The teachers and helpers were all very organized. The provided a tour of the overall school: cafeteria, gym, art room, music room and the hallways. Then they gave us a tour of the library where Porter and Fallon nervously gave the lady at the check-in station there names. After putting a check by their names, the check-in lady asked them to go over to a big table and pick out a gift bag. Their littles eyes immediately lit up as their demeanor suddenly changed.
After getting their gift bag we all sat in front of a video projector for a small PowerPoint (of course) presentation on the contents of their gift bag. Essentially, it contained materials for helping to prepare your kid for the upcoming school year: a book on their ABC's (with an animal theme), a DVD of their teacher giving them instruction on each letter in the alphabet, and some other odds and ends. Toni and I thought the DVD of their teach was paritcularly thoughtful. All of this was provided to the school via a grant that the school's administration had applied for and received.
Shortly before going into the library, one of their friends, Misha, from the preschool showed up for Open House too. All three of them were so excited and immediately began chatting with each other.
After the library we were taken to their classroom where they again checked-in with a teacher and were given a purple check-list of things they should be able to learn over the summer before starting their first day: sing the Alphabet song, discern basic shapes, identify colors, spell their first name (starting with a single capital letter).
Outside of their classroom window was the playground. Porter, Fallon and Misha couldn't take their eyes off of it and kept asking when they would be allowed to go play. After marching them around the classroom a few minutes, trying to get them interested in the various learning aids, we gave up and let them go out to the playground with the other screaming kids.
Another little girl with glasses immediately came up to Fallon. You tell that there was an immediate bond by the look of recognition (of their glasses) in each other's eyes. Toni and I talked about it later and it made us very happy.
Porter immediately loosened up a bit and began playing around on the play set. He was a good bit taller than most of the other boys and took to climbing around on the play set like a monkey. For the most part, however, he stayed close to Fallon (or "sissy" as he calls her - she calls him "bubby").
Toni and I hung out with Misha's mom and chatted. As the weather was quite chilly we rounded the kids up after fifteen minutes or so and headed back inside. Walking down the hallway after letting out some tension, they now marvelled at all the art work done by the school kids, hung on the walls in the hallway. One particular group of pictures of made-up creatures really had them excited, and they asked me with uncontrolled eagerness what each creature was: catbird, grey-winged trumpeter (my favorite), black-widow bird and so on.
Afterwards, we headed to Round Table Pizza (my first visit) and had some piping-hot, super-cheap pizza. I have to say that it really hit the spot, though the inside of the place didn't live up to the commercials I'd seen on TV, so I was bit dissappointed in a silly way.
When we got home, Porter immediately broke out the magnetic letters from his gift bag and began organizing them on the refridgerator. Fallon joined him soon with her magnetic letters.
It wasn't long before they were playing and bickering...no longer the nervous/eager little students we witnessed earlier. I guess we shouldn't be in too much of a hurry, though, for them to mature. In a way it felt to Toni and I like this was the first big step to them growing up, which brought a weird kind of sadness and happiness to both of us.