Peg’s Journal

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::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::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*