Field Trip to Botanical Center

Summers at Kids Company are super fun.  Each Friday the kids get to go on field trips to different parks, and some weeks they get to go on two field trips.  This week was one of those double field trip weeks and it was to the Botanical Center, which happens to be a short drive from my work.  I was fortunate to have a pretty open day on Tuesday, and with my flexible schedule I was able to sneak over and meet Henry.  It makes Henry so happy when I attend, and I love helping out and seeing him interact with all his little friends.  This trip was extra special because Grandma Deaner was in town - so Henry had his mom AND Grandma along!

Check out this adorable Penguin class!

Grandma Deaner came along!

Craft time. 

Checking out the turtles on our scavenger hunt.

Henry and his buddy Cole.

The problem I encounter with attending Henry's field trips is he gets very sad when it is time for him to get back on the bus to head back to school, instead of being able to go with mommy.  So that is one thing I need to work on better, prepping him for mommy's departure.  He told me he wasn't sad for long though and next time (since he of course asks me to come on every trip) he will not be sad, so mommy can come on more trips! 

Field Trip Volunteer

I knew Henry's preschool class was taking a trip to the apple orchard this fall, so the second I saw the sign go up that volunteers were welcome, I jumped on it.  Working full time I miss out on some of the stuff they get to do, but I am so fortunate to have a flexible job that if special occasions come up at school I can block off my calendar, get away from work and attend.  I wouldn't work full time if I wasn't able to do that, and I make it very clear at work that my family is and always will be my first priority.  Plus, I've been around for quite a while now, so most people know that about me.  So today I finished up my meetings at 10am and drove up to Center Grove to meet 40 other 3/4/5 year olds at the apple orchard. 

Henry's favorite - the tractor ride!

We walked around and saw and learned about different animals.  Our tour guides name was Kaye and she did a great job keeping the kids entertained.  And aren't those matching green shirts just hilarious??!!  Henry's was a dress on him!  They had Kids Company on them with their phone number - very smart. 

The huge jumping pillow.  This one made me a little nervous with 24 kids jumping on it!!  Only one kid got a minor bump to the chin, which is pretty good considering how close they had to jump next to each other!

The kids loved the corn pool the most.  They had so much fun running and swimming around in it.  It is so much fun watching these kids grow up together - Henry has been with the same kids for almost 2 years!!

The Turtle room.  Audrey, Nathan, Henry, Aiden, Dylan, Charlie, Kaitlyn and Kota.

I even jumped in for a short while. 

Corn pile.

All in all it was a great time.  The weather was super hot, and some of the kids had long sleeves and pants on and were just dying of heat.  The other thing was they were all so thirsty.  So note to self for next year - pack Henry a water bottle not just a juice box that he drinks and lunch and throws away.  Another lesson learned was talking to Henry about what my plan was for the day instead of just surprising him and showing up.  Andy and I talked to him last night about how I was just meeting them up there and not riding the bus, so that way when I went to leave, he knew I wasn't riding on the bus back with him.  It worked well, and though he came close to a crying breakdown, he held it together and was so strong!  So proud of my big boy.

Henry's 1st Field Trip

The summer program started at daycare a few weeks ago.  Now that Henry is in preschool, that means field trips every Friday!  So he had his first trip, on a big, yellow, school bus.  I wasn't able to be there for the pick up at school, but was able to sneak away from work to meet him at the park and see him play for a bit and then load the bus back to school. 

If I would have known how emotional Henry was going to be when he saw me, I may not have come.  I didn't tell him I was going to come, since I wasn't sure I was going to be able to make it.  So he was very surprised when he saw me.  His excitement soon turned to tears, which then made me cry and luckily I had my sunglasses on.  I am such a weeny mom.  Here he is lined up with his friends waiting to load the bus.

As soon as I told him it was time to get on the bus he went right away.  I was nervous he was going to cling onto my leg and insist on coming home with me.  Such a big boy climbing into the bus all by himself!

Sitting by the window waving goodbye to me. 

Sitting on one of the teachers laps trying to hold back his tears.  I mean if that doesn't make you cry then I don't know what will - right??

Hard to believe he is already riding school buses!  He is growing up too fast!!  I love that daycare does this each Friday.  Henry helps us pack his Toy Story lunch box each Thursday night, and really looks forward to the bus ride and day at the park.  We are so happy with Kids Company and am so happy we decided to make the switch here last March. 

Maybe I'll try another visit in a few weeks to see if we both hold up a little better emotionally....