Mtn View Parent Observation - 2nd Year

Our official picture from the class placemat (photo credit to Sharon). When James wears overalls, Julia also insists on wearing them. She’s dressed in James’s from last year.

Teacher Diane is Julia and James’s teacher for their second year at Mountain View Parent Observation Preschool (here’s the post about their first year), where they attend one day a week. (The class is actually only offered once a week so they also attend Milestones Preschool. So my kids attend two preschools but I’m not a tiger mom.)

First day of preschool for their second year at Mountain View Parent Observation Preschool

Last year we had three Jameses in the class, though technically one was a Jimmy. This year’s class has three Julias. Who knew the sixtieth most popular name of 2009 would be so popular? And instead of three sets of twins in a class of twenty like last year, this year we’re up to four.

Bouncing face-off with Rachel and Emma, another set of twins in the class

Dancing in class

Pounding nails involves lots of concentration so out comes James’s tongue!

Since the kids are a little older, this year’s class has more imaginative and pretend play-based projects like making astronaut helmets and ladybug wings. After creating those things the class wears them and plays together. Particularly memorable was the time the kids wear their newly created monster masks and bust a move to Monster Mash.

The kids go on a space walk in their milk carton astronaut helmets. Note the fit on James’s gigantic noggin.

 

My ladybugs

James in his monster costume

At the end of class it takes me two trips to lug the kids and all their gear and wet artwork to the car, so when I leave them in the play yard while I transport stuff that’s when they often talk and play with Teacher Diane. I notice that my twins are more extroverted when they’re interacting solely with Teacher Diane, as opposed to interacting with her in front of the class during circle time. 

James shows Teacher Diane his pizza.

Special James delivery!

While Teacher Diane and James look on, Julia blows out her real candles in a pretend cake.

One day we take a make-up class with Teacher Mindy’s 2’s class. This is their class from last year with last year’s teacher. This particular day James and Julia are extroverts and sing and do hand motions for all the songs. Back in their regular 3’s class they’re a little more reserved. In general they’re kind of average on the extrovert/introvert spectrum. I suspect Julia likes to be more extroverted but isn’t because unless James accompanies her (she’ll tell me she wants to participate in the middle during circle time but only if James joins her). Also, I think she doesn’t like the attention when there’s too many people, and during circle time there are 20 kids and their moms). She's like me when it comes to that. We're both extroverts in smaller groups.

My giants in the 2’s class. Were they this little only a year ago?

Another difference between my kids this year and last year is that now they’re just too big to both fit comfortably on my lap. They take turns on my lap week to week, and oh - do they remember if it’s their turn. James is also not as afraid of the vacuum. This year he simply leaves the room when class finishes so it’s a non-issue. He even comes in one day while it’s on, as though he had forgotten.

One on my lap and one on my back this year!

Papa visits the first and last days of school as well as some in between. Generally though he doesn’t come as many days as last year (though he comes nearly every time he’s in town), nor does he have quite the same entourage of little boys following him Pied Piper-style around the play yard.

Jenny helps me at school, too. Julia and James start the year following each other around from activity to activity. One day I try to have Jenny shadow James while I go off with Julia, but it doesn’t work well because Julia keeps gloating to James that she’s with Mommy. 

Papa helps Zachary pound nails.

James has just started writing his own name. Jenny assists.

By March they are fine playing apart (though they often still play together), and I’m sure it’s because they’ve gotten used to playing separately at Milestones where they’ve been assigned to different “centers” (smaller groups of kids that stay together during learning and play time). Often Julia finishes art before James and wants me to go with her to do the outside art project. Speaking of art, James has more patience and wants to finish his art projects, while Julia works on some a few minutes and then abandons them for another activity.

“Paint it again until it’s done right!”

Last year both kids were enamored with their classmate, Lyra. This year James likes playing with Caroline at the beginning of the year, and then makes a connection with Julia E. (it’s cute to hear my twins calls her by her first and entire last name) with whom he ends up having one-on-one playdates. Despite having lots of close friends at Milestones, our Julia doesn’t make a close friend at Mountain View Parent Observation. She does, however, request a playdate with tall blond dreamboat Andrew, because “I like to look at him.” They start so young! It’s also interesting that Andrew somewhat resembles James - both are tall, fair, and blond. The kids also have playdates with Kazumi from their class (I told her mom about this school during the twins’ last day in their ill-fated Bright Beginnings class) as well as old friends Zoe and Zachary.

James and Julia E. go down the slide together at Cuesta Park.

James with Julia’s crush, Andrew. Our Julia definitely has a type… and it’s her brother.

When one of the aides becomes pregnant and can’t finish the year, I volunteer and take her place for the second half of the year. While the other moms go to the mommy meeting at the end of class, I stay in the yard with the other aide - Andrew’s mom, Allison - to make sure the kids don’t do anything stupid and/or dangerous, and also to comfort kids who miss their moms. (Unfortunately Allison moves away and I’m the only aide the last few months.) 90% of the time I push kids on the swings. The last 15 minutes of class we put equipment away - ride-on cars, trikes, sand toys - and put out place settings in the little schoolhouse so the squirrels that come in after hours can have a spot of tea.

Big jump

The kids all dress up for Halloween, and exchange valentines for Valentine’s Day.

This year’s valentine. However, because of anti-food and candy policies, the ones they pass out at school have pinwheels and glowsticks. Julia got her hair cut and the stylist put her hair into pig tails which she hated. I knew they wouldn’t last so I took that opportunity to snap some pictures for their valentines. James happened to be wearing a shirt and tie that day because he rolls like that.

I had given up on Julia wearing pigtails and tights, but then I suggest it for Valentine’s Day and she goes along with it. She has worn pigtails and tights since.

Playing in the tunnel on Valentine’s Day

Teacher Tim from next door’s Mountain View Parent Nursery School visits the class several times. The first time is as Santa. Each kid gets a turn to sit next to him and tell him what they want for Christmas. James sits next to him but is visibly uncomfortable and sort of freezes. Julia is the only kid in class who stays in the audience to yell her present requests, sort of like she’s heckling Santa. Teacher Tim next returns a few months later, and puts on clown make-up in front of the class so that they won’t be afraid of clowns. Then he plays silly clown games with the kids. A few days later James watches me put on make-up and asks, “Mommy, are you dressing like a clown?” (Thanks, James.) Two months later Teacher Tim returns as “Silly Bunny” in a full Easter Bunny costume. James asks me if it’s Teacher Tim. Pretty sharp that one. I feign ignorance. “Is it?” I ask. I also run damage control and tell him “Silly Bunny” is different from the Easter Bunny.

James sits next to Santa and tells him he wants finger lights for Christmas. Santa gives him a bag just like all of James’s classmates. When he sits down, James looks inside and tells me, “These aren’t finger lights!”

Julia yells to Santa what she wants for Christmas. Julia asks/yells for another kitchen, despite receiving a new one on her birthday eleven days before.

Julia and I match.

The class watches the clown put on make-up. Julia is in the green in the front.

James and Julia eat carrots with the Silly Bunny.

Going for a swing after the Easter egg hunt

Since the kids are older, there are more field trips this year. The first is to Hidden Villa, a farm they went to on a field trip in last year’s class. Last year Julia and James refused to get anywhere near any of the animals, especially since that would involve walking near their nemeses - chickens! This year goes much better. Julia is more scared than James of animals, particularly the dreaded chickens, but she actually walks through their pen this time. And to my surprise she even enters the sheep pen. Their favorite part, however, is the garden. (Really, this isn’t too surprising since James loves food.) They crawl through the living plant tunnel there (which they refused to last year), and are excited to eat the broccoli and persimmon the docent gives them to try. My kids happened to have both broccoli and persimmons that day for breakfast. Clearly this is proof that I feed my kids the most random breakfasts!

This year James likes the garden tunnel.

Another field trip is to the Sunnyvale Community Theater. They see their first play there - a very simple and kid-friendly one called I Don’t Want to Go to Sleep. James is transfixed at first and asks, “Are these people real?” The kids enjoy it and all giggle in unison at the silly parts. James enjoys it but his enthusiasm starts to waver at the end and he asks audibly, “When will it be done?” Yeah, my thoughts exactly, kid. David Mamet this is not.

James waits for the play to start. He likes playing in the folding theater chairs.

Our next field trip is to Rinconada Park and to the Palo Alto Children’s Museum and Zoo. The kids all go to a classroom where they are introduced to different zoo animals and offered a chance to pet them. Not surprising to me, my kids decline.

