Cyril's First Day of Preschool

Just because I'm a glutton for punishment I thought I'd post again today to lighten the mood over here, only kidding, I love all my readers and my previous post was meant to be about me making positive changes in my life to be happier but as usual I dug a massive hole and then made it deeper.

Apologies once again but let's not forget the reason this blog started. It began all because of this cutie right here and my desire to keep my friends and family in America informed about what was going on in our lives. So although I want to cut back on my posts I don't want to cut out my friends or family so I'll do my best to keep you up to date without causing controversy.

One thing the Brits do better then the Americans in my opinion is the school uniform. Not only does he look unbelievably adorable but it also cuts out the hassle of picking out clothes in the morning and I'm pretty sure every mother and father would rejoice about this. Another pro to living in England is that the government pays for their schooling from the time they are 3 until they enter Kindergarten/Reception, how amazing is that?

He loves that there is a squirrel on his sweater (jumper) 

*Cyril is not actually in full uniform yet as his disorganised mother has only just found out where to buy the grey pants from and according to my friend Robyn, black skater vans are not uniform approved, too cool for school I guess.

Anyway, his first day went pretty smooth. When I dropped him off he clung to both of my legs so that I couldn't walk and held his rabbies up to his face. This was a little bit of a surprise since he had been in nursery 2 days a week for the past year. He begged me to stay and I told him I would pick him up right before lunch. The tears started to pool in his eyes until Miss Gallagher said, "We're going to look at the farm soon, would you like to come?" He immediately threw his rabbies across the room, let go of my legs, and excitedly shouted, "Want to look at farm NOW!" I was given the fastest kiss ever as he ran outside.

When I came to pick him up he was holding hands with a little boy on the sofa and his eyes pooled with tears again as he screamed, "No Mummy, don't want to go home, want to go have lunch with my friends." This too was a bit of a shock.

Also as a side note he calls it pee school, haha.

I don't want this to be a super long post so these are the 10 reasons we chose Hunter Hall:

1. The classrooms are converted farm buildings and there is a working farm behind the school. The children are often invited to the farm to watch lambing and the various other day to day runnings that go on. Since I grew up on a farm we both kind of have a soft spot for tractors.
2. Friday is forestry day. The younger children spend the day in the forest on site learning outdoor skills while the older children are taken into the lake district for mountain biking, rock climbing, orienteering, backpacking, etc. I am beyond jealous.
3. As part of their playground they have a mountain biking trail.
4. The teachers are specialists in their subject.
5. Love of learning comes before anything else and they don't officially start homework until third grade.
6. They help grow food for the kitchen.
7. They have their own art studio and pottery wheel.
8. The children have swimming lessons at the local pool.
9. I felt like I was part of a big family when I toured the school.
10. All of the children were smiling and so were the teachers.

No joke this is how Cyril thinks you're supposed to smile. Not sure where the wink came from but it's pretty amazing, haha. Sage is being her usual chilled out self but is secretly thinking, "Woman will you get me in the damn car so I can have my nap already it's bloody freezing out here!"

OK mom last shot right? Oh wait I just had a poop. No, you did not have a poop!