Graduating Kindergarten

Kindergarten Graduation already? It's really hard to believe. It seems like it was yesterday that we were going to kindergarten roundup and welcome week. Moira is oh so ready for first grade, going to school all day long, and playing on that big playground with her friends. But am I?

Here are a few video clips of the week's events - graduation, reading medal ceremony, and the last day of school.


On Friday, the last day of school, she released the butterflies they hatched as a class


Looked through her kindergarten scrapbook one more time before mommmy put it away in her box of treasures


and hugged her wonderful teacher, Miss Gerdes


On Thursday, Dillon joined the class the the Reading Medal Ceremony. He is such a frequent visitor, that he really is an honorary kindergartener.


Moira with her shiny Gold Medal


Moira's class on the last day of school


Dillon playing with his favorite toys on the last day of school


Cookies we made for treats on the last day of school



Video is only viewable at Home - www.clarklings.com

Spring Time Cookies

One of the reasons why I look forward to Spring every year so that I can get out my cookie cutters. Bunnies, Eggs, and Butterflies just make such great cookie shapes - and you can't beat the colors of Spring for decorating.

But, this year I decided that I shouldn't have all the fun!

We started by rolling out the dough - Dillon kept eating it once he realized it wasn't salty like Play-Dough (don't ask how I know that):


The kids stamped out shapes, and then put them in the oven. (Baking with kids helpful hint - give the kids their own cookie cutters, so that you always know which cookies are theirs):


Then, we put different colors of frosting in plastc bags with rubber bands at the top, so that they couldn't squeeze it out the top and let them have at it:







Finished Product:


The reward for doing all the steps was a yummy treat:





Video is only viewable at Home - www.clarklings.com

Camp Scherman

Moira and I went to camp all weekend - not just any camp - Camp Scherman. Many Girl Scouts in Southern California, and both of my sisters can attest to the fact that it is a magical place for girls - a place where the Girl Scout slogan "Where Girls Grow Strong" is certainly true. There is a different adventure every day, and every visit is different than the last time you were there. The food is even good!

Daisies (Kindergarten and 1st grade) aren't allowed to go to camp by themselves overnight - but they can come to a special even called "Core Camp," when their leaders join them (although Moira can't wait to go without me). So, one of the great perks of leading my troop is that I get to be around to see Moira try all of these activities, and wax nostalgic for my own camp days. In fact, in the mess hall I found the "Camp Crew" circles from the years that I visited (1981, 1982, and 1983 if you're counting), and I remembered a lot of those names (Especially Thumper - she made me feel better when I got homesick the first time I went):


At the top of our day hike. I couldn't get pictures of our nighttime stargazing hike because, well, it was night time.


Archery - yes bows and arrows for kindergarteners. Moira's arrows didn't make it as far as the target, but she did get them to launch.


Arts and Crafts - they were painting "pet rocks" that they collected on one of the trail hikes.


Canoeing - we only paddled for them just before we were about to crash into something - like the beach or another canoe full of little girls. Other than that, we sat back and enjoyed the cruise.


Another hike shot - they wanted to climb those rocks so badly - maybe next time we'll bring some ropes.


At the camp museum - yes this is a real lion, but no, Moira is not really scared.


In addition to all of these activities, camping in the summer always includes rock climbing (I once went to camp for an entire week just to climb rocks), horseback riding (ditto), swimming, more hiking (sometimes all-day to find a good rock climb, or even overnight), obstacle courses, and more. All of that, and they keep everyone safe.

Video is only viewable at Home - www.clarklings.com

Puzzling

Dillon mastered Stacking before he had even mastered walking. He is like a little engineer - he's smart in such a different way than Moira.

So, I was pleasantly surprised to find that he could put together the pieces of just the face of this 12-piece Mickey Mouse puzzle:



But, then, this was two days later:


Pretty cool, eh?

Video is only viewable at Home - www.clarklings.com

Hello Big Two

Dillon had been looking forward to his "Mickey Party" for months, even though he didn't really understand what it was. But, if Mickey was going to be involved, he wanted to do it.

He blew out is two candles with some help from his sister,


ate dinner outside in his own Dillon-sized Mickey Mouse chair,


insisted everyone wear party hats,


was a pro at opening his presents,


and really enjoyed is birthday cupcake!


