Anyone want a toddler?

Aila is now without a doubt a toddler. She tantrums like a wicked storm and then jumps around like everyone is her best friend, me especially.

Last night she wouldn't get out of the bath despite lots of threats and bribes. She ended up losing her story privilege that night. She wept herself to sleep. But when I went in to put a blanket on her (she refuses to use a blanket when she sleeps) her eyes just suddenly opened wide and she moans "Just one story book!!"

Good thing Matt had a few stories memorized and he went in and settled her with one. And then I go in later in the night to try and put a jumper on her, and at first she agrees, but then she realizes what I'm trying to do and she grizzles "I will wear this shirt when I go fishing.".. Umm, excuse me? Where DOES she get this? And she's ONLY TWO!!!

First day of Junior Kindergarten

And just like that, he's off!

In the end, we had to wake the kids up at 6:45 this morning. A bit of a rush to get out but nothing too stressful.

Oh, except when Aila wanted to put a muffin into Tai's lunch box but he didn't want it and she threw herself to the floor in rage and tears. Besides that one little hiccup we were doing well.

We got to the school playground in good time to have a look around and play. We spotted his 'giraffe' bus which he'll take back home later this afternoon.

We saw his teachers (Mrs. Heslop and ECE's Lindsay and Amy) and a couple of other kids we have met before from a community soccer practice and a playdate.

Then the bell rang (actually it's more like a bell chime, thank goodness not one of those shrill bells!) and everyone has to go and line up with their classmates in front of their teacher and stand straight for O Canada.

Then with backpacks on, they march in single file into the school. Last hugs and kisses. No tears. No looking back.

To keep occupied, Aila and I spent the morning swimming. She's amazing, jumping, blowing bubbles, underwater and floating... this kid is all fish.

Lunch and nap now. Then it will be time to pick Tai up from the bus stop, just a block away.

Looking forward to seeing his little face when he hops off the school bus at 3:10 later!

The night before JK

The last full day before Tai's Junior Kindergarten journey. We had a very relaxing day. No tantrums, no real fuss. Lots of playing and laughing. The kids played in the basement on their own for a long time in the morning.

Then we went out and bought Tai some new indoor shoes for school. The kids must always take off their outdoor shoes when they come in and change into their indoor ones. The ones he chose light up and he is absolutely over the moon.

Several times today he would jump up and down and up and down and shout " I really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really love my shoes!!" It just made me burst with happiness.

The previous doubts I had on spending so much money on a pair of running shoes quickly evaporated. $75 can certainly buy a 4 year old happiness!! :) Especially if they come in the form of red light-up shoes.

And then just after his bath tonight, he was all hyper and excited and he hopped into the room declaring "I am so so so so so so so so so so so excited about school!"

YAY!!! Sweet music to any parent's ears!

This afternoon we got dressed in our school clothes and put our backpacks on and practiced walking to the bus stop, what we would do, say, etc.

I most certainly did hug him a little tighter and look adoringly at him a little longer these past few days. What a journey it's been so far. Now we have to let go a bit ...

And even though they were in bed before 7pm (we're trying to have them asleep by 6:30 in order to get a full 12 hours sleep each night), they were chatting well until past 8 o'clock. I could hear bits of conversation from downstairs but then suddenly Tai shouts "I'm going to schooo-ooool!!!" in a sing-song voice.

This was quickly followed by "No, Aila. I'M going to school. Not you!"

Poor girl. She already insists on wearing her Dora backpack each time we go out, and she knows how to put it on herself. This afternoon I gave her a pencil case that was lying around in storage. She wouldn't let go of it and kept saying proudly "This is MY special pencil case!" She even went to bed with it.

They really are going to miss each other. They have become quite good companions in the past few months, especially since moving to Ottawa.