Confession time

Okay, time to confess. Although Addie's first half-day of Kindergarten was easy for me, the first full day was not so much. We had planned to drop her off ourselves at school for the first few days, but at the parent meeting on Monday night, we were asked to use Thursday as a day to start their routines since they'd have extra helpers at the school to help. So, we decided to do just that. Because our work days begin at 8 a.m. (roughly :)) and Addie's school begins at 8:30 (with the doors to the school opening at 8:15), we decided to keep her enrolled at her daycare's before and after school program. She will ride the school bus to and from there. So now that I've given the background, back to Thursday ;)

We arrived at the daycare at our normal time and got the kids checked in. We knew the bus would be coming soon, so we decided to wait to be with Addie. Let's just say nothing can prepare you for seeing your five-year-old get on a school bus. Or maybe I should say nothing could prepare ME for seeing MY five-year-old get on a school bus. :)

Addie was so excited to ride the school bus. She climbed up completely fearless and with a huge grin on her face. I, on the other hand, started weeping immediately and didn't stop until I got to work. And the waterworks started back up every time I talked about it that day. She just looked so little! How did this happen?

Of course I worried all day that she would have trouble making it to her class and back on the bus that afternoon. To say I was relieved to hug her happy little self that afternoon is a huge understatement. But her happiness was shortlived and soon we were dealing with tears. What made her cry? Hearing that she had to wait until Monday to ride the bus again :) Love my sweet little big girl!

The Big Day!

Do I really have a kindergartener? Seriously?!

Addie has been so excited for the past few weeks about starting Kindergarten. We went school supply shopping a few weeks ago (note: NOT a good idea because we ended up having to go back for Rounds 2 and 3 because SOMEONE kept getting into her supplies...and I can't blame her...). We made a paper chain countdown so that she could have a more visible and tangible reminder as to how far away Kindergarten was. She was thrilled! She loved ripping each chain off every morning (well, she stopped this past week because it was easier for her to understand one week :)).

Anyway, last night I went to the Kindergarten Parent Orientation at her school and found out that one of her good friends from preschool was in the same class as Addie. I texted my mom to have her tell Addie, and by the time I got home a couple of hours later, Addie was bouncing off the walls with excitement! We chose her outfit last night and she reluctantly went to bed (after asking me allll about her new teacher).

This morning was a little hectic as John Michael was out of town, but we got Landon taken to preschool after lots of pictures and a few fits of him wanting to go to Kindergarten, too. Sweet boy. :)

Addie and I arrived at her school a little early and had to sit in the car for about five minutes. She kept asking to go inside over and over again. Finally, when it was 8:10 (the school opens its doors at 8:15), we got out of the car and took lots of pictures. One of Addie's first daycare friends was there with her parents (who we've become friends with) and so we took pictures of them together. Then Addie's friend Emma (the little girl in her class) got there so we took some more! Then it was time to go inside - hooray!

I have to say, Addie's excitement made everything so easy and I wasn't the least bit teary. That is, until we went inside and a teacher saw Addie and said to someone else, "Aw, look at the cute curly-headed girl! She's so little!" I then got choked up. She is still so tiny, it really is hard to believe that she is a Kindergartener! But Addie was barreling through the school, so that moment was fleeting :)

We made it to her classroom and we were the first ones there. Addie acted timid for a split second and then was off to check things out. I honestly think she forgot I was there - ha! By the time I left (seriously, no longer than five minutes after we got there) she was already sitting with her friend Emma and was talking to another little girl. I had to call her over to me to say goodbye. Now I know how my mom felt when she said I called her over on my first day of Kindergarten and said, "Mommy, you can go now." HA!

Today was just a half-day for the girls; boys go a half-day tomorrow, then girls go a full day Thursday and boys go a full day Friday - they all start together on Monday. I went in to work for a couple of hours and then headed back to pick her up a little after noon. Her teacher brought her to the car and she said, "She is just about the sweetest thing I have ever seen! I wanted to just pick her up and squeeze her!" So not only is she cute, but she's good at fooling people, too. ;) Seriously though, she is precious and I was so proud to see that her teacher realized it on the first day.

Addie told me all about her day on the way to meet Mimi for lunch and it sounds like she had a blast! By the time we got home from lunch, she was already figuring out what to pack in her backpack for her first full day on Thursday. She has also already packed her snack. Too cute!

Her teacher seems absolutely wonderful and we are so excited for the school year. We're just hoping her eagerness continues!