On the first day of school...

It was so nice to have the extra helping hands of Pop & Nana here for the first day of school. Jeremy had a typical day at the office, so Nana filled in as the official "first day of school photographer" for the pictures I was included in! 

My little Major. He started kindergarten as a four year old. He was a champ and very excited. Love him to pieces!

 

 My little princess. All that spunk wrapped up in a sweet little package, and off to first grade! Unbelievable! Mini-me!

 Thanks to Nana, I made a picture!

 And a typical morning, off to school on our bicycles.

 We parked our wheels and helmets were off.

 Ella Grace quickly found her friend Megan.

 Major & I waited in the cafeteria to be dismissed to his class. We sorta missed the group as they excited (we were supposed to be dismissed in classes but everyone just kind of went....), we made it, though!

 

Day Two

 

 Day Three

 Day Four

Day four was also a Mommy Day. A couple friends and I headed out to the beach immediately after drop-off and made it back in time for pick-up. What an awesome way to celebrate the beginning of school, with some special quiet time looking at this beautiful view. How can you see this an not believe in God?!

Kinder Camp

Major had Kinder Camp on August 6 and 7 at what we can now call "his" school. We rode our bikes to school so he could get used to it again. He did really good, and had such a fun time. Each day they had two different teachers and visited all of the seven kindergarten classes through the course of the two days.

 

On the second day they made little pizzas for snack. This really helped pump him up for kindergarten!

After kindercamp on Tuesday we headed to the pool for a little while. Good days!

August 10th was Open House. Nana/Mom went with me to drop off the school supplies and go into each classroom. 

We went with Major first to his teacher Ms. G's class. First, he had his picture made in front of the coconut tree (Chicka Chicka Boom Boom).

Ms. G had a surprise in his cubby (and he had gotten a cookie from the cafeteria staff!)

 

 Then he warmed up to have his picture made with his teacher. I think this is going to be a great fit for him. His teacher is so sweet!

 

Next, we went to Ella Grace's class. She was being a little bashful/silly and didn't really want pictures made.

 This is her desk! No more tables!

Her classroom has tons of reading spaces and books. So fun!

 Here she is with her teacher, Mrs. H, and her senior intern, Miss P.

Ella Grace should have a great year, too. It's such an important year for developing her reading skills and beginning to take tests. She'll be great!

it's wedding day!

We did nails last night.

And toes.

She got her hair did this morning.

It was a ponytail with lots of ringlets.

It's wedding day. And she's a flower girl.

Mr. Q and Ms. U are getting married.

I know I'll cry, and it won't be about the letters being joined together.

More later on the alphabet getting hitched.

Her first field trip

Have you ever seen someone this happy to ride a school bus?

Ella Grace has ALWAYS loved buses and couldn't wait to ride one. Way back when I was at home on bedrest with Major she would watch the school bus pick up kids in our neighborhood with Nana and me, and boy would she wave and watch! It was the highlight of her mornings back then! She did ride the Crimson Ride with Mr. Landon and Mrs. Ashley - but it wasn't a yellow cheeser, either!

Tuesday, baby girl went on her first field trip as a kindergartener. They took a trip to the local Publix. You should have heard the cheers on the bus when the driver pulled into the shopping center!

We went through the meat department - saw how meat is cut, packaged and labeled. We walked through a couple of coolers (meat and dairy), saw inside the produce cooler.

Have you ever wondered what we look like in hair nets? Well, you are in luck!

We saw how they cut & core pineapple and even got to sample a bite!
And at the bakery we watched a small cake get iced...so fun!


The pharmacist showed the kids how similar medicine and candy look.
And what field trip is complete without a picnic lunch and some park time?

It was a great day, really.

I was thankful I was able to go, and thankful for Major's girlfriend's momma for letting me drop him off with her and for being available to pick him up. Luckily I was there just in time to get him, though.

Morning with Mom!

The PTA at Ella Grace's school hosted Morning with Mom earlier this month.


The dads came and served doughnuts, juice & coffee to the moms and kids. I took both kids up there and we enjoyed a doughnut together...well, I take that back. I enjoyed holding their doughnuts and talking to our neighbor and her daughter while my kids ran off with Ella Grace's friends. Get used to it, right?!


And when it was time to leave, my Major-man didn't want to go. He was having fun with Ella Grace at her school and with her friends. Oh, my!

Picture Day

Yesterday afternoon when I picked up Major from school, a few of his friends were going to the park across the street so we decided to join them (including his "girlfriend" Alana). There were six of us moms sitting there and little ones running up. I had just met the two moms I did not know. Then one chimed in "Oh! I didn't realize you were a mom. I thought you were her (Alana's mom) daughter! You look so young!"

