sending her off

This year I broke my keep-my-babies-at-home-until-they-are-three mantra and sent our youngest off to preschool.  I questioned myself for months leading up to her first day of preschool.  Being the youngest, we decided that she needed a little more, a little earlier than her siblings.  

Off she went with a backpack filled to the brim with diapers, spare clothing, a water bottle and her lunch tote.  She stayed with no tears as I jetted out of a packed room with anxious parents and crying children.  As I left, I wondered if they knew her name and who she was.  Did they know she was mine and not some younger sibling that had gotten lost roaming the halls?  She doesn't even say her name yet.  I almost turned back but decided that it was best if I just left.  Turing back might complicate things for the both of us.  

Before we left for school, I reminded her to be kind to all the other children.  She immediately pointed to her hair and I said, "Yes, please don't pull anyone's hair.  That hurts."  She nodded and seemed to understand everything I said to her.  As I turned out of the parking lot this morning, I said a little no hair-pulling prayer about my girl and hoped all her good traits would shine today.

Well, when I arrived to pick her up,  I could tell by the look on the assistant teacher's face that my dear child had been pulling hair.  I was very embarrassed and concerned that she didn't mind hair-pulling outside the confines of our home.  Despite my being upset about her hair-pulling report, she was eager to tell me about "sliding down" and "sand."  Underneath her little fingernails were filthy when I got her.  She had definitely been digging in the sand and dirt.

She arrived home and wanted to eat and play.  There is something calming about just playing at home for this child.  As she wound down from her first day at preschool, we read books and sang songs before nap-time.

Overall, it was a successful first day for both of us with no tears.  Whew!  Now, we just have to work on this nasty hair-pulling habit!

summer rains

There is nothing like a cool rain on a late summer afternoon.  It beckons to all the children on our street to come out and play.  Suddenly, everyone is barefoot in the street gutters chasing leaf boats down to the storm sewer.  

Their little games are effortless when accompanied by rare summer rainfall.

It has to be the best summertime treat around here!

first days

Her first days were a lovely mix of excitement, caution, wonder and all the energy her little mind and body could muster.  She seems to like school but is extremely happy to be home in the afternoons and just play...unstructured.  "Momma, can I just color and play in my kitchen?"  That is all she cared to do after school the other day.  Just play.

Having a child in kindergarten reminds me of those first exhausting days and weeks as a new mother.  Just take it day by day and in about 6-8 weeks things will run much smoother.  That seems to hold true for a newborn and a kindergartner.  We are all exhausted!

I love the little tidbits we get after school on the ride home.  They are so delightful to hear as she processes this new experience.

"Momma, I almost drank all the water out of my water bottle today!"

Momma, did you know that if I don't like the lunch you pack me, I can go up and wait in line for another lunch."

"I wanted to ride the bus home but my teacher told me that I had to ride home with you."

"Why are you waking me up so early?  It is still dark outside."

"Momma, I am trying my best all day and I didn't get a star up.  I am frustrated."

"I decided to leave my barrettes at school today in case you forget to fix my hair one morning.  I will have them there when you forget."

"Momma, will you please stop talking to me about my day and just turn some music on!"

Being the big kid on campus has been good for her this year.  She has taken great care to watch out for her little sister.  Having the opportunity to look after her has created such a special bond between these sisters.  Our big girl has a wonderful teacher this year and we are extremely grateful.  My girl seems motivated and happy about the year.  Earning classroom money for an end-of-9-weeks auction has peaked her interest and motivated her to try extra hard.  New hair-styles have popped up along with more opinions about her clothing.  I guess I didn't realize that most second graders had opinions about those sorts of things!  Ha!

Even though we are all exhausted, these first few days have been great for both my big girls.  I am happy they have had positive beginnings!

an early morning and quiet at home

Last night there were 2 pairs of shoes lined up beneath the old school desk that sits in our kitchen.  I walked by many times and was awestruck by 2 sets of shoes instead of the single pair set out on school mornings. 

Yes, this year 2 of them will go and 2 of us will stay.  

For some reason this time feels vastly different.  

Sending my first off to kindergarten didn't feel nearly this final or hard.  Perhaps it is because my second is so young or maybe it is just a major milestone that pulls at my heartstrings because it marks the swift passage of time.  Either way, these little sentimental moments and milestones force me to pause and remember how precious the time with my children is to me.

With her hand in Daddy's and her sisters behind, she marched up to school with a cheerful but slightly hesitant demeanor this morning.

She enjoyed having the entire family along for the start of a new day at school.

Her big sister was an amazing helper and encouraging presence as she talked her sister through all the day's events.

 I am delighted they will be together and have each other.

With these 2 gone, it has been very quiet around the house.  The quiet is sometimes soothing and other times eerie and unsettling.  The little tats, sweet imaginations and sisterly play were missed but we look forward to many afternoons with these wonderful sisters!

little lunch notes

via

It is fun to leave a little note in the lunchbox especially on the first few days of school.  I assume my little ones enjoy reading a note from home during their lunch time.  I think the act of writing a note does as much for me as it does for the little recipients reading it.  It soothes a Momma's soul and is a small way I can feel like I am a part of their day away. 

 Anyway, with school in full swing tomorrow, I though I'd share some of my favorite lunch box notes!

I love these because they include nice happy thoughts.

via Sarah Jane Studios

via Sarah Jane Studios

little conversations with her teacher

She waited patiently for her new teacher to call. Calmly playing Legos by the window, she asked, "when will my teacher call?" "We have been waiting for a long time." Time ticked ever-so-slowly as we checked many times to be sure the ringer was on.  She methodically built little Lego villages for all her princesses and their forest animals and set them up on the counter to be sure they weren't torn down by her little sister.

Finally the phone rang and she ran to answer.  All I heard was, "yea" a few times, followed by a few self-corrections of, "yes."  She looked up at me and said, "two-0-five."  "Momma, 205." "We need to go to 205!"  She waited for me to write the room number down before she continued her conversation with her new teacher.

After that, she explained to her teacher that she no longer had brown hair because it was changing to black.  I was a bit puzzled by this comment because we don't usually discuss the color of her hair.  

Then, it was my turn to talk as she excitedly handed the phone over to me and skipped around the kitchen island.  

She is excited and happy about a new beginning at a new school!  Whew!

I am too!

Three cheers for a great new year to come!  

Hot air on a summer morning

There is a wonderful hot air balloon festival that takes place at the break of dawn each year at the beginning of August.  Many balloons from around our area take flight over the lakes and greet the morning sun.  A few years back, it seemed like we were some of the only spectators that drug their kids out of bed on an early summer morning to see the majesty of balloon flight.  This year, there were do many people. Although, we definitely liked being some of the only spectators a few years back, it is always magical watching a majestic balloon take flight in the orange morning sun.