Surviving Preschool

    So today was the last party for Samuel's first year of preschool. Just a few more weeks and he will be a 3-year old grad! #pompandcircumstance. 
I wish I had a handbook to guide me through this first year as there were a few hiccups along the way. 
Here is what I learned what to do/not to do. #ifpreschoolwashardformewhatwillkindergartenbring

This was literally me at so many points this year… but instead of it saying "LSAT"
on the cover it said, "Preschool for Dummies"

DO:

*Be a nicey to all the preschool moms. Even when one of them interrogates you about your selected craft and you want to scream, "I'M A TEACHER FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, I can handle this." Because she may just compliment you and tell you how impressed she is once she sees the kids in action. 

*Buy school pictures! I almost missed out on this gem: 

Me:  "Samuel, how were pictures today?"
Samuel:  "Good, but I think I smiled funny."

*Ask your child about their new friends and the songs they sing. From August-January we only talked about snack, but finally I started to get some info. :)

*Tell your child how proud of them you are with their report card:

#whatitsallabout

*Buy a ridiculously overpriced book bag for your youngin, because clearly that is indicative of what kind of year it will be.

I know, I know, it has his name on it and that's a no no.

DON'T:

*Assume your child will be okay if you just "pop-in" on a given day for a story, then head back to work. You will have a screaming tot and a broken heart.


*Freak out if and when your child freaks out as you spent all hours of the night preparing, buying, making things for the next day's party. I've seen tears, hair pulling, and screaming  (yes, all my sweet boy).


*Freak out if your craft, snack, etc. isn't Pinterest worthy. Pinterest is a farse where time doesn't exist. Cut yourself a break. :)

*Throw away all fundraising information that doesn't seem appealing. You may just throw away lottery raffle tickets, that may just cost $25.00 each. So you may be eating the $50. Just saying.

*Panic when the preschool teacher starts recounting stories your child tells while at school. "My mommy pumps her milk in a locker at her work for my baby brother to drink."  #pumpingprobs  #traumatizingmytoddler   C'mon Samuel, it's not a locker, it's a storage closet son! 

*Show up on days when preschool is cancelled (I may have done this once or twice).

It's Thomas!

So yesterday was Samuel's third birthday party. He loves Thomas the Train, so that was the theme for the shindig. One of my best friends is an event planner, so I guess I'll have to ask her if a headache, sickness, hangover feeling follows every day AFTER an event. What a whirlwind of a few weeks, and day, but what a reward seeing Samuel's face when the school bus pulled up to take him to his party at the park. 

Pure Joy :)

I know a bus isn't a train, so maybe the theme should have been "transportation" technically. A friend of Josh's brought us conductor-ish gear…so this was our attire for the celebration: 

The baby is all hyped up on caffeine #tiredmom

I love that Josh participates and willingly wears these ridiculous things. I was concentrating on keeping my breakfast and iced coffee down on the bus. I am so sensitive to motion sickness. Every bump in the road and bead of sweat intensified my sickness…. but it was worth it to ride with my little man! 

We had a few hiccups along the way….. 3 to be exact… but it was all good. :)

1.  I saw on Pinterest this easy way to say "Happy Birthday" as soon as your kiddo wakes up on his or her special day. #somethingthatisactuallydoableonpinterest

Go figure, the ONLY lipstick I had in my drawer was my ONLY MAC lipstick…. there is $16.00 down the drain… and Samuel wanted me to wipe it off because "people don't write on mirrors."

2.  When Tiff and I went to the park to decorate in the morning, we had some guests that would not get out of our way. Adorable, but a little anxiety provoking when on a tight schedule to catch a bus! 

3.  I wanted to do this that I found online for drinks to go with the "Thomas" theme….

But we ended up with a broken decanter…. and only iced tea with no signs…..

People probably wondered why there were decanters and cups in addition to four coolers. Stupid Pinterest makes me feel guilty. Sorry Aunt Debbie…. on my to-do list this week.

Overall, it was an awesome day with friends and family. We are so blessed to have Samuel and I hope he had the best time at his party. The day ended with this picture… I was too tired to sleep of course, but I'm glad the birthday boy and my co-conductor got some sleep after a busy day!