This time it was 100 Things To Do Before Kindergarten.
I wondered how Mighty Mouse would fare on this list so here it is:
1. Go to the zoo: Omaha was the best, but Waco's is really not bad.
2. Visit a farm -Arbor Day and Pumpkin farms.
3. Go on a hike - With all the sight seeing we do on vacations this is a yes. But it was never just jump in the car and go hike. And she gets to hike around in the carrier on dad's back. What a chore.
4. Play with kittens or puppies - I want to say yes but I have no clear memory of this.5. Catch a frog - toads...in our back yard. And how about petting an alligator?
6. Make a gigantic mess -- And it looks even worse right now. I have refused to go in there for 3 weeks. I'm on strike.
7. Help clean up a gigantic mess - if you want to call it that.
8. Master the monkey-bars -nope
9. Swing high up into the sky all by themselves -Nope = powered by mom
10. Try ice-skating -- no11. Go sledding --yes
12. Make a snow-man - yes
13. Blow bubbles --
14. Plant seeds and watch them grow --
15. Have a pillow fight -- I hope not.
16. Jump on a big bed -- All.The.Time. Not allowed.
17. Jump on a trampoline or in a bounce house -
18. Hang out in a tent -- Yes. Hope to go camping again soon as its been a couple of years.19. Spend days at the beach --
20. Build sandcastles --
21. Go fishing -- No22. Go out on a boat -- Not sure. I think so but it could be the other kids that I KNOW have.
23. Play with blocks and puzzles -- all the time
24. Read the classic picture books- all the time
25. Read a classic chapter book --not yet
26. Check out library books with their own library card -- only on mommy's card
27. Get a passport --
28. Carve a pumpkin -- I think so.29. Hold a newborn baby (to see how much they've grown) --No
30. Love a special doll or stuffed animal -- Does a blanket count??? It's a serious love affair. I have 6 of them to ensure life stays sane.
31. Bake cookies and cakes - her favorite. She always help make her own Birthday cake - she is sure that is some kind of rule or something.32. Help plan their own birthday party -- she wishes, she tries
33. Go to the circus -- No - she doesn't like loud noises so this kind of thing is out.
34. Go to a museum on a quiet weekday -- Many times, many cities, many states.
35. Play hide-and-seek -- Every day for the last 4 years. If I'm out of sight, she's seeking.
36. Play a board game -- yes37. Do nothing whatsoever all day -- as often as possible
38. Try a sport -- Does miniture golf count?? She can play the heck out of some mini-golf.
39. Watch a sporting event -- does track count?40. Learn to swim -- Although she does not know HOW to swim, we can't keep her out of the water.
41. Be tickled in hysterics -- From day 142. Paint and draw as much as desired --
43. Have the use of scissors and glue -- yes
44. Display artworks and other creations around the house -- and everyone else's house she can get her hands on.45. Learn to use a camera (and keep an album of the results!) -- no
46. Play with clay -- She likes playdough better. Not sure why.
47. Pick flowers -- Blue Bonnets and Primrose every spring in Texas.
48. Climb a tree -- Don't think so.
49. Gaze at the moon and stars -- yes
50. Toast marshmallows -- yes - when camping and at a friend's with a fire pit in the back yard
51. Learn to eat an ice-cream cone - no
52. Watch a sunset- she has no interest, I've tried
53. Learn to write her own name -- yes
54. Learn her address and telephone number -- no
55. Learn her parents' full names -- yes
56. Set the table -- helps
57. Clear the table -- helps
58. Help wash the dishes -- when we will let her - NOT helpful
59. Learn to say their pleases and thank yous and excuse mes --yes
60. Watch fireworks -- no - she doesn't like loud noises
61. Go to the ballet or theater or a puppet show -- only in small, quiet locations
62. Put on a ballet or play or puppet show at home --
63. Face paint -- a favorite
64. Dress up in costumes at will -
65. Learn rhymes and poems and songs by heart -- mostly Bible school stuff66. Have a dance party -- yes
67. Enjoy friends at preschool and at the park -- preschool no, park yes
68. Invite friends over to play -- Her first play buddy was An-Ling. We really miss her!
69. Get to know grandparents -- Yes.70. Play with cousins -- Yes.
71. Become attached to a wonderful preschool teacher and/or babysitter - no. Has only tolerated babysitters, church, etc for just over a year.
