We started out the busy month with Back to School Night at Hunter's school. We saw some art they've been doing and learned about his teachers and what to expect through the year. Hunter and one other student received their "apples" the first month of school for knowing all their letters and sounds. I was a little surprised the other kids didn't know these things already as Hunter has known them for at least 2 years now.. The teacher asked the other mom and I if we would like to stay for their award ceremony and take a picture. That was a very proud moment :)
Hunter celebrated his 5th birthday at school this year. He stood up in front of the class and they sang him Happy Birthday. Then I read his class the book, "How to Train Your Train", that we donated as Hunter's "Birthday Book" instead of bringing cupcakes because he shared his bday with 2 other students. So we had to get creative.
My parents brought his gigantic birthday present over to our house a bit early because it was too big to take to his party on the 6th.. They helped set it up and watched him try it out. There has not been a day gone by that it hasn't gotten used. And it helps get some energy out before school... Jackpot!
Skyler also started her first month of ballet. She LOVES it. She loves dressing up in her pink tutu and slippers and tights and refuses to let me carry anything. She always needs to have her pink purse to transport her shoes. They stretch, tippy toe, plie, twirl with wands, and then have free dance time with pom poms and other play things to princess songs. I think it may be my favorite half hour of my week now.
We are so lucky that our school has so many fun PTA events. We attended the "Ice Cream Social" and rooted on Hunter's teacher in the Whipped Cream Eating Contest.
The next day we celebrated Vicki's birthday with our annual crab legs feast. Chase went easy on her this year and didn't attack her with whipped cream like last time.
The kids were lucky enough to get invited to a "Frozen" birthday party for their friends Ashlyn and Dylan. And there was a surprise guest, Princess Elsa! They were in awe listening to her read her story, sing songs, and teach them to dance.
We went to the LA County Fair with Oma and Opa, Grandma Converse, Danny and Cherlyn and cousin Brooklynn. The kids had a great time on some rides, petting the animals, seeing the model trains, and watching the pig races. And we all had fun watching them have fun. As usual :)
Keeping up to date on Hunter this month, its been a rough one. He has been having a really hard time behaving himself at school. At home too, but we are all used to that and have been giving him time to mature and grow out of what we hoped were phases. It's been pretty clear lately that his level of hyperactivity (which we have always called energy) mixed with his lack of impulse control and lately more and more defiance is causing more trouble, not less. And not just to himself, but to our family and now his classmates and teachers. Its a pretty tough situation, picking him up from school to find out just how much trouble and disruption he has caused that day, not to mention physically hurting others. And although its not every day, it is almost. Long story short, we switched doctors to go to a behavioral specialist pediatrician; she analyzed him, we and his teachers rated him on the "Conners Scale" and when we went to the follow up appointment, we were told he has ADHD. Although we are not surprised, its something we will need to deal with in patience, love, and support from family and friends, which we have whole heartedly received. Thank you all :)