James plays in the Children’s Museum.

Julia needs a closer look.

Julia and James with a python. The sign for the kids to use to indicate that they did not want to touch an animal was to cross their arms. I don't think Julia could cross her arms any tighter.

Mark accompanies us on our field trip to Happy Hollow. The last time the kids went there they were 18 months old, it was 88 degrees, they were too small for rides, and weren’t interested in the zoo. It was pretty miserable. This time they absolutely love it. We don’t actually make it to the zoo part but they LOVE the rides. This time instead of 88 degrees, it’s a comfortable 95. Because we are the only ones insane enough to go then, we have the park to ourselves. In fact, James and Julia do most of the rides three times in a row. 

A word about the twins and rides: they finally consented to us putting quarters in the little rides outside the grocery store two months ago. Before that they would sit on the rides but freak out if we even offered to put money in them. At Happy Hollow, their first ride is the biggest ride there - the roller coaster, and they ride with their arms up. We end up riding it nine times! Seven of those times are in a row!

James and Julia pass the kiddie rides and head straight for the scariest ride in the park.

There were some special activity days at school, too. On the first day of school the kids splash in kiddie pools. The second-to-last day of school features a picnic lunch on the grass and a petting zoo. James and Julia also get to ride ponies for the first time. After circle time that day the kids run through the sprinklers. My kids aren’t used to playing in sprinklers so their reactions are interesting. James is excited but stays really REALLY far away. Meanwhile, at first Julia keeps her distance but then as she gains confidence she runs up to the sprinkler and bends over so it only hits her butt. I’m just reporting the facts.

Playing in one of the kiddie pools on the first day of school

James isn’t quite sure what he thinks of the petting zoo and eyes the bunny suspiciously.

 

 James and Julia ride ponies for the first time. James looks like a little boy out of the 50s... except for the pony wrangler using her cell phone.

Julia’s favorite way to play with the sprinkler? With her butt.

The last day of class is the same for last year and this year’s class: a potluck picnic at Shoup Park. I also organize an appreciation gift for Teacher Diane in which the kids all contribute a heart they’ve decorated.

Frame with hearts decorated by each child in the class for Teacher Diane. The far left two hearts in the third row are James's and Julia's respectively.

Julia and James with Teacher Diane

Standing: Teacher Diane. Behind bench: Malia, Zachary, Luca. On bike: Davey. On bench: Ashley, my Julia, James, Emily, Eleanor, Julia H., Zoe, Maja, Caroline. On rock: Brian, Lucas, Adelynn, Emma, Rachel.

This is the last 3’s class offered by Mountain View Parent Observation Preschool. They are merging with the neighboring parent participation preschool, and as much as I’d like my kids to attend they’re really happy at Milestones Preschool, and drop-off has been good for them (and me!). I’m sad though not to come back.

San Diego Christmas Trip 2013

Day 1: Taking the 5

Last year we didn’t tell the kids where we were going when we drove to San Diego until we were 15 minutes away because we worried they’d be upset. James associated San Diego with Santa Claus after Papa said Santa would be bringing presents there for Christmas. And James, while liking the idea of presents, was terrified of the jolly old elf.

This year James is beyond excited. Julia claims she doesn’t want to go because of Uncle Michael’s loud sneezes and because she doesn’t like the 5. (I mentioned that we’d be on Interstate 5 for a long time). However, she takes particular delight in naming all the freeways we’ll be taking in order. I tell them they can see really far on Interstate 5 because it’s so flat. Julia asks what city will they be able to see and I tell her Bakersfield. She exclaims, “Wow! Bakersfield!” which marks the first time those two words have ever been strung together.

We drive to San Diego, this time outfitted with a mount for Mark’s tablet so the kids can watch episodes of Charlie and Lola. We also use a GPS that audibly tells us directions. I have the following conversation with James about it:

Me: “Is that a real person on the GPS?”

James: “No.”

Me: “Whose voice is it?”

James: “God’s.”

To speed up the whole bathroom break process, we bring a portable potty for Julia and let James pee outside, which he comes to enjoy - perhaps too much. Says James, “I like to pee outside because I don’t have to wash my hands after.”

We arrive around 10 p.m. and the kids are excited to see Papa and Gaga. As last year, the four of us sleep in my old room, with James and Julia thrilled to sleep on the floor.

