Poodles and Oodles of change

It's so funny how kids think. Right now, C is praying each night that God will let her be a Pink Poodle when she grows up. She is serious! Totally freaks her big brother out..."C, you can't be a dog when you grow up. God made you a person. You will have be a person for your whole life."

About the changes...oh my goodness have we been bombarded since August 10th with changes. My little man, we have realized, is a bit behind in reading. I kind of suspected this area to be his toughest. But, when we receieved a letter stating that he was also behind in math and needed to be put in EIP for math as well, I kind of flipped a little. I mean, the boy can add money in his head, add any football, baseball or basketball score, tell time, days of the week, shapes, basic math facts...how is he behind??? Come to find out, he just wouldn't answer the questions. I mean, after 3 hours of new student testing, I can see how he would be DONE! Anyway, after speaking with both the EIP teachers and my hubby, we have decided to leave him in both programs for now, just for extra exposure. The curriculum has just gotten so hard and the pace so fast, how can we not give him every advantage available. Even the EIP teacher is not sure he'll be in the math program long, but to have a good solid start during this school year, it wll be worth it.

On to C...at her open house, I realized that there is no way she can stay at our beloved pre-school. The curriculum is just exactly what she had the past 2 years. My C is ready to begin reading...and they will only expose them to letter sounds after they go through all the letters again. C learned all her letters and sounds in the 2 year old class...Although she needs lots of practice writing the letters and numbers, she really seems ready to be challenged. So, my heart fell when I realized that for 4 days each week, she would be wasting her time (and our money)!
As soon as I got in the car, I got on the phone with my friend J, whose daughter is C's best friend and also in the class. I asked her what she thought about the open house (before I shared my thoughts), and her feelings were the same as mine. This wasn't going to work! I was so worried about changing schools without A and doing it the same week Baby E will be born. I felt like my hands were tied. Then, I called another friend, A. Her daughter is at another preschool...God's divine intervention was revealed. There were 2 slots available in a 5 day class. This school has computers, pe, music, cultural arts, and of course a Christian education. Sight words, writing, math...just what Pre-K needs to be! Still a half-day program, still the same amount of money...and an extra day for her to be at "big school" like her brother (whom she misses terribly while he's at school). I mean, even the teacher I liked best had been praying for 2 more girls to balance out her class. Could that have been any more prefect? Crisis #2 averted.
I have tried to get in touch with the old pre-school director all weekend to let her know about the new development, but I haven't been able to reach her. I hate to just not show up on time on Monday, so I guess I'll call them to let them know as we're on our way to drop my little girl off at her new school tomorrow morning. Now both of the 4 year old classes at our old pre-school will be down to 8 kids and with only 1 three-year-old class, I don't know if they'll make it past this year. It's a shame, but they need to step up their program. So does the Kindergarten...the teacher is wonderful, and it is a great transition program for someone who has a late birthday (like my E will have), but it's just not keeping up with all that is being pushed on the kids on public school. It's sad that we can't let our babies stay babies and just attend playschool. But, it's just not what they need.
Next, we realized that dragging 3 kiddos to dance on Thursday evenings was really not going to be the best option. With the new school for C, her Lunch Bunch days could change. Fabulous! There was a class with 2 openings for A and C to join on Thursdays at 12:45! Yay! So, I'll pick the girls up from school on Thursdays while J picks up her other daughter from her MDO class. We'll have a picnic-type lunch in the car and get to dance and be done all before L even gets out of school. Sweet Baby E will just be grabbing her naps when she can, I guess. But, Thursday nights won't be so stressful now! God has been keeping His hand on us guiding us right now. I am so thankful to his provisions.


In other news, I am enjoying my last week of pregnancy ever. I am so ok with this one being our caboose. I feel like we'll be complete. It's been a wonderful pregnancy, and I am so excited to meet my girl! I am going to try to write more about the pregnancy this week.