Wow! Flattered I was. But talk about awkward! Alana's mom said "And I look old!?" all in good humor!

Today was picture day for Ella Grace. I was able to volunteer in return for a voucher for free pictures! Yea! I took Major to a friends house (Matt). Major and Matt go to VPK together but are not in the same class. Conveniently, Matt has a sister named Zoe that is in kindergarten at Ella Grace's school, but they are not in the same class. So, I took Major to Matt's house and picked up Zoe, then took the girls to school with me. Matt and Zoe's Mom Maggie took the boys to school and picked them up.

It was really an easy day - lining kids up, passing out combs, etc., etc. I was able to see Ella Grace when she came in for her picture and then also during her lunch time. One of her little girl friends kept saying "Ella Grace, your mom is cute!". So funny! I guess that is a kindergarten expression.

I loved being in the school, being able to interact with the kids and teachers. I was even able to see two of the kids that I help "teach" (I really use that term loosely!) in choir on Wednesday nights.

All in all, it was a good day.

She did it!

Monday was her big day. She woke up on her own and got dressed. I made blueberry muffins, as requested, and she didn't touch one. She decided to wear her hair down, with no bow, but pulled it back herself before we left. But she was rocking her pink shoes! We had a great morning (with pictures for Mommy!).




Ella Grace rode her bicycle to school, while I pulled Major in the wagon.






It was H.O.T! We parked her bicycle and took her helmet off, I parked the wagon and the three of us walked in.

My baby girl was watching everything in this new place.


As we walked her in the lunch room I began to be overcome with tears. Luckily, Major started to ask what the stage was for and I was able to turn away from her - I couldn't stand it! I choked back my tears and we found a seat at her class table. We sat with her a few minutes, then went to check on lunch account business. She got settled again at the table and then it was time for Major and me to depart. She was such a big girl.

The tears started to flow again as I snapped a couple more pictures.


Then, Major & I made it to the PTA sponsored Boo-Hoo/Woo-Hoo Breakfast. I was on the Boo-Hoo team, if you didn't know. We were able to watch their morning announcements on television, hear from the assistant prinicpal who also read a book to the group. It was a sad, sad day.

But, she did great (no tears from her) and we made it through. On the way home, I told Major I missed her more and he said he did - he missed her to the sky and back and I missed her as big as our house. You can bet we were both glad to see her Monday afternoon!

We talked about what she did during the day - only colored one picture (which later turned in to "a lot of coloring", didn't play any (which turned in to visiting and playing on three playgrounds), and a lot of sitting. I asked if she had to listen, and she said "definitely a lot of listening!" Ella Grace also remembered two friends' names - Cheyenne and Camille.

Tuesday we dropped her off in the car line. She kissed me before she got out of the car and made it to the porch. As I started to leave I saw the principal move and say something. When I looked she had that arm reaching for me and the saddest face on! I felt so bad, but I continued - it only gets worse if you prolong it. The principal took her hand and walked her in.

That afternoon, I asked her why she cried and she just said she missed me. But, she also had to take her lunch money. She told me it was "fun" to pay for her lunch. She had chicken nuggets on Tuesday which is her favorite AND she got the chocolate milk. She has said, though, that she doesn't like drinking out of the milk carton. Ella Grace came home with two pictures - Jesse Bear and a poem from The Kissing Hand. She also remembered two more friends names'.

Oh, to be a kindergarten-er again!

Oh, I can't believe tomorrow is her big day! I am not ready for this. I know she is, though. My tears started flowing before bed time and she reassured me it was okay. Then, she told me she was going to miss me and cried a wee little bit. And Major chimed in and said "I'm going to miss Ella Grace." Big changes for all of us.

Tonight, she had her bath, we painted her nails (pink with a coat of sparkles), I ironed her clothes and she told me how she wanted her hair fixed in the morning. We are planning to walk to school and, hopefully, Major & I will be able to stay for the "Boo-Hoo/Whoo-Hoo Breakfast". She has wanted really bad to take her lunch to school. I have encouraged her to try everything before we re-evaluate. I hope she likes school lunches!

I wonder who will have the biggest breakdown tomorrow morning?!



Ella Grace,


I know you are going to be such a success this year. Your fun, loving personality is going to stand out among your classmates.

You will charm your teachers and make fast-friends with your fellow kindergarten-ers. I pray you will be a friend to your shy classmates, stand up for others and be a good example, that you will always do what is right.
You know Mommy & Daddy love you to the moon and back, you always have a friend in Jesus.

My baby girl, you have grown way too quickly. I hope tomorrow is a fabulous day, and much easier on you than me.

I want kindergarten to be everything you hope it will be.


Much love, Gracie-Lou-Who!
Mommy