Peg’s Journal

With all the recent posts on Ashlyn, we haven’t forgotten about Summer.
Here’s a little videoclip of the lil’ one….up to her usual antics.

Summer being bossy and a clean freak….just like her mommy!

Today was Ashlyn’s first day of school. Though it’s only kindergarten, I see it as her introduction into the real world. That mere thought made me sad and teary-eyed all week. Being ridiculously sensitive and sentimental, I was really nervous dropping her off this morning…worried that I might have an emotional breakdown and alarm all the children, parents, and teachers. But I didn’t cry. Oh the relief! Now I’m wondering what kind of heartless person I am. Damn, there is no pleasing myself. HAHAHA!

There was too much going on to get emotional. We had to stand in this line (to get a name tag), then that line (to get through the gate), then another line (to get into the classroom). Clueless kids and parents following the masses. All the while, bumping into neighbors and people we met at Kinder Welcome and Kinder testing.

By the time Ashlyn went into class, I shared her sense of excitement…a cool new classroom, so many new classmates, a pretty teacher, and a promise of a fun school year ahead.

Summer and I picked her up 3 hours later. Ashlyn excitedly told us about the tour they took around school, snack time, and how she made friends with a girl named, Sophie.
*thumbs up!*

I like that Ashlyn’s school implements the student uniform program. Makes getting ready in the morning so much easier. No more fighting over clothes. And as long as she can wear her beloved fuchsia cowboy boots, she’s all goooood!

We just got back from lunch/shopping at the Spectrum with Grace. The girls are napping now. I’m pretty beat too since I tossed and turned all night, barely getting any sleep.

We had a really nice week and weekend. Ashlyn was home all week…her mini break before kindergarten starts. Summer was not used to having her big sis home all day, and they fought….a lot! Monday was the worst, but it gradually got better with each passing day.

We did lots of fun stuff during the week and went out every night (as Ashlyn’s last hurrah before school starts and the induction of her new early bedtime). hehehe

some highlights:
- Chuck E Cheese’s
- Disneyland
- Ashlyn’s first dental visit (no cavities! YAY!)
- the mall
- the park
- James’ birthday party
- hanging with family & friends

Things have finally settled down around here. Allowing Aric and I to work on stuff around the house. Our two recent projects are near completion.

- kids’ bathroom (primer, paint, and installation of new light fixtures). The paint turned out Pepto-Bismol pink. No joke. But the kiddies love it. No joke.
- kid’s bedroom (removal of the Winnie the Pooh wallborder, application of new butterfly wallborder, assembly of new bunkbed, sewn new drapes, rearranging of bedroom furniture, and installation of new bedside wall lamps). Summer is now sharing a room with Ashlyn. *YAY!* Their room looks so cute!

I’ll share pics as soon as their new bedding arrives.

I love these pics of my girls. They are so cute together. We had a bit of a rough start at the beginning of the week, but I know Summer will be sad waking up tomorrow to find that her sis is not there.

As for me, I’ve been anxious and having mixed emotions about Ashlyn starting kindergarten all weekend. It’s silly, I know..but I can’t help it.

Today Aric, Summer, and I attended Ashlyn’s preschool graduation. I know, it sounds ridiculous….a ceremony to commemorate the completion of preschool (PRESCHOOL?!) If you told me before I had kids, I would be totally rolling my eyes. I mean, that’s right up there with strollers for dogs…absurd. But having seen how much Ashlyn has learned and grown, today’s graduation was a much celebrated event.

july 2005 – august 2006

Our main objective when starting her in preschool was for socialization. If she learned some things along the way that helped prepare her for kindergarten…well, all the better. We never expected her to know all the things she knows now. In the span of 13 months, she can write the alphabet, numbers 1-100, her name, my name, Aric’s name, Summer’s name, our address, and sight-words unassisted. She knows her shapes, colors, days of the week, months of the year, and how to tell time. She can cut, paste, and color within the lines. She can read at a near 2nd grade level. She can do simple math (double digit addition and subtraction). She can tell money (pennies, nickels, dimes, etc). She can recite the Pledge of Allegiance. She learned tons of new songs (in English and Chinese). She can problem solve. She has learned to speak/understand Chinese (what I’m most proud of and excited about). As well as formed friendships with her teacher and fellow classmates.