The end of the drive to San Diego, starring Julia.

James and Gaga are happy to see each other.

Asleep on the floor

Day 2: Early Morning Wake-Ups

Every morning while Mark and I sleep, the twins wake and “try” to be quiet and whisper to each other, before going downstairs to see Papa (and Gaga when she wakes up). The grandparents really enjoy their morning time with the grandkids. Unfortunately the combination of no blackout curtains and the excitement of watching the sunrise with Papa means that the kids start waking 1 ½ hours earlier than usual. In not coincidental news, James keeps falling asleep in the car.

Playing with Papa in the wee morn

Julia, who has a crippling fear of dogs - and recurring nightmares of dogs licking her -  actually rubs a gigantic Bernese Mountain Dog’s tummy at church. It takes a lot of convincing but she decides to do it because he’s a certified helper dog, and she’s been told that since helper dogs are worker dogs they don’t lick.

Day 3: UTC & Papa’s Birthday

We go Christmas shopping at UTC (formerly University Towne Centre - no doubt changed due to the excess of unnecessary British-y spellings), and the kids really enjoy the new playground there. James gets mad at a kid who hits his shoulder. James then wags a finger at him and yells, “No thank you!”

James on the playground at UTC

The twins decorate Gaga’s little Christmas tree, and we celebrate Papa’s birthday.

Julia looks at Gaga’s little Christmas tree.

Julia and James help Papa open his presents.

Day 4: Santa’s Coming!

Lauren, one of my best friends from high school, comes to visit and we see each other’s twins for the first time. After dinner, James and Julia take a Christmas light walk around the neighborhood with Papa, Michael, Mark, and me.

Kathy and Lauren

This is the first year the kids are excited about Santa. The kids put out milk and cookies for Santa. I suggest spelling out Santa’s name using alphabet cookies, and that idea really excites the twins. James, bursting with excitement before bedtime tells me, “I know Santa will love these cookies because they spell his name and he will bring lots of presents.”

Julia carries cookies for Santa to the chimney.

For the last couple days the kids call out to us for 45 minutes after they’re tucked in. But tonight since it’s Christmas Eve, we receive NO calls. Just before bedtime, James announces, “Let’s go to sleep now!” and heads upstairs. They actually want to sleep because Santa’s coming and we told them he won’t come until they fall asleep.

Mark checks the Santa Tracker app at D.Z. Akin’s on Christmas Eve.

Once the kids are asleep, my mom and Michael spend three hours setting up Puzzletown, a vintage late 1970s detailed build-yourself cardboard town. Gaga had kept some of our sets in the garage for just this moment, and had also gone to town cornering the Puzzletown market on eBay.

Day 5 - Christmas!

The kids-going-to-bed-right-away thing was great but ends up biting us in the ass the next morning when James wakes at 5 a.m. and Julia just after. We had told the rest of the family that we’d get up at 6:30 to see the loot left by Santa, so we endure the two of them talking to each other while we try to sleep for an hour and a half. 

Bleary-eyed grown-ups

I expected the kids to practically run downstairs to see what Santa brought. However, they walk in and quietly observe the contents of the living room. They’re thrilled that their stockings contain the only two toys they requested - finger lights for James and a pink pig Koosh-like “fuzzy ball” for Julia. Together they cost less than $5 at Michael’s. I wish every year could be so easy for Santa. Then the twins play with Puzzletown while the bleary-eyed adults yawn a lot.

Standing on the “dirty step” looking at all the presents Santa left in the living room.

James gets his finger lights!

Julia gets her “fuzzy ball”!

James in the middle of his Puzzletown empire

The best present under the tree

About to go the church with Papa. James tells Papa that he looks handsome.

The kids distribute the presents under the tree, and then help everyone unwrap them. Julia REALLY takes to present distributing. James, on the other hand, is enthusiastic at first but then opens his present of Michael’s old Legos and then just wants to play with them the rest of the time.

Julia wears the official Santa hat for distributing presents.

Julia loves passing out gifts.

Julia helps Kathy unwrap a gift.

Julia plays with her new Legos.

For days Julia keeps talking about a Charlie and Lola episode where one of the characters got a pineapple as a gift. She tells us about it and laughs and says, “A pineapple’s not a present!” That prompts me to buy Julia a pineapple and put it wrapped under the tree. The top of the pineapple is visible and Julia notices it right away and starts laughing. She thinks her gift is hilarious.

