C.J. - Years Four and Five

In September C.J. went back to school and was ecstatic to see his teachers again. This year he went for three days a week...two and a half hours each day.  Notice he's doing a puzzle?  He was seriously in love with them.

He was still the smallest in his class but loved going to school and definitely loved his teachers...and I'm pretty sure they loved him too.

That winter we were able to escape the cold weather and visit my parents in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas where they rented a condo for the month of February.

We spent a lot of time at the community pool and this was the first time C.J. showed any interest in being in the water.  We also visited St. Louis on the way home.
Toward the end of the school year, we got notice of a Kindergarten screening.  I was sure there would be no problem with C.J. since he was already telling time and could sound out words already.  Unfortunately, the screener brought him back with a frown on her face and said the only thing she could get him to say to her was his name.  He was awfully shy.

at least with people he didn't know

That summer he played t-ball.  He didn't like it though, because his coach kept calling him Christopher. Again, too shy to tell the coach to call him C.J. instead.

He also played soccer but didn't like the crowds of kids around the ball so he tended to run parallel to the activity a lot of the time.

For his fifth birthday he decided on a Kermit cake and Carey came through with another gorgeous cake.

And at his five year check-up his stats were:

Weight: 32 pounds (fully clothed)
Height: 39 inches

We made the decision (mostly based on his size) that summer to send C.J. back to his beloved teachers for one more year of preschool.

He started out going M-W-F mornings but after a couple weeks I just felt as if he wasn't fitting in.  It was a big class (number wise) and C.J.  was too shy to assert himself so I made another decision...to switch him to the afternoon class - with only 10 kids.  Best decision I ever made! 

He blossomed into this funny, talkative, interactive kid.  And he was the center of attention between the two girls in the class. 

He got a Sesame Street memory game for Christmas that year and it became a night time tradition to play it before bed time.  No need to limit the number of matches for him.

 As the school year ended, we were forced to say goodbye to Mrs. Rasmussen and Mrs Jensen.  And unfortunately, they also had to say goodbye to the school as it as closing.

They were such wonderful teachers and you could just see their faces light up when the kids walked in.


C.J. played soccer again that summer and he did real well when he played goalie.  he still didn't like to "mix it up" with the group of kids.  C.J. actually posed like this and said "this is how I want my picture taken."  So...they did.

No more shy guy for him.

His 6 year stats were:
Weight: 35 pounds (less than 3%)
Height: 41 inches (less than 3%)
And ready for kindergarten.