Ashton
Ashton had a great Kindergarten year with Ms. Kuzinevich. She was everything we could have asked for in his first teacher. I think the best thing I can say about Ashton is what was on his ROSP at the end of the year (report on student progress). As background, the scale is 1-4 as measures of performance. A 3 (Meeting Expectations: This student consistently and independently
demonstrates mastery of/proficiency in the grade level standard) across the board is basically what we are told to expect this year. A 4 is rarer at this age (Exceeding Expectations: This student consistently and independently exceeds the grade level). Well, Ashton got a 2 (Still Progressing) in a couple places, namely spelling/phonics/word analysis. Mostly 3's in all the subjects and no academic 4's per se.
But where he did get 4's? As follows under:
* Displays empathy
* Respects self and others even in differences
* Demonstrates impulse control
* Demonstrates eagerness and curiosity as a learner
* Cooperates with others in play and learning
I like could not be prouder. Those are the things that you just can't teach. A fellow K mom wrote on my Facebook page:
Ashton is just good. He's willful, curious, and ever excitable. He's an amazing brother to Alex - teaches him things, helps him, and generally shows him the way. We are approaching his 7th birthday in a couple of weeks! In the meantime, Ashton is spending his summer learning to play golf, at flag football camp, and taking the tooth fairy to the cleaners. He's lost both his top and bottom sets of front teeth as of last night!
Height: 4 feet 2 inches (95th percentile. He was almost a head taller than a lot of his classmates!)
Weight: 55 pounds
Shoe size: 13, edging up to a Youth 1! WHAT?!
Clothes size: 7 (8 in some shirts)
Last day of Kindergarten: June 28, 2018
Ashton is recently into the magicians that he's seen on god knows what YouTube videos. Today is the talent show at camp and at 6:30 am he appeared at my bedside to show me a card trick and ask me if I had a black suit he could wear. He never stops talking.
Alex
Alex also never stops talking. He's a bit of an attention you-know-what. He's sometimes sassy and moody, and other times joyful and silly. And ooo-wee does he have a temper and it can change on the spot. Despite this lovely description of his demeanor (who could resist?), he's basically married. Her name is Charlie, she is about to turn 4 and they are classmates at CNS. He makes bracelets and pictures for her and once, constructed a makeshift iPad out of cardboard and stickers and would routinely "Facetime" her. She's next to him at the end-of-the-year preschool concert and well, it's become a thing. Luckily I like her mom because we've had a lot of playdates.
Last day of preschool (with Charlie): May 25, 2018
Height: 3 feet 7 inches (43")
Weight: 43 pounds
Shoe size: Just about 11
Clothes size: 4/5, 5
Alex has been spending his time learning how to swim and also dancing. He's quite the dancer. Every night after dinner we put on semi-inappropriate music (just top 40 stuff but the lyrics, as you may know, get questionable) and Alex is in his glory (see comment above about attention). If you don't believe me, watch this one (breakdancing) or this one (lyrical).
The talking
This deserves its own category because there is so.much.of.it.
"Mommy, lookatthis." (Said so fast it truly is one word)
"Mommy, come here."
"Mommy, I'm hungry."
"Mommy, I want a show."
"Mommy, can you help me with this?"
"Mommy, did you know..."
"Mommy, guess what?"
"Mommy, where is..."
"LOOKATTHIS, Mommy."
Mommy, Mommy, MOMMY, MOMMYYYYY!!
The boys and I just spent a long weekend together by ourselves because Jason was working and by the end I felt like I had been pummeled with words for three straight days. Everything is a giant conversation:
Ashton (to Alex): Do you want to be a grownup?
Alex: Yeah!
Ashton: Me too. Then guess what we have to go to college for 18 years. And we have to stay there by ourselves. But don't worry we will make new friends. But wait, is there food there? What grade will I be in? Will I have homework? You know I don't really know how to read. Or spell.
Me: You'll know how by then.
Ashton: Will I have my own phone? To keep forever?
Me: Yep and maybe even your own car.
Ashton: WHAT?! But I don't know how to drive.
Me: You will.
Ashton: WOW...[huge smile]...So Alex, do you want to be partners? We can share a room and have a sleepover every night. Are there toys there? What about games? How many? Will you come visit me?
** and on and on and on about what it will be like and where is it and all that. I couldn't even capture it all, and now that I've typed it I realize there's really no end to this except to say it basically never ended!! **
Other funny things...
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Ashton, trying to give Alex a writing lesson: “Alex, put a period! A PERIOD! Do you know what a period is? It’s your brain telling your pencil to stop.”
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Alex: “Mommy, when I grow up I’m going to be just like you. Except, of course I’m a boy, and I can’t change that, but everything else will be the same.”
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The boys were reluctantly eating enchiladas for dinner.
Me (taking a bite off Ashton's plate): You guys, I don't care what you say, this is soooo good.
Ashton: YUCK!
Me: [annoyed] Come on Ashton, that is not nice, I worked hard to make these and you're not even trying it!
Ashton: But you said you didn't care what I say!
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Alex calls bug bites "bug cuts" and seltzer/carbonated things are "spicy"
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Me (again at a dinnertime when they are not eating): You know, someday you guys are going to have your own kids and you're going to work so hard cooking for them and be really be mad when they don't even try it.
Ashton: I'm going to cook? Being a great parent means cooking for your kids?
Ashton: I'm going to cook? Being a great parent means cooking for your kids?
Me: Yeah, sometimes!
Ashton: Well then I'm going to be a REALLY great parent. When my kids say "Can we go to Toys R Us?" I'm going to say "YUP! Get in the car!"
Alex: Me too Ashton! I'll meet you there.
Ashton: Well we are going to go almost every day.
Alex: Don't worry, I'll have my own car.
Me: Where are you going to get the money for all these toys and cars?
Ashton: Well of course, I'm going to go to work.
Ashton: Well of course, I'm going to go to work.
Me: You're going to have a job that pays you a lot?
Ashton: Yes. I'm going to be the boss. JUST LIKE I AM NOW.
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The boys ran next door to see if Kayleigh was around to play. They were told 30 more minutes. Ashton reported back: "She will be home in half a clock!"
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I asked Alex why he had a band-aid on his stomach. "My tummy hurts."
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Ashton: "I'm so thirsty. Like 100 times thirsty. I'm so thirsty I could eat a whole horse."
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So we had a good spring, full of all the activities. Jason's been pushing the golf and I've been very into making sure the boys are strong swimmers. Alex is just about ready for the deep end and has been in lots of lessons since school ended. We had a full house for both Mother's and Father's Day weekends, we've hit Wayland Town Beach a bunch, we headed to Long Island for July 4th, and next week we are off for our annual BI summer vacation. Really hoping to start posting regularly again after that :) See you on the flip side!
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The boys ran next door to see if Kayleigh was around to play. They were told 30 more minutes. Ashton reported back: "She will be home in half a clock!"
---
I asked Alex why he had a band-aid on his stomach. "My tummy hurts."
---
Ashton: "I'm so thirsty. Like 100 times thirsty. I'm so thirsty I could eat a whole horse."
---
So we had a good spring, full of all the activities. Jason's been pushing the golf and I've been very into making sure the boys are strong swimmers. Alex is just about ready for the deep end and has been in lots of lessons since school ended. We had a full house for both Mother's and Father's Day weekends, we've hit Wayland Town Beach a bunch, we headed to Long Island for July 4th, and next week we are off for our annual BI summer vacation. Really hoping to start posting regularly again after that :) See you on the flip side!
