Homework

  Joel has had homework for the past 3 weeks. I was really nervous about this. I was worried he wouldnt want to do it and then no amount of bribing would be able to get him to do it. Thankfully he gets it all one monday and then returns it on friday. So we have a few days in there that we can let it slide if he doesnt want to do it

 But thankfully he has loved doing it.  I'm sure that will change at some point but he comes home mondays and just goes right to it. and usually will complete most of it in the first night. 

 There was one day at the end of September where he refused to get on the bus.  I had to carry him to the bus, sit him down in a seat and ask Colin to sit next to him.  And the bus driver had a 5th grade girl on the other side and left him screaming his head off.  I felt horrible and cried when the bus drove away but knew it would get worse if I drove him to school.  I was a little worried he would just bolt out the door at another stop but he came home and said he stopped crying before he got to school.  Because he didnt want to be sent home.  How ironic! but totally Joel.  Since then we've had no problem and he actually cries now that he has to come home.  Something clicked inside him and he now loves school.  He loves learning and is starting to sound out words himself. He comes home and makes up his own worksheets to complete. 

I also hear all about kindergarten.  There is one girl who likes to kiss all the boys and has picked one to be her boyfriend. Thankfully not Joel.  He doesnt tell us much about what he's learned academically but we know everything his friends tell him or do in class.  It was fun going to the trunk or treat because I kept seeing all these kids yelling "hi Joel" and waving to him.  It seems he is pretty popular in his class and according to Joel is also the fastest kid in his class.  This has been good for him because he has always competed with Colin and now he's in his own element and doing really well.