Video is only viewable at Home - www.clarklings.com

Chatterbox

Just a little glimpse into Dillon's blossoming personality:



Video is only viewable at Home - www.clarklings.com

Me and My Shadow

When Moira was two, we were inseperable. Like many toddlers, she followed me around like a little shadow. And as she grows up, I see more and more of me in her - some days I feel like Im actually parenting myself. What's really a miracle, is that Jim can see the same thing in her - she is his shadow, too. And it won't be long before her little 40 inch shadow grows taller than my own, and we'll be following her instead - having to persuade her to let us take pictures at her first school dance, keeping her one more minute at graduation before she wants to run off and spend time with friends, and sneaking in visits on a weekend with her at college.

An now there is a second little shadow. But this one is different. He's still a little reflection of me and Jim, but we're not who he wants to follow around most of all - we're not his biggest influence. Dillon's little two-year-old shadow can almost always be found just behind Moira's. He was the one of all of us who cried when we left her on her first day of school. He wants to be where she is, try whatever she is doing, and taste whatever she it eating. "Me, too!" has become a frequent phrase, and when I need to get Dillon to come along a little faster, I just hurry Moira along and he's sure to follow.

We worry about dividing our energy and attention between two children, that they each won't get all of us. But whatever bit of attention or energy from us they may miss out on, they get double that from each other. It's sometimes amazing how different children from the same parents can end up so different, but not really. They each walk behind a different set of shadows.



Video is only viewable at Home - www.clarklings.com

Yet Another New Website

Because my life is certainly not busy enough, I have added yet another website to my duties:

www.troop2140.com

This is mostly a website for my girls to find information, and see pictures and videos, but you all might as well enjoy the cuteness, too. The site requires a google account (the same account you would use to login to youtube or gmail) and an invitation. After all, posting information on the internet about exactly where 6 adorable kindergarteners might be having a sleepover isn't really a good idea these days. So, I will be sending invitations to everyone on this distribution list - follow the link, sign up for a google account if you don't already have one, and you'll be good to go.

The www.dunnfamilyhome.com website is also password protected now, so if you would like to follow that site, let me know and I will add you to the "invited" list. Much like the girls' website, I don't want to post construction details for all of google to find.

This (www.clarklings.com) website will remain unrestricted so that anyone who wants to keep in touch or peek in for an occasional update is welcome.

Video is only viewable at Home - www.clarklings.com

Life Lessons, part 1

Today, Plany the hermit crab died.

This is really the first time Moira has had a very direct experience with the Circle of Life. The hamster was stolen (a bizarre story for another post), and I sort of whisked the frogs away when they died (because Moira was only 2). But, Moira is 5 (an a half) now, and is old enough to learn about life, and death, and ask questions.

So, we sat her up in her chair and told her that the hermit crab had died. "Why?" was the immediate question. Jim explained why he knew he was gone. "Why?" was the question again. She wanted to know why he died. We told her that hermit crabs don't live very long - he was 2 after all. She had a long hug, and her eyes welled up a bit, but she accepted this truth pretty well. There was much more discussion, and we talked about what we believe, and we let Moira plan what to do with him.

She decorated a little box for him with ocean-themed stickers, and she made a "RIP sign" for him that read "Plany RIP" out of a leaf she liked, and she chose the spot to bury him because, and I quote, "I've always wanted to bury something here."

Moira's home-made RIP sign, made out of a nice leaf:


Moira and Dillon watched Jim dig a nice little hole under the stairs outside:


And then she ran off to play:


Follow up - Moira has been fixated on questions about death all day and night. It is really testing my ability to tell the truth and be honest while still being aware of some boundaries - she is only 5. So far so good, but geez.

Video is only viewable at Home - www.clarklings.com

Dandelion Wishes

There are lots of important things taht kids should know, like the words to certain songs, the best hiding places, how to make stuff, where to hide your peas, and what circumstances are necessary to make wishes come true.

Today, Moira showed Dillon how to pick dandelions and blow the little seeds away, carrying his wishes away on their little parachutes. I happened to have my camera with me, so I captured a few gems:



Of course, Dillon soon discovered that you could just shake them:


Besides, we know who the real pro is around here, anyway:


Video is only viewable at Home - www.clarklings.com