Edgar!

The Senses

Edgar's Kindergarten class (all of them, actually) had an Open House yesterday morning. The theme was the five senses, and everyone was invited to go from room to room for activities and learning exercises.

The kids sang a more sense-based version of Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes to top it all off.

Then they showed off the toys they had made in advance, with Edgar having created a cool robot!

Here's a movie of the song!

Sunday Swim Lessons

Swim lessons with Carlos and Maya were followed by a fun, belated birthday gift of finger lights!

End of Week One

Edgar's first week of Kindergarten was a short but eventful one.

He's really matured:

Here's one of the drawings Edgar's been finding in his lunches this week:

First Day of K!

Edgar is off to Kindergarten for day one. There was much crying and resisting, butterflies and digging-in of heels. But that was just his parents. Edgar was fine. He got to start the day with his car-pool mates, Anna and Rachel.

Here he is looking alternately preppy and hip-hop-ish.

UPDATED! Here' a picture which includes the aforementioned car-pool buddies.

Pre-K to K Graduation!

Big step yesterday. Edgar finished pre-school at the wondrous Jardín Mágico, and will begin Kindergarten at an equally wondrous International Baccalaureate public elementary school next week.

Jardín's ceremony was neither pompous nor circumstantial -- it was a merciful combination of singing, dancing, light-heartedness, and brevity. During the open mic portion, when several children screwed up the courage to approach the PA system and announce to one and all their personal vision for a professional future, Edgar said -- mock-dramatically -- "Mom (pause), Dad (pause), what do YOU want to be when YOU grow up?"

Very funny, smart aleck.

But seriously, folks, we'd also like to take this opportunity to thank Bobbie and Ralph, Grammy, Nana and Opa, and everyone who has contributed to Edgar's early education.

4th of July Eve

Edgar and his dad spent part of the 3rd of July visiting Historic Fort Snelling.

The fort has a multi-faceted past, highlighted and stained with major events and circumstances which connect to larger aspects of American history in general. It was the home for some time of Dred and Harriet Scott (and their two daughters), of Dred Scott Decision fame -- the US Supreme Court case identified as one of the events that led to the American Civil War; Horrific acts took place at Fort Snelling as part of the US/Dakota War in the 1860s; And the fort was used as a foreign language school during World War II, so US Army personnel could learn Japanese -- from volunteers as well as relocated detainees from internment camps.

Not to say that much of this sunk in with five-year-old Edgar. Regardless, it was a beautiful -- and historic -- summer day.

Oh, and there were lots of barrels there. And six-pound cannonballs could travel as far as a mile when fired.

            

At the Zoo with AJ

Edgar invited one of his pre-school friends to the zoo last week. They really wanted to see the flying monkey Edgar had seen on TV. No monkeys were flying when we were there, but Edgar and AJ had a great old time anyway.

       

Model Train Museum

A day of rain begged for getting out, but being in. So we headed to the Twin Cities Model Railroad Museum at Bandana Square in St Paul. The weather's always nice and sunny in the shrunk-down, hyperreal worlds created by train enthusiasts. They'll talk your ear off, but it's worth it.

      
 
Here's more -- on Edgar's dad's Web site.

Big Day Approaches

Edgar's been working really hard every Saturday morning along with a number of other boys. They've been learning tap and ballet steps that will be part of an upcoming performance. Here's a sneak peak.

 

Soccer is Back in Session

And Edgar's five now. So he's really trying.