I’ve been exploring my inner-artist a lot lately and today I got to show it off at school along with some of my friends. Now, keep in mind I could have probably gone the safe and simple route in drawing a cat, but I decided to add my own little touch. I decided to draw in green – not because that was the only color my teacher gave me, but because I felt that truly captured my feeling at the time. I wasn’t feeling envious either. I just felt that was the color that moved me at the time. Before you go thinking that Brock is the next Van Eyck and my cat doesn’t make sense, understand that the teacher actually drew his hat because he didn’t know how to draw one. And my inspiration was more Matisse meets Picasso meets Van Gogh with two ears that is.
….field tripping that is. Yesterday was my first ever field trip. We went to the Chestnut Square Historic Village’s pumpkin patch. I was so excited about this trip that was was counting down for like 2 weeks. And when the day came, I was ready to go. I didn’t give my mommy a hard time getting ready for school. As a matter of fact, I was rushing her to get going. My folks were a little nervous about my first field trip and all. Daddy kept telling me that if they left me in the van, I was suppose to scream at the top of my lungs and bang on all the windows. I asked him why I wouldn’t just open the door.
Anyway, we got to do all kinds of cool things at Chestnut Square – scavenger hunts, petting zoos, face-painting, lunch, etc. I tried to feed the goats, but they were too full so I was standing there with food in my hand. Not so bad since the alternative was goat spit. All in all it was a great day and a great first field trip.
This is proof that I did hold up my end of the bargain with my folks to take my picture. Like I said, the poses I had and smile originally was much better than this, but this is what happens when the photographer misses his window of opportunity – it’s all about timing. Instead of getting the whole big “cheese” smile, he got something more like the Mona Lisa – not bad company if you ask millions of art scholars and fans.
Anyway, this may not land me a toothpaste commercial or anything, but my folks sure are proud of me for getting up there and taking my picture. I was nervous, but I was still brave enough to do it….for a price that is – show me the money toys!
So all of those hanging in suspense as to whether I would take a picture on picture day at school Friday – the answer is an emphatic YES!
I had been telling my mommy and daddy all week that they needed to make sure I looked handsome for my picture Friday, but not sure they believed I would go through with it since I’ve said that before and not followed through. This time, however, they upped their incentive – no limit Toys R Us trip for all little boys named Parker who not only took a picture, but smiled – that’s where I come in. I got up there and smiled my little rear end off. I was thinking a more candid smile, but they wanted something more posed so I rolled with whatever they said to hold up my end of the bargain so I could get paid. Keep in mind, my folks were willing to resort to bribery because I have only taken my picture professionally since my one year old pictures unless you count the one where I barely looked up and kept my hat on. So this way, everyone gets what they want – win/win.
A lot of people have been asking how my school is going and the short answer is that it is going GREAT! I’m totally into learning and we do a lot of that so I really enjoy the whole experience. I really like writing on the board when they ask me how to write certain letters, count how many pennies are on the board, etc. I have really made a concerted effort to show the teacher what I know – I think she’s impressed, therefore she is.
I also get my name on the board every day, but for us that is a good thing. You only get your name on the board if you behave and do things right – hands to yourself, stand in line, listen, raise your hand, etc. I’ve gotten my name on the board every day, except when the teacher forgot to write it up there. I’m trying to get the record books changed to reflect that because I don’t want my perfect record to be tarnished by the incompetence of someone else.
Nevertheless, I really like my teacher. She is super sweet and not all up in my grill – she knows I need about 10 minutes in the morning to get going before I want people coming up to me. BTW this may seem like a while, but keep in mind when I first started going to this place it took me about an hour, then it went to 3o minutes and now it’s down to 10 minutes so I am evolving.
Having some of my homies I’ve known for a couple of years also makes the whole experience even that much more fun and enjoyable for me. Below is a clip of us in my class and in our after school class.
Oh, BTW picture day is Friday – stay tuned to see whether or not I actually take pics this time around.
Today is the first day of the rest of my life and this day will take place in Private Kindergarten – similar to Kindergarten, but for young ones like me and my friends whose parents aren’t ready to let them go.
Anyway, Private K is different from what I’ve been doing because it is going to be a lot more learning and work. I’m excited to get started – I woke up early with a smile on my face and was rushing mommy to get us there in time. Once we got there, I showed mommy my new room. There are a lot of books, computers, a stage for puppet shows, a fish, and a turtle (tortuga in Español). I also have like 5 of my close homies with me and some new ones for me to train – hopefully my other homies will help the newbies learn how I like things to run.
We still get to take a nap for an hour if we want to. Daddy keeps telling me that he wishes he had to take a nap every day. I think that’s kind of silly, but mommy wishes she could too so it must be tiring being an adult, because it couldn’t be tiring being my mommy and daddy, right?
Anyway, with all the new and exciting stuff, there is one major life change I am making – I am not bringing Mama Lion to school with me anymore. Now understand, ML has been by my side since I was a kid. I mean she was one of the first things I remember. She has slept with me every day of my life; gone every place I have gone even if she just stayed in the car. We’ve sailed the seas, flown the friendly skies, gone on road trips,and traveled internationally together – and I’m not just talking about Georgia. Now, she will stay home by herself while I grow up. She will have to trust that I will be safe because she no longer can watch over me and protect me from anyone or anything. She must have faith that others will treat me well and include me in their games. She will have to rely on someone else to care for me during the day and hear from them if my tummy hurts. She’ll have to believe that she will be the first one I hug when I get home. And she will have to find comfort in the fact that she will be the first one I say good morning to and the last one I say goodnight to, both with a hug and a kiss.
As much as she will miss me, I will miss her. She has been my security blanket forever, but I am growing up. That doesn’t mean I will forget though. The video below is a little look back on our time together.
(Side note: I also have a Daddy Lion, but he isn’t nearly as important to me as Mama Lion and I can tell them apart in a second.)
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