boarding the bus

 As we waited for the bus in our neighbor Gordon's driveway, he offered to take pictures.  Ariel was very eager to board the bus.  This is her second day riding it.

Ariel gets a snuggle from bus driver Sandra while assistant Mike installs the car seat.

I'm happy that she's happy.  I blew her lots of kisses as they drove off.

(photo from yesterday, which was sunnier)

The bus pulls away up our street.  On certain days, it also picks up Charley on the corner.

Evening with Santa

The other night, we attended and Evening with Santa at Aldersgate Day School (Ariel's former preschool.)  She did get to meet Santa, and was most interested in his beard.  A photographer took photos, so if we got a good one, I'll post it.  Mostly, we had a good time seeing the teachers and other parents and kids.

Bus ride post-script

After a full day at Stratford Landing Elementary, Ariel rode home on the bus.  When I went out to greet her, she was sound asleep in her car seat (in her pink rabbit-ear jacket.)

You can click on the above link to the school to learn about it.  She is in the PAC program.

I dropped by around 1 PM to drop off some supplies.  I got to spy on her sitting beside her classmate, Jacob, and listening to the teacher in the book corner.  She picked up a copy of Dora Loves Boots (which she contributed to the classroom) and tried to say "Boots" (he's the monkey.)  They said she did some gestures to "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" and "Twinkle, Twinkle."  They said she ate her whole lunch plus 2 clementine oranges, and still asked for more.  No wonder she is tired.  Plus, it is a crisp and sunny day, and she had two 30-minute recesses with all the other preschoolers.

Ariel is taking a break from watching "Dora" this week.  After the bus picked her up this morning, I found myself watching Dora to get my Dora fix!  I think she deserves a Dora now (to wake up, anyway.)

First day on the school bus

This morning, the school bus picked up Ariel for the first time.  The weather was sunny and cool.  We took her travel car seat and backpack, and waited across the street in our neighbor's yard.

We've been reading a couple of books about school buses.  When it stopped for her, she looked a bit surprised and climbed right on by herself and sat down.  Her bus driver's name is Sandra, and a "grandpa-type" man installed her car seat, and buckled her in.  Ariel still looked surprised, but not upset.  Then she was off to pick up the next rider, her friend Charley up the street.

Sandra, the bus driver (I guess I should call her "Ms. Sandra") called us a few nights before to tell us about the bus procedures, the route, and who the other riders are (all preschool students.)  I think she will have fun with the bus.  I hear that the preschoolers love it.

Ariel's new school

Ariel finished her first "long day" at the new school: 9:20-3:50.
Mondays and Wednesdays are half days.  All other days are long days, but they say we can do only as much as we are comfortable with.  I think she's ready for the full schedule.

She did very well.  They said she napped for an hour and was very talkative (in her own way.)  She said "dye-sor" (dinosaur) and "water."

When I picked her up, she blew her teacher, Ms. Brittney, a few kisses, saying "mwaah" as she kissed.  Then she proceeded to blow about 20 kisses to the school building.  The weather was warm, so we played on the playground for a long time, meeting other families from the school.  We saw one of our Music Together families, and met a lady with two children from South Korea.

Starting Thursday, the school bus will pick her up, but I can still pick her up from school and have playground time if we want.  This program is very flexible.

last day at Aldersgate Day School

 We were a bit late on her last day because Ariel had a meeting at her new school.  When we joined them, they were in the sanctuary practicing Christmas songs.  This is Ariel's teacher, Mrs. Mertins.

 With Mrs. King, who works at the school and is also a neighbor.

With Mrs. Garden, who cared for her so well during her separation anxiety the first few times.  Mrs. Garden also provides a warm lap for book reading.

It was sad to say goodbye, because this has been such a nice preschool.  We'll go to their "Evening with Santa" tonight as our last event.  But because the school is so close to our house, we can still stop by and play on the playground.

