Brian and the Os at a Mariner's Game.
September brought the Watkins' family the return of the almighty SCHEDULE. Do I lament the passing of the lazy days of summer? Somewhat. It was definitely less stressful. But I thrive on staying busy and a schedule keeps me centered, focused and alert. Of course I have to write everything down now because my mind isn't as sharp as it was in my 20s.
For example, I told my friend I would be home one afternoon and her 6th grader could come hang out at my house after school until she returned from a shopping trip. I did not write it down because his arrival time would have been during Elliott's nap time and I am always home then. Well, nearly always.
On the day in question, Owen had an afternoon field trip -- odd because he is in morning kindergarten. Also odd was the fact that he started
crying when it came time to take him to school. He said he didn't feel comfortable going on the field trip without me. I figured Owen must really need me and it wouldn't kill Elliott to miss one nap. So away I went without a single thought about the 6th grader who would show up to my empty house.
Oh, the shame! The embarrassment!
THE GUILT! Not one of my prouder moments, I can tell you that.
Obviously, the return to a schedule is the result of school starting. Owen started half-day kindergarten this year. His teacher is a wonderfully warm, sweet little thing. She has this old puffy armchair-rocker in the classroom with a great big quilt thrown over it. It makes the room feel so cozy.
The cutest thing about Owen starting kindergarten is that he's made a brand-new friend named Owen. They are Owen S. and Owen W. The wildest part is that they look a lot alike! They are also the only 6 year-olds in the class. My Owen came home today grinning saying that Owen S. wanted our phone number. He said Owen S. refers to the two of them as "The Owen Team."
Love it!
My Owen is in the blue shirt. Owen S. is the other one with the same hair.
Here's Owen coming home from school on the big yellow bus.
Oliver is having an interesting year so far. He was placed in the new 2nd/3rd multi-age class with a 3rd grade teacher. Criteria for placement was not smarts. They chose students who could work well independently. As a result, he gets to do some things that other 2nd graders do not. He gets to the be the big buddy for reading buddies (older and younger students pair up), he gets to do a night sky journal this month (a 3rd grade activity), he participates in Passport Club (a geography thing that starts in 3rd grade), gets to do 3rd grade math and has access to books on a higher reading level in his classroom.
Oliver also started PATS (Program for Academically Talented Students) this year. On Tuesdays, he and one other 2nd grader travel to another elementary school that hosts the program. He and 16 other second graders from 8 different elementary schools go deeper into the existing curriculum doing reports and projects to develop critical thinking skills. He's doing completely new and different things in PATS and he seems pretty excited about it.
Both Oliver and Owen are participating in the 100-mile Club at school. They receive a foot charm for a necklace for every 5 miles they run. Oliver has 6 or 7 already and Owen has 2. Owen doesn't have the same opportunity to run being in half-day but he is darned proud of the 2 feet he has! He wants to make it all the way to 100 miles. I don't think Oliver is quite as ambitious. We'll see what happens.
In September, Oliver turned 8 years old. Wow! I remember 8 very well. I was in 3rd grade, Mrs. Buckingham's class. It was the only year I made straight As the whole year despite the fact that my parents separated and divorced that year. Anyhoo... for Oliver's birthday we picked up a couple of his buddies and went to the circus. Neither of his friends had ever been to the circus so it was a treat watching their little faces light up. The boys were well behaved (all 5 of them) and a good time was had by all.
The pack we took to the circus.
They were all totally shy to take a picture with this performer. Silly boys!
Showing off for his buddies.
Father and son Mariner's Game.
Post M's game fun in Seattle. Oliver's first rock show!
Elliott and I started a new adventure in September -- Kindergym! It's a little playgroup at the community center with lots of gross-motor toys and circle time with music. He LOVES it. I swear he thinks it's all done for his benefit. Most of the children sit with their parents around the circle. Elliott stands smack in the center, eyeballing the teacher, smiling, jumping, singing and dancing. He's quite entertaining to watch.
Going against the grain... as usual.
Elliott and his buddy, Nolan.
Elliott's first haircut. At age TWO. That he barely needed!
Cheese!
And last but not least -- our household now includes a cat.
It wasn't my idea, that's for sure. But the boys are loving having her and are taking good care of her so I can't really complain. Meet Maya....
Random photo I took of Elliott. Ain't he sweet?
Searching for treasures in Mrs. Pockets' pockets.
A chip off the ol' block!
The Os fulfilling a life-long dream of parking on a rooftop. 
This is the photo I chose for our Christmas card.
Linda, aka LaLa, and the boys.
I nearly picked this one for our card because it's just so... natural.
Good times on the carousel. It was Elliott's first time on a horse!
My left-handed kindergartner, Owen.
Writing letters to Santa.
Our Santa was SO sweet. He took time to talk to the boys individually.
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