Happy New Year!

Bus Ride

Madeline rode the bus to school for the first time today! Hooray. The bus pulled up and Jon asked her if she wanted to go and she said "yes, please!". No problem, put her on the bus and she said "bye". Rode it home too with no troubles. I should have done this years ago but was so afraid she'd hate it. I'm a chicken, I know.

School is in session!

Madeline is officially a kindergartner!! She started school at North Bend Elementary. So far it's gone pretty well. We are having some difficulty getting her set up on the bus but otherwise I only have heard good things. It's definitely a new routine. They made a real point on the first day of school that they were no longer in preschool and they were going to be expected to follow the rules. Best of luck to them!!

Abby started preschool at Madeline's old preschool. Snoqualmie Elementary. She loves it. She's in school with her best friends Maisie and Noelle.

This means I have 2 and a half hours Mon-Thurs to myself. I've noticed based on last week that the time goes by really fast. By the time I drop Abby off, get home, do some laundry it's time to go back and pick her up. I think this week I'll do something more fun and schedule a massage. :) I don't want to spend all my free time cleaning the house. I do that already.

Camping

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Just got home from our first camping trip with the girls. I haven't been camping since high school. Granted, I have to use the term "camping" loosely. We were at the KOA in leavenworth in an airconditioned lodge with a bathroom and kitchen. Regardless, it was our first time in the woods as a family. We had a great time swimming, playing at the park and just laughing with good friends. Madeline also met a dog named Yoda that she loved. Funny because she normally doesn't give them the time of day.

The picture of Madeline on the tree stump: they are watching the craziest hay ride I've ever seen. It was a tractor pulling a trailer of hay with people packed in like sardines. He was driving like a complete maniac and Madeline thought it was really funny.

We had lots of fun with some great friends. I feel so lucky to have new friends in my life that know exactly what I go through on a day to day basis. We always laugh because when we are out in public together we just assume that everybody around us has kiddos on the spectrum too.

Madeline has officially graduated from preschool. She'll be headed to North Bend Elementary in the Fall. I've met her new teacher breifly and she seems wonderful. Madeline will be in class with two of her best friends from preschool. She'll also spend lots of time in the typical classroom. We'll know more about how that all works as the beginning of school gets closer. Right now we are just trying to enjoy a little summer vacation. She has three weeks off and then back to school for Extended School Year. Then she'll be in camp most of Aug and then back to school.

Abby has been on the waiting list to go to Madeline's preschool for over a year. We just found out she gets to go and she's going to be in class with her best friend Maisie. It worked out perfectly. We couldn't be happier. She'll be in preschool m-thurs from 9-11:40. I'm very happy she is in this program. The school likes to have siblings of kiddos with special needs in the classes because they are more aware and sometimes more tolerant of the other kids. Hopefully Abby will be well behaved.

Now, what to do with all of this time during summer vacation....especially since it's cold and rainy...?????