1st Ever Teacher Conference + Baby shower for Anne and Louise

On Thursday Jeff and I had our 10:30am parent/teacher conference with Aston's teacher's Ms. Sallie and Ms. Patti. We walked in and they presented us with this:

it was an exercise they had them do where they had to trace a big circle and then add 2 eyes, a nose and a mouth to make a face. They said that they were very impressed with Aston's face...they told us this is the proper orientation they just goofed and put his name up-side-down. Aston does love to trace at home although it's usually a racetrack, his hand or his sister's hand.

We were then handed this very cute "Progress Report". Notice in Social and Emotional Skills he received all "G"'s (Good Progress") except on "I accept and respond to my teacher's authority" where he was given a solid "W" (Working On Skill). They said of course this is normal but Aston has what they call "selective listening". They will say "ok Aston it's time to line up for Potty" and he will just continue playing. Sallie said this one time she had Patti on the floor laughing when after like the 5th time of asking Aston to come get in line she said to him "Aston you have a spider on your head!" and he whipped around frantically wondering if there really was one:)

In Fine Motor Skills they made it clear that he loves doing art and is really quite good at it. (a big improvement over the old days when he would get his art sent home with a note that would say "Aston can do his project at home")..he did get "W's" in Pasting and Threads and Beads... They haven't worked with scissors yet but they will soon. I've tried scissors with the little man several times and it's just not coming to him:) For Gross Motor the class as a whole is working on balancing on 1 foot and hopping on 1 foot. He can balance on 1 foot (we tested him) but he does need to practice the hopping part. I feel like he knows some shapes but apparently he hasn't demonstrated this to his teachers:)

Here's where he needs the most work...Listening Skills. He needs to work on listening when his teachers tell him to do something and responding when asked. Like I said before he ignores authority...but all within the norm for a 2 year old of course. We were also told he talks a lot to his friends but not to them? I usually think of him as a talker to any and everyone...I was a little surprised on this one. The other thing they told us is he needs to work on helping to clean up...they told us he and classmate Olin run and hide under the tables in the adjacent room whenever they ask the group to help clean up...this makes me laugh...but I know we need to get right on that...not a fan of kids who don't help...

Here are some photos from Mama Anne's (due March 12th) and Mama Louise's (due March 31st) baby shower. Kathryn and I (mostly Kathryn) put on a little playgroup baby shower for the 2 Mama's at Barnes and Noble.

The bookstore provided a reading of the book "If You Give a Cat a Cupcake" and a craft for the kids to do based on the book. LEFT: Aston playing with Thomas the Train in his chef's hat on...RIGHT: Hugs for Mia whether she wants one or not

Aston and Mia were having some funny conversations while waiting for/drooling over the cupcakes as we waited for the party goers to arrive...I only caught the end of course...