Farewell to Preschool

Before I get to pictures from Evan's actual last day of preschool, I thought I'd post a couple other fun highlights from the last few weeks of his time in Christ Lutheran School's amazing preschool program. 

Mrs. Meyer keeps a blog of photos of preschool activities. I love checking in on her blog for information updates and images of what keeps the kids busy. These next two pictures came from her blog, pictures she took at the events. 

May 7: Mother's Day Tea

May 16: Dad's Day

A Saturday event so working dads can share the preschool experience

Okay, back to my pictures. On May 21 the preschoolers had a field trip to Discovery Zone. [This is the same place where we had Ryan's recent 7th birthday party.] We've been there many times, and it's always fun.

Evan's first order of business upon arrival, climbing the tower. He spent a lot of time in there.

While he was climbing, I took a moment to play with the pin wall.

Evan and his buddy Colin make waves at the wave table.

[These two are drawn to each other. Both smart, athletic, and competitive.]

Evan and one of his favorite girls, Naomi, explore the water power tower.

Tackling the climbing wall. The challenge is to get across horizontally.

The current traveling exhibit is about the wild west. Kids can shovel coal into the steam engine, drive a covered wagon, or be locked up by the town sheriff. Outlaw!! Oh no!

In the blink of an eye, he's completed his first year of school.

First day -- Last day

What a fun last day it was! The teachers arranged a Road Rally. [They didn't do this when Ryan was in preschool, so this was a new event for me.] It was such a fun celebration, perfectly executed, and a lovely sunny day too. 

Each student brought a vehicle of their choosing and rode around a circular track. 

Evan wowed everyone with his impressive scooter skills.

They rotated through Road Rally related stations: popsicle break, car wash, and detailing where they decorated their vehicles.

At the end of the event, each student took a solo farewell ride around the track.

Gosh, if his solo ride doesn't really capture his essence.

The night before his last day, I laid down in his bed with him after stories. I don't usually do this. I don't know why I did this on this particular night. It was not an intentional sentimental decision or anything. I'm so glad I did though. We sang some songs and chatted a bit. The conversation turned to tomorrow being his last day of preschool. He shed a few tears as he voiced some concerns/worries about what kindergarten would be like, and how he'd miss preschool. He said as he cried, "But I'll miss Mrs. Kabelman and Mrs. Meyer for the rest of my life." And he wondered if his friends would "travel with him" to kindergarten. 

Mrs. Meyer once stated one thing that's great about Evan is that he has layers. I watch him confidently join the "big kids", almost all strangers to him, to play kickball at the class picnic following the road rally. [I had to drag him away from that kickball game, by the way.] But then he's capable of expressing nervousness and nostalgia the night before his last day. These layers make him a little complicated, but I think they'll serve him well. 

Another First Day -- Last Day picture to conclude. 

A little taller, less 2 teeth, more life experience

Kindergarten: Ready of not, here Evan comes!

Mother's Day

I was lucky to celebrate Mother's Day with Little E on May 7 at preschool. It was a lovely, but extremely bittersweet occasion for me. I am so very proud of him and the student he is becoming. I am excited for him to experience all the excitement that kindergarten brings. But I can't help but have some anxiety about all things unknown, worrying about what it will look and feel like to have my little monkeys BOTH in school full time. My roll in their lives is shifting and that's scary sometimes. I try to soak up everyone moment, especially ones like this. 

The moms all waited outside the classroom. The students came out one at a time, presented us with a card, and showed us to our seats. Their teacher instructed them to pull out our chairs for us.  

Here is the veggie pizza and fruit kabob he made for me. He made a little star-shaped sandwich for himself. He was also instructed to serve me lemon water and clear my dishes when we were done. It was all about taking care of mom. The whole thing is adorable and touching.

Then there was this super sweet song about how the mom takes care of the baby and tells the child "you're the special one." Then the child grows up to realize that mom is the "special one." I was in tears, of course.