When we first enrolled Ashlyn at Miss Judy’s, she didn’t know that much (aside from the alphabet song and counting to 15). I only have the teacher to thank….afterall, Ashlyn is by no means a child prodigy of any sort. She can be quite lazy at times.
Miss Judy is an amazing teacher and person. She is extremely patient, loving, nurturing, encouraging, and focused. We will miss her terribly!

Hopefully Ashlyn won’t find kindergarten boring in comparison.

The graduation ceremony was the cutest thing. The students gave a performance…singing 6 short songs and 2 chinese songs. Ashlyn, along with two of her classmates, performed 2 dance routines.
I knew that Miss Judy’s daughter was teaching them a routine, but up until today I had not seen it at all. I was sooooooo impressed and delighted and proud!
After the awards ceremony, we had refreshments, mingled, and looked at pictures, classwork, and artwork of each student along the walls. It was so sweet…all the proud parents, uncles, aunts, grandparents, and gazillion cameras and camcorders.

Unlike Ashlyn’s classmates, who cried when their parents had to leave to return to work, Ashlyn kept prematurely hugging and kissing me goodbye.
Peg: “I’m not leaving yet.”
Ashlyn: “oh.”
Peg:
hehehehe

Congrats to my sweetie, Ashlyn!…you’re growing up so fast!

It’s been a while since I’ve done an update on Ashlyn. I find myself being a bit more protective of her privacy now that she’s getting older. Anyhow….aside from academics, Ashlyn has turned into a mini-teen already. Sometimes she’s as sweet as pie. Other times she’s sassy, huffy, bossy, and attitude-y…she argues back with one pointed finger and one hand on the hip. :lol::lol:
I’m laughing because one time I told her not to do that, I caught a reflection of myself in a window…with the same pointed finger and hand on hip. :lol::lol:

She’s into celebrities, movies, music, shows, and magazines that are a bit out of her age group. She’s vain…loving lipgloss, perfume, nailpolish, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, headbands, barrettes, and anything pink or flowery or frilly or sparkly or with butterflies. She’s fashion concious and insists on picking out her own clothes and accessorizes accordingly. I can’t tell you how many mornings we’ve fought over her choice in outfit and shoes. If she had her way, she would be wearing a pink top, denim skorts, and her fuschia cowboy boots everyday.
Oh wait, that IS her outfit everday…nevermind.
Ashlyn has become more sensitive and self-concious. She has also developed a fear of the dark and going upstairs or bathroom alone. She has an amazing memory. She has a great sense of humor. She’s generous. She loves playing games on the computer. She talks too much. She’s silly. She likes to help with the dishes and laundry. And as always, Ashlyn is the most loving, patient, and protective big sister.

I never realize how mature she is until I’m around other kids her age. That realization is a good reminder for me to go easy on her. hehehe

Wow…I can’t believe she’ll be starting kindergarten in a couple of weeks. *cry*

Our lives of late has been such a whirlwind of activity and escapade (I took lots of photos for your viewing pleasure). *happy clicking*

In the last 12 days:

- my mom, Sis, and Marisa came to visit. With Sis living in Texas and Mom and Marisa in NorCal, it was such a treat having part of the family here (minus Wil and Dad, who are on their second father/daughter trip braving the safaris of Africa). Shopping fests by day, slumber parties by night! It was such a blast!

- we hit up “the Happiest Place on Earth” not once, or twice…but three times! Yeah, we’re putting much mileage on our annual pass. Woo-hoo!

- we attended two weddings; Jennifer & Vu’s and Kevin & Tracy’s. It was Ashlyn’s sixth time as flowergirl (for Jennifer and Vu’s wedding)….she’s building quite a resume. I caught myself being a bit stagemom-ish when I motioned for her to smile and not fidget up at the alter. I should just be happy that she didn’t freak out or cry. hehehe

- we hung out with friends and family a lot.

- we went on our first family outing to Sea World. Spent the day with our friends catching shows, touching starfish, feeding sea lions, and generally having a grand time. With 18 of us in total, I thought we did a pretty decent job covering/exploring the park. My forehead, cheeks, nose, arms, shoulders, and back are now beet-red, tender, and sensitive to the touch compliments of the sun.

I’m tired and physically drained. I spent today laying on the couch….and damn, it felt good.

My kids have been so spoiled by all the recreation. After leaving Sea World last night:

Ashlyn: “what are we doing tomorrow?”
Peg: “you’re going to school.”
Ashlyn: “no, I mean after school.”
Peg: “nothing…stay home.”
Ashlyn: *disappointed* “AWWWW!”

Spoiled, I tell ya! Spoiled!