Julia discovers a pineapple addressed to her under the tree.

My church makes “manna bags” for parishioners to distribute to homeless people in need. They’re filled with non-perishable food items, socks, and some basic toiletries. The kids, particularly James, have been obsessed with them. We make the twins their own manna bags and they’re a big hit.

The kids' Manna bags include lots of snacks from Google, a pair of their old socks, and a borrowed washcloth from Papa and Gaga.

At dinner we go around the table and say what we’re thankful for. James announces that he’s thankful for everything in the world. “Like what?” we ask. “Blinds.”

James devours his turkey leg King Henry VIII style.

For the first time, Julia and James got to use their stockings that Kathy made. They only took two and a half years to complete.

Papa doesn’t seem pleased about his new hat.

Day 6: Legoland

Day 7: Tidepools

Michael plays with Puzzletown with the kids in the morning and many mornings while we’re here.

Mark and I take the kids to the Cabrillo tidepools at sunset. James lets the tide hit his shoes as the water comes in and then recedes. This is a new development since both kids usually are afraid of the tide. James loves putting rocks in the water after I tell him water makes the rocks smooth. He announces, “They’re smooth now!” He’s also fascinated by the primitive public toilet nearby that’s just a deep hole.

Family picture at the Cabrillo tidepools

Day 8: The Trolley (a.k.a. Red Guy)

My mom’s best friend Pam visits with her husband Keith to see the twins. She wants to come over because as she says, James and Julia are the closest she’ll ever come to having grandchildren.

Mark, the kids, and I catch the San Diego Trolley (a.k.a. “red guy”) and take it to Old Town. They love standing and holding the rail while the trolley is moving. The big hits of Old Town are the old timey stick candy (which we end up using as bribes for weeks after) and the covered wagon, which they’re familiar with through their little kid-friendly Little House stories (based on the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder). However, James likes pretending it’s an ice cream truck.

Mark is excited to ride the trolley.

James and Julia in Old Town Plaza. Julia calls this a “shooter.”

Day 9: Reuben H. Fleet

We meet my high school friend Liz and her husband Rich for lunch at D.Z. Akin’s, and they arrive bearing gifts for the kids. James is thrilled that one gift is a maze book and discovers mazes for the first time.

Next on the high school friend circuit is Candice, whom we meet with husband Steve and daughter Nora at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center. Unlike last year’s visit with them, this year we actually make it to the Kid City portion. (Last year by the time we walked through too many stimulating museum exhibits and made it to Kid City we literally only had 8 minutes for the kids to play.)

James, Julia, and Nora

Julia uses the mouse. Her software engineer daddy has never been so proud.

Nora and Candice

Day 10: San Diego Zoo

After taking 45 minutes just to park, we visit the San Diego Zoo with Papa. Even though Mark and I get in free it’s still $64 for the kids (*cough cough*) for only a couple hours. We take the tour bus around the park, and my dad seems to be generous when he offers to sit on the right side of the bus, telling us to take the left side because that’s the side with the best views. But then over and over again the giraffes, the elephants, and seemingly all the other animals are best seen on Papa’s side, causing the kids to scramble over to his lap for the rest of the ride. Suspicious.

Posing at the zoo

James the Lion sits on Papa’s lap on the tour bus.

Day 11: Papa Claus

We buy Papa a Santa Claus costume. Despite it being too small he obligingly suits up and the kids immediately know it’s him. Since the kids were terrified of Santa in years past, I wish I’d thought to do an annual photo with Papa Claus sooner.

Papa looks like he just split a seam.

They were very aware that Papa was in there.

Papa Claus and his girl

John Bregante visits and the kids want to know if he brought candy canes for them like last year. Gaga reads to the twins from a fairytale book that was the only book she had as a child.

Kathy also remembers this book well.

Day 12: The Drive Back

The drive back is pretty uneventful. Oh, except for that car accident in Lost Hills! Gulp! 

While trying to get on the I-5 on-ramp in Lost Hills, another car hit us.

We traverse through a big walk-through Christmas tree in Burbank on the way to lunch at Panera, and then because we can’t get enough of it, we eat at the Panera in Gilroy for dinner. James and Julia spend even more time watching Charlie and Lola.

The kids in the Burbank walk-through tree

The End