Ian Kindergarten Orientation!

A quick word about Valley View. By the time you read this, Ian has already been at kindergarten for weeks. He’s a big boy. We’ve gone over talking with strangers, we’ve gone over trying to be careful. He has a teacher or playground staff watching out for him. For these reasons I have stopped trying to hide where Ian goes to school, or his teacher’s name, Mrs. Lanham; unlike with his daycare… which I think I avoided naming and/or airbrushed said name from pictures. I will continue to protect Nina until she is around this age as well, because I’d rather play things safe for a reasonable amount of time. I will continue to exercise some caution, but let’s face it — eventually we need to let the kids live their lives. And with that… Ian’s orientation at Valley View.

August 27th was Ian’s Valley View orientation. Here he is in the parking lot! See this image larger.

Making his way toward the Vally View campus. Ok so “campus” is a pretty strong word. See this image larger.

This may be the last time I bring my iPhone for a job like this. Lots of blur. See this image larger.

He’s excited! See this image larger.

Kind of an odd policy. They have us buy supplies, as if for our kid… and then dump them in a community bucket, from which any kid grabs stuff when he/she needs it! See this image larger.

Sharing is cool! Well, at least in this way. See this image larger.

Ian listens carefully to Mrs. Lanham! See this image larger.

The guy in the foreground is somebody’s dad. See Ian? See this image larger.

Ian in line for his bus ride with Principal Siegel! See this image larger.

(Well it was supposed to be with him, but there were two busses, and Ian ended up with somebody else.) See this image larger.

This was a hilarious moment. The parents were done with their part, and so we all stepped out back between the school and the playground. We stood around looking awkward and mostly not talking to each other, sort of lost without our kids. See this image larger.

And then came something straight out of “the running of the bulls” but instead of bulls, it was about 50 kids ready to get to a playground and show the world what they’re made of. See this image larger.

Ian on a swing! See this image larger.

Distorted Ian on a swing! (Thanks iPhone!) See this image larger.

Alright that’s fine. See this image larger.

Ian and some kid that doesn’t know how to ride on a swing! See this image larger.

Ian and Mommy, who just kicked some kid off a swing! (not really) See this image larger.

I’d tell you what Ian’s on if I had any idea what to call these. Mushroom jumpy thingamadoos. Thigh scrapers? Slip n’ Falls! Balance bongos! Super Mario Poppers. Whatever. See this image larger.

And finally, Ian is returned to daycare… who were at a park. As you can see, the mulch level is particularly low versus the sidewalk. Ian would eventually trip on the sidewalk and get scraped up pretty bad. Meanwhile, Mommy and Daddy went to see Brave, and had a good time taking a day to ourselves. See this image larger.