School has resumed in Atlanta, with Will Trocchi making his triumphant return to the classroom. We decided to homeschool Will last year after a combination of factors led to an unfulfilling first grade for him. Amy and I did our best to catch him up to grade level in math and reading, and through a lot of blood (Will's), sweat (mine) and tears (Amy's), we think he's ready for relaunch into a real classroom (i.e. not wearing pajamas all day) for third grade.
Will joined Mia at Briarlake for Day No. 1 on Monday, and he was a bundle of nerves. He tends to put his hands on his hips and bend slightly forward when he is nervous, sort of a cross between an old man with a bad back and a woman trying to make her waist smaller. When we picked him up at the end of the day, he was trying hard to stifle a smile when he got in the van. 'What's the big deal?', he was trying to project, but then he fell in line with Mia and chat, chat, chatted about the first day. P.E., recess and reading were his big hits, pleasing us that at least he didn't say P.E., recess and lunch.
So the routine has begun, with the afternoon carpool consisting of Mia and Will, then another pickup with Tyler and his friend from Kittridge. I'm looking forward to the interesting conversations they will have throughout the year, such as this one on Day Two:
Will: One of the girls in my class was in first grade last year. She skipped second grade and is now in third grade. How do you do that?
Mia: She was in second grade Discovery last year, and she did good, so she just moved up.
Will: I'm going to skip high school and go right to parent.
Friend: You'll have to skip college, too.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
A Sleeping Success
The sleepover was a succcess.
Will Trocchi, newly christened nine-year-old, had his three teammates from the COUNTY CHAMPION medley relay team over (proud papa moment) for a Thursday night sleepover before school starts next week. The structure of the party was, um, fluid, thanks to my beautiful wife whose has never seen a plan she's afraid to alter. We settled on an IMAX movie, pizza at the house, and then general sleepover-ness.
However, even that was adjusted, as we got to the IMAX theatre at 510 for a show that was running from 5-545 (Atlanta traffic strikes again!). After contemplating $72 in tickets for 35 minutes, we decided to ditch the movie and actually go out for pizza. Felini's was the choice, and a good one, as the kids had the run of an outdoor porch with a wishing well fountain. Birthday boy, of course, had his shirt soaked by the end, but all in all a manageable meal in a pretty cool part of town.
On the way home, the plan was adjusted one more time, as we decided to stop by Piedmont Park. After a brief encounter with a police officer (you apparently can't back up looking for a parking spot), we took the boys to what was a muddier than expected playground, complete with puddles at the bottom of each slide. Yada, yada, yada, Amy ended up having all the boys shower and she washed their clothes back at the house following cupcakes.
Diary of a Wimpy kid was the movie of choice, which didn't get started until 930 or so. Things were relatively peaceful from there, and Amy and I decided to watch a Curb Your Enthusiasm at 1130, hoping all would be out by midnight and we could call it a night. When there was no stirring during one of the frequent trails of F-bombs that accompany that show (season debut was one of my all-time favorite episodes), we knew we were in the clear.
The next morning, there was Lego-playing, a water-gun fight, Wii battles and a Phineas and Ferb, complete with Doritos and Cheetos at about 930 am. When you're nine years old, can you ask for anything more than that?
Will Trocchi, newly christened nine-year-old, had his three teammates from the COUNTY CHAMPION medley relay team over (proud papa moment) for a Thursday night sleepover before school starts next week. The structure of the party was, um, fluid, thanks to my beautiful wife whose has never seen a plan she's afraid to alter. We settled on an IMAX movie, pizza at the house, and then general sleepover-ness.
However, even that was adjusted, as we got to the IMAX theatre at 510 for a show that was running from 5-545 (Atlanta traffic strikes again!). After contemplating $72 in tickets for 35 minutes, we decided to ditch the movie and actually go out for pizza. Felini's was the choice, and a good one, as the kids had the run of an outdoor porch with a wishing well fountain. Birthday boy, of course, had his shirt soaked by the end, but all in all a manageable meal in a pretty cool part of town.
On the way home, the plan was adjusted one more time, as we decided to stop by Piedmont Park. After a brief encounter with a police officer (you apparently can't back up looking for a parking spot), we took the boys to what was a muddier than expected playground, complete with puddles at the bottom of each slide. Yada, yada, yada, Amy ended up having all the boys shower and she washed their clothes back at the house following cupcakes.
Diary of a Wimpy kid was the movie of choice, which didn't get started until 930 or so. Things were relatively peaceful from there, and Amy and I decided to watch a Curb Your Enthusiasm at 1130, hoping all would be out by midnight and we could call it a night. When there was no stirring during one of the frequent trails of F-bombs that accompany that show (season debut was one of my all-time favorite episodes), we knew we were in the clear.
The next morning, there was Lego-playing, a water-gun fight, Wii battles and a Phineas and Ferb, complete with Doritos and Cheetos at about 930 am. When you're nine years old, can you ask for anything more than that?
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)