Preschool Graduation

Dear Logan,

Your big brother is really growing up.  I can't believe he's going to Kindergarten in a few months.  In a weird way, he just had his second preschool graduation.  He had one when he was a Sea Lion at CCLC, graduating with the other 5 year-olds, when he was only 4.

This time around, it felt more official.  He was in official cap and gown, and even received a diploma.  Daddy and Mommy were ready and had a game plan.  Daddy was in charge of taking pictures, and Mommy was in charge of taking videos.

With past experience at school events, Daddy and Mommy knew that we had to be there early enough to get a good seat.  Even though seating started at 3:30 p.m., and the ceremony started at 4 p.m., we arrived at around 3:15 p.m.  Of course, many parents were already there.  Parents that volunteered got reserved seats.  I thought about volunteering since I took the day off.  But if I did, then I couldn't go with Daddy and had to come in separate cars.  Logistically, we opted to go together.

The children marched out of their classroom, all throughout the schoolyard to their assigned seats.  After that, announcements were made, and they headed up to stage.  They started out with the Pledge of Allegiance and sang "America the Beautiful".  The children then performed a few more songs: The Alphabet Song and signed the letters, The Capital Song, "Stand By Me", and "I'm The Greatest". Your brother has been practicing these songs at home quite often, so I wasn't very surprised.  However, it was still very enjoyable to see all the kids having so much fun.  Aidan, as always, was very enthusiastic and LOUD!  They were all just too adorable!

After the songs, the children went back to their seats.  One by one, each of them was called up on stage, shook hands with the directors and teachers, received a diploma and a candy lei.  At the end they stood at the end of the stage and waited for their parents to shoot many pictures.  Daddy prepped Aidan beforehand where to look.  He told me he was looking at Daddy first and then turned around to look at me. Aidan was also the ONLY child that ran up to the stage.  He was either too excited or impatient (he's the third to the last to get his diploma).

After the ceremony, we took some pictures and then headed out for some snacks.  Aidan wasn't too keen on taking pictures.  Instead he preferred to get snacks aka cheese puffs, and played with his friends.

And guess what, when I went home, I realized that Aidan has changed my camera settings!  Arggh... the pictures and videos were at pretty low resolution.  You would think by now I have learned.  Oh well...

It was a fun day. It was a good day.  It was a day full of pride and joy.  I wish you were here to share this day with us.


Miss you,
Mommy

March of Dimes/March for Babies 2011

Dear Logan,

We participated in the March of Dimes/March for Babies walk again this year with Team The Arc of San Francisco.  Our team raised over $4000!  What an amazing amount and my client did a spectacular job soliciting, well, harassing, for donations.  I was fortunate and grateful enough to raise about $1000.  Not a bad amount despite all the different tragedies happening recently around the world.

We stayed over at Grandma and Yeh Yeh's house the night before the walk.  This saved us a lot of time.  I picked up Lola Lolita bright and early in the morning to head over to Fort Mason first.  Daddy, Aidan and Grandma came a little later in a separate car.  It was yet another gorgeous day at Fort Mason.  You can see the beautiful Golden Gate Bridge as we walked along the beach.  This time around, we didn't go all the whole way to the end and back.  Last year, we had a stroller for Aidan, so it was fine if we walked more.  This year, he's all on his own and it would be difficult for us to complete the whole 6.25 miles.  Grandma was the one in the best shape.  I have to say, I am very proud of Aidan.  He walked 95% of the 3 miles that we did.  I only needed to carry him towards the end of the walk.  He stayed close to Grandma most of the time, and it didn't hurt that Grandma had a whole backpack full of yummy snacks.



It was a lot of work putting together this walk for the team.  However, as Lola said, after all said and done, it was totally worth it.  My body was sore for the next two days.  My feet were tired, and my muscles were sore from carrying the heavy items in and out of my car, and up and down the hill.

However, I look forward to next year's walk!

Miss you,
Mommy