School is just about to start for Avery, too, and there was an open house at the preschool on Friday. Avery met her new teachers and classmates, explored her new classroom and, of course, posed for a few pictures on her way out.
-M
I took off work for Zoe’s first day of school, since it was a noon dismissal. Before Avery and I picked her up, though, we had our own fun: meeting up and playing around with a bunch of little siblings (for whom school doesn’t start until Monday) at the zoo.
-M
And here’s a self “portrait” that Zoe assembled on her first day.
-M
So, Zoe’s first day was a big success. Her teacher was as warm and sweet in person as she was in her letter, and the feelings of warmth of community were overwhelming as we walked in the classroom. It was clear Zoe felt right at home as she reunited with friends from last year – and I couldn’t be happier!
-M
When we got home from our trip on Sunday, there was a package waiting for Zoe. It was from her new teacher, Ms. Eisenhauer, who sent a letter of introduction and several gifts – including a first-grade bookmark, pencil and bracelet, as well as the confetti Zoe mentioned in her video. In the letter Ms. Eisenhauer wrote how excited she was to get to know her new students and how much fun first grade was going to be for her and the kids. She also wrote:
I bet you are a little nervous and excited about the first day of school. I want to tell you a secret; even teachers get nervous on the first day! Really! But I know once we meet each other and start playing and learning together the nervousness will disappear.
From the look on Zoe’s face, she’s not nervous for today, the first day of school – she’s just excited!
-M
Zoe begins first grade (!) tomorrow, and like last year I did a little pre-school Q&A with her. A few things to note: She calls it the “chick class” (at the :08 mark) because her teacher has baby chicks in the classroom; the “Hebrew kids” (:44) are two new classmates she thinks might be Israeli (because they have Hebrew names); the Death Star  (1:47) is a way-too expensive toy that she wants; and the confetti (1:55) was a gift from her new teacher to fight off the night-before jitters.
-M
More pics of our trip, which – like with our first day – was all about hanging by the pool (oh, and mini-golfing to get a break from the sun).
-M
Our summer travel season (three airplane trips in seven weeks) came to a close yesterday, when we returned home from our trip to Phoenix. The first thing we did when our plane landed there last Wed. was jump into our suits and drive to one of our favorite spots (with the lazy river that Zoe first went in as a baby); from there, it was just sunning, swimming and relaxing. My kind of vacation!
-M
More stories to add to my recent entry on Avery’s love of princesses. “I love Cinderella so much – I can’t wait to meet her,” she told me earlier in the week. And when we surprised her the next day with a princess lunch box (in honor of the upcoming school year), she was so excited that she slept with it.
-M
I’ve mentioned before about Zoe’s connection with Leo, the little boy who she met at preschool when they were both two, and how they’re occasional pen pals. Zoe sent him a little card last week and a few days later received this note via e-mail. (A very modern courtship.)
-M
Speaking of our last visit to Scientopia (back in April 2011), what a difference a few years makes in a preschooler’s life!
-M
Zoe has been begging us to go back to Scientopia – essentially a mini-children’s museum – up in Napa for some time now, and since we had no plans on Tuesday I decided to make the trip. I got the feeling that Zoe’s memories of it were better than the real thing (it’s been two years since our last visit, and she’s close to aging out of the space), but she did have fun, as did her sister. In fact, when I asked Avery later what her favorite part was, she answered, “Everything.”
-M
During art time at “Mommy camp:”
Zoe: “You have really good cutting skills, Avery.”
Avery: “Thanks. Yeh, I’m good at cutting.”
-M
Yesterday marked the first day of this summer’s version of Mommy Camp; because we’re so often on the run, I decided we should take it easy and stay close to home. The girls spent most of the morning finishing off workbooks (math concepts for Avery, U.S. states for Zoe) and then using cupcake liners to make a poster of fairies, butterflies and flowers. They were very proud of their creation!
-M
I was right about Avery (pictured below trying on hats at Gilroy Gardens) feeling good that she was included in Saturday’s activities. “I can’t believe I’m friends with a big girl,” she told me before she went to bed last night.
-M
