Those phone calls you dread...a bad, bad mommy

My cell phone has been on vibrate since going to Church last Sunday. Foolish me forgot to switch it back to ring. And of course - Jordan's school was very anxious to get in touch with me (I'm a very, very guilty feeling bad, bad mommy).

Apparently the bus information I had been given didn't match the bus information the school had for her (and neither did the address they had for her to get off the bus). So Jordan ended up at the wrong after school program and her mommy (that would be me) was a mess!!! At one point in the spring (as in May) Jordan was scheduled to go to an afterschool program run by the YMCA. Then I was told by another parent that they were moving but no one knew where to (great...) So I moved her to another program at an elementary school closer to our house. At about the same time - the plan was for the YMCA's program to be held at a building right beside the elementary school (they share the same plot of land and the buildings are actually hooked up together). And then the YMCA moved their program again (this is all during the summer, mind you) to another rec center downtown. I "think" that when the YMCA moved their program - they changed the address for all the children scheduled to depart the bus at that address (which would have included Jordan). In fact, Jordan was the only child in the elementary school program and not the YMCA program.

That is the only way I can think that the information I received from the school system showed a bus# with the correct departure address and the school's data now shows a different address.

Any how - now the school system is telling me it may take 2 weeks until a bus can be found to drop her off at the elementary school. TWO WEEKS. As a single mom - that is forever.
My parents who have been here to take care of Jordan this week until school starts have offered to stay - and I might (most likely will) have to take them up on their offer. I'll go to the school office on Tuesday to try and figure it all out. (Sigh).

By the way - Jordan had a great day at school!!! Luckily she knew someone at the after school program she was dropped off at - so that helped.

She's a Kindergartener Now!!!

Here she is! The newest kindergartener! After reading Donna's blog about Emma's first day I was prepared to bawl my eyes out. But both Jordan and I came through with flying colors. I have to give a lot of credit to her new school. This past spring, right after we found out Jordan made it into the Mandarin immersion program, they had a Beginner's Day where we were able to visit the school, the 2 kindergarten classrooms, visit the cafeteria and practice going through the line with a tray, etc... The even had a fashion show to show the children what clothing is appropriate and what is not (they have a navy, khaki, white uniform policy). Then throughout the summer there were 3 picnics at a local park that allowed all the kindergarten children to meet each other and for parents to talk to the "experienced" rising first grade parents. Then we had open house and Jordan was able to meet her teacher and check out her class room. So when we walked in today, she was perfectly at ease.

Here she is with her teacher, Chen Laoshi (for those who do not speak Chinese - Laoshi is the term for teacher). They have been staggering in the entry of the kindergarteners so the teachers get to really know the children. So there were only 3-4 children in Jordan's class today (normally there are 18). Starting next week all the children will be there together.

After dropping her off and taking the obligatory pictures - I hung around in the courtyard at the Sip N' Sob - a place for new parents to congregate and have a little coffee. And then back to work. I did not cry (nor did Jordan) although it is bittersweet. But I can tell Jordan is going to have a great year!

Weekend Fun

We spent last weekend visiting the grandparents and checking out the local botanical gardens. The girls had a great time and we had our first big test of staying out late, late, late. We went out to dinner but didn't get seated until after 8:30pm (Ellie normally is in bed by 7:30pm). The girls were amazingly well behaved (they had eaten earlier before we headed out and I'm sure that helped). We also went to one of my favorite shoe stores to purchase shoes for the girls. Jordan has wide feet so it is more difficult getting shoes for her. I wanted a simple pair of sneakers with no lights (okay - I really wanted the adorable clogs and mary janes and loafers but couldn't afford them). I did get Ellison a great pair of Jumping Jack shoes for school. I wish our city had a great local shoe store but I haven't found one yet so we head for shoes when we are visiting.

Smiles, apples, and the great hair debate

Jordan left for school last Friday in her new sundress that was a size too big but which she really wanted to wear due to it being a belated b-day present from her buddy Vivian (the owner of one of our fave Asian restaurants). She also wanted to wear her hair in what we call the "Hanna Andersson look" because it is similar to the little knotted pigtails that you see in that catalog. She looked so cute - I had to take her picture.

Did I mention Ellie is catching up in the teeth department? She now has 3 of her 4 1st year molars. And she loves apples! Here she is partaking of a nice juicy red apple at her sister's daycare. She takes little bites so I let her munch on one all the way home.

Ellie is doing well adjusting to her new classroom. She still isn't giving the new teachers hugs (although her now former teachers get plenty of hugs as she walks past their room) but she's not crying when I leave and is happy when I come pick her up. They are teaching her to drink without a sippy cup and she's slowly figuring it out. I am starting to practice with her on some evenings as well.

I'm trying to decide when to get Ellie's hair cut for the first time. It grows forward so it is always in her eyes unless I put it up. Do I let her have bangs or not - that is the question. Her forehead isn't too high so she would look good without bangs and I know from my experience with Jordan that they can be a real pain to grow out. But it would make life easier. I also don't want to cut out her curls. Her hair still curls a bit and I have grown to love it so much and would hate to see it disappear. Maybe it wouldn't - but do I take that chance now or not? Sigh...