Ariel started her new school yesterday.  She seems to like it.  The teachers are nice.  There is one teacher and 2 aides in her class.  So far, she has only one classmate, a cute little boy.  She should get another classmate soon.  She plays with more preschoolers at recess.  This school is 5 days a week, and the teachers will work very closely with her, rewarding her for paying attention and following directions.  Ariel is very ready.  Starting 2 mornings a week at Aldersgate was a good way to ease into the school routine.  By next week, Ariel should be riding the bus to school.

green oatmeal

 Green oatmeal is our power food.

So we can go running.

(Top oatmeal is especially green with lacinato kale puree - delicious!  Ariel's is a bit purple with pureed cranberries.  We call is "smoothie oats" with green smoothies we make in the Vitamix.)

pretty outfit

 Ariel finally grew into an outfit given to her by Monica & Larry Bowers & Family at her shower over two years ago.

 She is so beautiful in it.

And the denim jacket is very cool.

swim lesson

 Ariel had her second swim lesson at a parks & recreation center nearby.  She gets very excited even talking about swimming and putting on her new Spongebob swimsuit.

 This day, I was a bit sick, so Jeff went in the water with her.

She's a natural!  I hope to add a video when I have time.

birthday boy and adoption day boy

 Jeff had a birthday a couple weeks ago!  Ralph's adoption day is the day after.  This is Ralph's 10th adoption day (I think.)

Nene, gets a kiss, too.

a serious dinner

I made up a dish with potatoes, tomatoes, chickpeas, lentils, and basil.

 There's usually something seriously good for dinner at our house.

 Jeff and his livestock made up something with bean dip, Italian potatoes, and tortillas.

Lots of leaves

 Leaves are best dumped over the head.

 A stick!

 Ralph watches the fun from his tent.

 "My bangs grow faster than Mom can cut them.  But the rest of my hair is low-maintenance."

 Beautiful leaf girl.

before and after Music Together class

 We raked leaves before music class to enjoy the weather.

 We got to singing "The Teddy Bear's Picnic".

We walked to music class.  Ariel always starts off strong.  By the end of this class, she fell asleep.  This is her classmate, Laura, attending to her.  The class has about 12 parents and their children (ages infant-5.)  We get to dance and run around a big room at Music Together.  When we arrive, Ariel sits down and pats her hands on her lap, because that's what we do for the first song, "Hello Everybody".

autumn leaves

 When the leaves were peaking, we found brilliant red maple trees in Fort Hunt Park.

Ariel demonstrated her balance beam skills.

Fort Hunt Park is close to our house. It's very big and has old bunkers.  Wild animals live there, and police horses live in stables.  It's a good place to run, walk, bike, swing, and watch people play with their dogs.

Halloween night

 We arrived back home after the hurricane on Halloween.  Our neighborhood seemed fine, and trick-or-treating was a blast.

 Ariel dressed as a "cowgirl-Indian girl" (Native American, that is.)  The hat was Grandma Alice's as a kid, and the Indian outfit came from a consignment sale at her preschool.

 Ariel gets into trick-or-treating, and learned to take plenty of candy and put it in her bag.  She also liked knocking on everyone's door and trying to go into their houses.  Scary ghosts & goblins didn't scare her.  We had one street that was blocked off by police because one house had such elaborate decorations (including Star Wars, E.T., and zombies working on vintage computers.)  Two brothers who are electrical engineers live there and put on the popular display every year.

Sweetie-Pie Schmig and her Dad

evacuation from Sandy

 Ariel, the cats, and I spent a few nights in western Virginia when Hurricane Sandy came through.  Jeff stayed home because he'd be needed at work if the damage was bad.

 We had fun at a couple Mexican restaurants (something we missed in Japan.)

 Nene and Ralph kept us cozy at the Ramada Inn.

 The night of the hurricane, our hallway filled up with people and their pets.  We liked it that way.  The hotel had a game room where we played Donkey Kong and other video games from the '80s.

Ariel & I went exploring in the rain and found a Toys R Us.  Look who was there!