Then, my family gathered at our house Mother's Day weekend for a Ponka hang out. This little man is turning into such an fun, high-energy, expressive cutie! Caleb is 18 months already!! Look at that face! [p.s. Caleb will have a baby sister in late August/early September. Burke suggested the name Pippa. Pippa Ponka. He said he will call her Pipster. Oh, Uncle Big-Face.] 

Cousins! High-Five!

Caleb [and his dad!] had fun playing with the DJ station.

Ow!

Ponka Fam Mom Club

Either you're a mom or you have a mom, so Happy Mother's Day to everyone!

Tulip Time

Holland, Michigan [the town of my alma mater, Hope College] celebrates tulips in a major way. Tulip Time, a popular week-long festival celebrating Dutch heritage, became an annual event in Holland in the mid-1930's. The boys and I headed up to Holland to check it out. Sadly, Burke couldn't come with. He had to work, and tulips wait for no one, so off we went. 

First we stopped by Veldheer's Tulip Garden, where over 5 million tulips are planted.

The also have 10,000 hyacinths planted.

They smell so great!

Tulips are so beautiful!

Ryan & Evan noticed this one that is half yellow, half red.

They thought it looked cool, different from the yellow/red blend on the others.

After lunch and a stroll around Hope's campus, which included some purchases at the bookstore, we stopped by JP's, a local coffee house. JP's has been a hotspot since I was in college a million years ago. We picked up some beans for Burke and the boys had an Italian soda. I was planning to let them share this drink as we walked back toward the car, and I had a premonition that it would be dropped.  Well, sure enough, it dropped maybe 100 yards from JP's. Evan dropped it, and felt just horrible about it. Both boys were sad to miss out on finishing such a delicious drink. Next time we're in Holland, we'll have to try it again. And maybe next time we will sit down while we drink it. 

It was commencement weekend at Hope. This banner was made with the graduating seniors handprints when they were at orientation as freshmen four years ago. They displayed the banner graduation weekend, which I thought was a pretty smart, impactful idea.

We spent the last part of our adventure at Kinderplaats - part playground/park, part carnival. We had a lot of fun there riding rides, playing skeeball, bouncing in a big bounce house, playing on a big playscape, and sharing a delicious elephant ear. We had a long day, but they boys'  stamina was impressive and we all had a blast! Hopefully, we can do it again next year with Burke this time!

Spring Highlights

Here are some random things the boys have been up to...

I've instituted an iPad routine for the boys. For Ryan it was 'when your weekly homework packet it competed, you can have free time on the iPad'. For Evan, it was 'when your school week is finished, you can have free time on the iPad'. I had to institute a routine to avoid constant requests for iPad time, especially from Evan, who can never get enough and is brought to tears when it's time to turn it off. At the end of one of his free-time-on-the-iPad marathons, he brought this to me. I just love this smarty bug! 

 April 24

Burke decided Ryan was old enough to peel potatoes. 

He loves helping in the kitchen and is happy to do it. 

April 24

April 27: They've lost track of how many nemnes they have. 

May 4: See ya, Tooth #2!

Tooth fairy still had to visit the couch pillow. She left $1. Evan was disappointed, but didn't want to appear ungrateful. He said something like, "I'm glad I got $1. But I thought I'd get a stack of dollars."

Ryan's first time on roller skates. His good friend Anetta had a birthday party at a local skating rink. I stayed to gauge his comfort and confidence. He was such a sport. He slowly made his way around the rink a few times, taking little steps in the skates, not really gliding. He fell a couple times, but got right back up. As he skate-stepped around the rink, he did little dance moves with his arms. I was overwhelmed with how adorable, endearing he was throughout the whole party. 

May 9

I was so happy that Ryan's self-portrait was selected for the Elementary Art Super Show!

May 7

We are proud of his continued interest in art and thankful for his art teacher's encouragement.