Brooke and Nathan Start Preschool

I can't believe that my babies are in preschool now. It's just hard to imagine. I thought I would never make it past the first six months and now they are almost three and starting preschool. It's so sad in a way but so exciting in another.

In February I submitted an application for them to attend a preschool program in the high school that is right across from our neighborhood. I had heard about it from a few different people. It's for high school students who are going in to child development. There is a teacher in the class and then all of the high school students in the class are the preschoolers teachers too. It's really a great program.

You don't find out if the kids were accepted until September. Well, I didn't get a letter and was very disappointed that they didn't get in. I thought for sure I got their application in early enough. The only requirements were that they are potty trained and three years old. The teacher told me that as long as they are potty trained, it was okay that they don't turn three until November. Other places are not so lenient when it comes to the birthday.

On Lenny's first day of school, I was so excited to get a call letting me know that Brooke and Nathan were in the program. There were 23 people in line in front of us and luckily for us a few people were moving so Brooke and Nathan got in.

October 1, they had an open house so that the parents and kids could come in to meet the student teachers. We were to leave the kids there that day too. Brooke and Nathan were so excited that they were going to school just like their big brother. They would talk about it and let me know that I was dropping them off and coming back later for them. I had told them that many times so that they were prepared.

Here they are the morning right before they went to the open house.


They were so excited to go to school. They both reminded me to give them their snack bags. It was so cute!

Just as I expected, Brooke didn't even care that I was leaving when it was time for me to go. She was too busy checking things out. Nathan on the other hand was not happy and started crying when I left. I felt just terrible leaving him when he was crying.

When I returned, I got there a little early and was able to watch them through the window. The teachers were putting on a puppet show and all the kids were watching. I couldn't see Nathan from the window but I could see Brooke sitting with the other kids. I snuck in just in time to hear the teachers ask the kids to raise their hand if they want to volunteer to be an actor. Of course, Brooke's little hand went up pretty fast. She was chosen. I watched her walk up and go behind the puppet show. They were acting out the three little pigs and Brooke was the wind. They had to hold her up for that part because she was so short. Then I could see her trying to get into something on the table behind her. I then saw an arm scoop her up to get her to pay attention again. Yep, that's my Brookie.

I finally found Nathan when I walked into the room. He was sitting very quietly with a student teacher and looked like he was enjoying the play. He was very happy to see me though. Brooke too. She kept giving me hugs. Nathan wouldn't let me put him down.

They go to school on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8-12. It's a very long day for them and they are certainly ready for a nap after we have lunch. This week was their first official starting week. Nathan cried when I left on Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday he was fine. I was so happy. Lenny and I were practically giving each other high fives when we left. Lenny kept saying, "He didn't cry!"

The teachers told me that Brooke tries to console Nathan when he cries. They also said that if she can't play with him, she cries. That's the only time that she cries. Silly girl.

Lenny goes with me in the morning to drop them off. Then we head back home so that he can catch the bus to school. I think that Brooke and Nathan really like it that Lenny goes with us. They think Lenny is the coolest.

I'm definitely looking forward to the extra few hours a day that I will have to myself. It's been great so far.