preschool, worries & oatmeal...

Kenley starts preschool tomorrow.

I have so many different feelings about this... most of them totally positive, combined with  a little apprehension.

She has been with me practically every day for the past two years so it will definitely be an adjustment for both of us.

I think I would have more concerns about it if we werent sending her to what is supposed to be one of the BEST preschools in the area. (I have to admit that I didnt even realize how widely recognized the SSU Children's school was until Kenley's orientation on Friday... I just picked it merely out of convenience .... and did a little extra research of course). It was so cool to hear the returning parents and staff talk about what an amazing program it was. One mom expressed how hard it was finding an adequate Kindergarten class after her daughters experience at the SSU Children's school and the high standards that it set for her.

I think I mentioned in a previous post a little bit about the school and Im sure I will have more specifics once she has been there for a little while.



its just so cute!! if you cant see it, above Kenley in the bottom right picture is her name above her coat hanger :)

...In order to properly express how I'm feel about leaving her tomorrow I have to sound like the crazy parent that thinks that child is perfect for a second... so bear with me.

Because Kenley hasnt spent a ton of time with other kids (especially in a large group) she is still...

:::Im having trouble phrasing this:::

She is still "sweet"... for lack of a better word. She has been doing so well with her sharing and the word "MINE" is still foreign to her. I just worry about what she will learn and bad habits she will pick up.

But to be honest, from what I could tell, she was probably one of the most verbal in the bunch so who knows...hopefully she wont be the one "teaching." haha!

One of my favorite parts about the school is the fact that she has one "master teacher" and the rest of the assistant teachers are students of Sonoma State (all majors of early childhood education and human development)... so they are all young, energetic and are studying exactly what they practice every day with the kids.

Im sure Kenley will be just fine. I feel SOO lucky that she is right there on campus with me and I can go peek on her any time I want! Seriously, how nice is that?!?

Well... the craziness that we have been anticipating begins tomorrow. I am so excited to be going back to school and able to finish up what I began. It's going to be organized chaos so if you feel like you are losing track of me, dont be offended.

Today has been full of tasks that Im hoping will help the week go as smooth as possible.

Right now I have an "Oatmeal Bake" in the oven... and it smells amaaaazing. Three guesses where I got the recipe and the first two dont count...

Anyway, hopefully it will be easier to run out the door with than a messy bowl of something!

Here is the link for it...Oatmeal Bake!

and here is a pic of mine!

After a crazy week we get to end it by going to the BRAVES vs Giants series... (its a Santora thing)

and weekend after that GAVIN WILL BE HERE! we miss him so much.

-jess

this is the sound of settling

It's my second Thursday not closing Kissui.
sure, I worked other days during the week but I almost closed the store every Thursday evening from the time I began working there. I love the closing shift on Thursday's because I had "regulars." Thursdays are Market Night in downtown Redlands and people come from all over. I would say I had about 10 different moms/families that I could count on seeing those days.
I couldn't tell you who is working tonight but I hope they enjoy it as much as I did. I already miss it.
Tonight I'll be the one enjoying a different farmers (chefs) market with Kenley and some friends in downtown Napa :)
I havent been to Chefs Market since the summer before we moved when Kenley was born and toted her around as an infant... I mean DAYS old... we will see how she does!

This week has consisted of getting settled ie: change of addresses, final Riverside bills, new pediatrician visits (soooo happy with her new dr!) unpacking, seeing family and friends and a visit to Kenleys new SCHOOL!


Happiness is: driving with Kenley from Napa to Sonoma State on a Wednesday morning listening to Sarah and Vinnie...
We arrived at her little school (right on the SSU campus) where we met my MIL Patty around 10am. We first got a little guided tour by the school director. It was so nice because we had an appointment with her to sign paperwork and Kenley was able to explore without anyone else there! (I think they might do it like that on purpose)
So during the hour and a half that I met with the program director, Patty and Kenley got to play with toys, read books, explore each room and became aquatinted with what will be here new little "place."

I'm obsessed.

It might be the cutest little school I've ever seen. It is "sustainability" based... Meaning that the kids help grow in the garden (right in their play area) all the food that they eat! There is even a chicken coop that they collect eggs from every day. Kenley is fed all of her meals there... I don't have to pack anything! The whole place is set up so perfectly, I know she is just going to love it. I left so excited and relieved.

Kenley is adjusting well to all of the new changes going on and I hope she continues to do so when our schedules really pick up in a couple of weeks. I know she misses Gavin and we both can't wait to have him up here too... I know I will be feeling much more complete :)
Luckily he is flying up for his cousins wedding this weekend... And then back down to Riverside until he finishes summer school the first week of September.

My family has been nice enough to let Kenley and I stay with them until he finds work up here and we can then decide whether Sonoma or Napa county will be a good fit for us while I finish school.
As of right now Kenley has a little corner in what used to be my old room. She loves it and has been sleeping through the night! (which is a far cry from what she was doing right before the move)

Besides Gavin not being here yet, I can't think of a time I have been happier. I'm surrounded by beauty. I can breathe on my morning runs! I watch Kenley interact with the people I love most. I leave the house without her occasionally. I'm at peace.