72. Learn the name of our president - no
73. Know the name of their town, state and country -yes and China too
74. Be familiar with a map of the world.- sort of
75. Listen to music from many different ages and genres -- yes
76. Hear and learn words from a different language -- yes (Chinese)
77. Learn the difference between trash and recycling -- yes
78. Grow their own vegetables -- currently doing so
79. Learn to ride a bike (or try!) - with trainging wheels only.
80. Take a road trip -- too many to count!! South Dakato was really fun!
81. Draw a self-portrait - always
82. Slurp alphabet soup- NO , bad manners
83. Learn to twirl spaghetti on a fork - I wish she would eat spaghetti.
84. Pick apples
85. Star in a home movie - from day 1
86. Learn a magic trick - Stealing the hearts of mommy and daddy at first sight.
87. Try different hair-dos - Well, that requires hair. Hair is a rather new arrival on our scene.
88. Practice writing letters - yes89. Practice counting to 100 - not that high
90. Make up stories - all the time
91. Send a letter - tried
92. Receive a letter -- Yes. From her Nano and the orphanage director in China
93. Ride on a merry-go-round - don't think so but maybe
94. Give away toys and books to less fortunate children -yes
95. Learn the value of coins and bills - no - its all just money
96. Keep a piggy bank -yes
97. Try a musical instrument
98. Have a heartfelt wish granted -If having a family after being in an orphanage counts.
99. Have a heartfelt wish denied -- For her grandfather to get well.
100. Receive a million (make that a billion) heartfelt kisses and hugs from their parents! -- YOU KNOW IT!! Just look at those lips!
Love it! And the alligator totally counts. It REALLY does.
ReplyDeleteI love it! I may have to borrow that for my page. My first is about to finish kindergarten... I am feeling very full of memories lately.
ReplyDeleteWow. 100 things is a LOT. I'm impressed that you have pictures to go with almost half of them!!
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how many of those things my kindergartener can do now that she couldn't do at the beginning of the school year. Great list!
Hi Autumn--I love this list. Wow you put a lot of time into finding all those pictures. I'd say Steffi has done most of these things too. It is a lot of fun getting ready for kindergarten. Today Steffi wanted to fly a kite and asked about it all morning--I kept on trying to tell her there wasn't any wind. But we went outside anyway and she ran around with that kite and made it fly! Kids have a perserverence that amazes me.
ReplyDeleteThis is fabulous!! About some of them:
ReplyDelete4. She touched a rabbit. Remember Cocoa?
45. I used disposable cameras with my girls. Then she won't have to touch yours!
46. It is pobably a texture thing. M still hates the feel of clay.
71. Me? When you lived here, although I didn't really babysit. But she began calling me "My Tricia" right before you moved. Does that count?
Love it and linking to it in for this week's "Neighborly Advice." Watch for it under the "Up in the Treehouse" category
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think it's a good list for young or old.
Glad I found you, too.
Neighbor Nancy
I love that picture of An Ling and her! We miss you all so much also! Let us know next time your in FL so we can see if we can get together.
ReplyDeleteRemember our cat. How can you get her to touch a cat after getting scared from the eyes?
I have got to call you about this list. How can you handle a room like hers? I can't let it get that far. Speaking of hair doo's, An Ling last year figured out ponies, always does my hair, and is now working on braiding!
I've known lots of kids who haven't done many of those things even though they are older. I had 1 8th grader who was only going to the beach for the 2nd time last year! Pretty sad. They need all these activities to have the background knowledge to be successful in school. An Ling can't write her name yet, though she loves to write and want to know how to spell everything. She does draw portraits, to the exacting detail. She's put my butt on the back of the paper too! Ha!
You have some great pictures! I still need to put mine away from before China!
Also, I can't find our home videos. It makes me so sick. Especially the China ones and the baby/toddler videos.
Talk to you soon!
Mary