June had some big transitions for the girls....the end of pre-school for Avalon and Aria, the start of summer, and the start of a new summer school program. We also threw in a fun weekend trip to Santa Barbara.
Aria had to say goodbye to Teacher Jan, her Mommy and Me teacher. She has enjoyed Teacher Jan for the past few years (she was also Avalon's Mommy and Me teacher). After five years in the program, both girls have finally outgrown it. I can hardly believe that! :(
Avalon had a graduation party at Seaside Lagoon with all of her Sand Tots Whale friends. They all loved playing in the lagoon and building sand castles.
Avalon's teachers....Teacher Michelle and Teacher Ursula.
Posing at home before their last day of pre-school at Sand Tots...
Aria's last day in the Frogs classroom at Sand Tots. She will be a Penguin at Sand Tots next year.
And, Avalon's last day in the Whales class at Sand Tots and her graduation celebration! Yes, the kids "graduate" from preschool these days!!!! :)
With Teacher Michelle...
One of the mom's in Avalon's class is a pastry chef, so she made them a special whale cake to celebrate their class - The Whales.
Leaving Sand Tots....Avalon had some big tears upon realizing that it is hard to say goodbye to such an amazing place. Sand Tots has been the perfect preschool for her. Small and intimate, co-op program, amazing experienced teachers, play based style, special methodology based on positive redirection, and fun, fun, fun for kids. I think that I will cry when Aria graduates, too.
While I am so excited for Avalon to start Kindergarten, it is quite a transition for me, too. I think mostly it is the realization that my baby is now five and ready to start her real schooling journey. I don't know what it will bring...surely a mix of all things...she is a smart kid, ready for the challenge, but I am not quite ready for her to be getting so big, so fast.
The girls celebrated the start of summer on a fun weekend away to Santa Barbara. We went to the SB zoo, which is perfect for kids this age, swam in the pool, and visited some friends. The SB zoo is small enough to see the whole zoo in 2 hours, and it had a fun play area for the girls where they learned to log roll down a grassy hill. :)
Aria loves to jump into the pool!
The girls started a fun summer program through the South Bay Family Tree - which is the same program that runs the Mommy and Me program that we have attended. This summer program is three hours, three days a week for 6 weeks....and includes, art projects, music, outside play, dancing, etc. Similar to Sand Tots, I work in the classroom once a week. Both girls are in the same class, as the kids are aged 3-6. (Aria got an exemption to join the class since she was so close to age 3.) We are also doing a "Mini Chef" class this summer once a week, as well as our usual swimming lessons.
Here they are on Day 1 of their summer school.
We are having a great start of the summer! The girls are thriving and having so much fun. I love to watch them play with each other more and more. Each day they spend time together playing in their room together...lots of dramatic, dress up play. They are happy kids. They fight, but they love each other so much. And, we love them. I would love to keep them at this age forever...
All our love, xo
J, J + A and a
