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International Peace Day saw Cian's school put together a "Peasce Protest" in downtown Portland.
Every kid made a "Pinwheel for Peace" and then amidst the Friday evening downtown traffic they staged a sit-in along the park blocks with each kid planting their pinwheel in the grass.
A slap in the face for our usual apathy. (Photos below)
So we took an early morning tour of one of the local cemeteries here today. Cian had been asking questions about it whenever we walked past, so we decided it'd be different to go and check it out.
The Lone Fir cemetery is famous for having an almost secret arboretum within its grounds -- so we had a guided tour of the cemetery and its trees - hosted by Portland parks and Rec.
It seems families planted trees beside graves in memory of their loved ones, so the cemetery has become a haven for maples, douglas firs, ginko trees, dogwoods, oaks etc. It was a really different and fun way to pass the morning.
Highly recommended.
Here are some of the shots:
So general mayhem has started -- our local soccer club started their soccer practice for Kindergarteners (Kick and Chase they call it).
Picture 75 5-year olds running around the pitch and that should esily sum up the mayhem.
Anyway below are some photos of the session which are worth comparing to the April 2006 soccer photos we posted:
So it had to happen sooner rather than later, right?
I was dropping Cian off to school this morning (his first full week of school) and as I left he got upset.
Now, not the melt down, angry, frustrated upset, but more of a gentle, shy, "please don't leave" breakdown. He was embarassed to be in the classroom with his new friends and getting upset but he just couldn't stop the tears welling up.
He whispered and sniffled and cried. "I want you to stay..."
Broke my heart as I left the room.
I knew this was going to happen -- I just didn't fully realize it'd be this heart wrenching.
So I feel I am a little obligated to stick up some photos of Cian's first week at school.... It has been a good week -- he has really taken to it and seems to be enjoying it. We got a copy of the school handbook on our first day -- and one of the sections is "Homework Policy: Homework will be kept to a minimum and will not be like traditional homework". You gotta love that! Anyway here are photos (click on the play icon (arrow) below: