Graduation

June.

All over the city, province and country, thousands of students are finishing one chapter of their lives and getting ready to move on to the next one. Graduation. Emmett donned his best duds, and he and his pals at preschool/daycare celebrated in style, as they all get ready to move on to Kindergarten in September. The ceremony had certificates, mortarboards, songs, several dozen parents and a sandwich bar for lunch. Fortunately, it was void of the "lobster-in-the-toilet" prank.

Preschool curriculum

A fairly average, typical month in the life of Emmett the preschooler. An educational curriculum, balancing language, social and group activities.

Can't wait to hear what Emmett learns on Monday, March 31...

Picture day

Unlike last year's vegetable shortening fiasco, this year's school photographer did a much better job of capturing the real Emmett. Oh, except for the fact that he kind of resembles a door-to-door Bible salesman. That's new.

The best parts of the day

During a particularly crummy year, Emmett finds a way to make his parents smile on a regular basis. He doesn't say much, but first thing in the morning, he endears them with his "Oh-low", "Oh-low's" (translation, "Hello").

But end of day is even better. Each day, every day, when they arrive to pick Emmett up, he greets them with this reaction...

Imagine if your co-workers/spouse/friends greeted you like this? Truly, the best part of the day.

And the crowd goes wild

Emmett registers his first-ever hat trick when, at 2:30 of the third period, he puts his third puck in the, er, net.

The comb is mightier than the tuque

Having never had a haircut, Emmett's hairdo on any given day might be described as 'cheveux chaotique'.

Following a daycare drop-off with his usual foofy-do Emmett magically appears in his first-ever school photos, much to his parents' dismay, with moron Crisco head.

Thanks to Bill Watterson for some of his best work. Faithful old Calvin & Hobbes fans, check out the full Crisco hair sequence. Amazing how this stuff just doesn't get old.

Emmett's first 'report' card

Emmett has survived his first week of daycare. In fact, Emmett appears to be unfazed by the change, and barely says goodbye to his dad in the morning before crawling off to play with his new friends Kingston, Hugo, Cate, Katherine and Nolan. Emmett's mom has survived her first week back to work (barely). Unlike Emmett, she is a bit stunned and incoherent back in the land of adults. Fortunately, her boss does not give out daily reports like the caregivers at daycare do.

(and yes, she was insanely jealous to discover that Emmett got a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch on his first day).

It seems Emmett has learned a few new tricks from his new daycare pals, including how to style his own hair...

use the toilet...

and how to transfer blocks from one place to another.

If only they could teach him how to wipe his own nose.