M's Last Day of PreK and First Days of Kindergarten

Thought I'd post this on her first day of Kindergarten for fun.

Here she is on her last day of PreK. The boys and I were dropping her off.

Here she on her way to her Open House that was last night. She loves her TMNT backpack. We met her teacher and she was able to see her classroom and drop off her supplies.

And...she now has a LOCKER. I was doing so well...I wanted to cry when the teacher told me we should go try out her locker though. She's too little for a locker...right?!?!?!?

She was so excited she got mad when we had to leave!

This morning, we headed to her first official day of Kindergarten!

We almost forgot to snap a picture with her Scooby Doo lunch box.

I wasn't too emotional about sending her to Kindergarten in part because she attended full-day PreK at the same school...so I knew we were both somewhat comfortable with the building (lunch room, recess, gym, etc.) and staff. I think it also helps that is a smaller school and she knew several of her classmates from last year.

There was a brief meeting for the parents. It was fun hearing about all the things they will be learning this year. Madison is really anxious to learn to read, and I can't wait to watch her discover how the letters and sounds makes words. I know she will be thrilled as she learns to read! They will have homework a couple times a week, too.

I may or may not have shed a tiny tear when I read this poem her teacher included in our packet of information.

Overall though...while it's definitely heart-wrenching watching your babies grow into children...it's also such a fun adventure to watch them learn and develop their independence as an individual. I am so excited to hear all her stories about her school days. She's a talkative little girl...and I know she's going to have a lot of fun and learn SO much.

Today she attended school with half of her classmates. The other half attends tomorrow (so she has the day off), and then she will be back with her whole class Friday.

She told me today she had fun. That she didn't have enough time to eat her Goldfish crackers at lunch. That her favorite part of the day was recess.

My Dad also asked her if she needed help with something this afternoon. Her reponse, "I can do it myself. I'm a Kindergartner now!"

A few of my random thoughts to end this:
1) I'm still kind of in denial that someone won't be walking her to her room and picking her up and signing her in and out every day. The teachers are meeting the children at the door...but eventually as the year goes on, they will be allowed to walk to their room alone. ALONE.
2) She's in Kindergarten. KINDERGARTEN
3) Did I mention I have a Kindergartner (is that word) now???!!!???
4) Ok, seriously...isn't she too young for a locker?

Foto Friday - Family Pictures by Madison

I just wanted to document Madison's progression with her family pictures. :)

I added our names. This first one was from 2014.


Her most recent one from early 2015. I love that she wrote, "Mom," and her brothers' first initials.

M's Second Year and Last Day of PreSchool AKA Pre-K

Madison started PreSchool last fall at Durant School. The school is located in the next town over and is Pre-School through 12th grade. So crazy to think of her graduating someday from here!!!

Anyways, here are a few photos from her last day at school this year. She had a wonderful teacher and two associates that she loves dearly. I know she will miss them next year.

She was able to do cheerleading two times - for a football game and a basketball game. She loved it and we also loved watching her.

In December she participated in a Christmas Program.

In May she had a Spring Music program and Art Show. I wasn't able to get a great shot of her while her class sang...but it was beyond adorable! Here she is pointing to her lollipop she created.

She made them pictures and thank you cards.

She was so excited to deliver her teachers their end of the year gift.

On her way to her last day of PreK!

Goofy girl!

Some of her friends - I wonder if we will capture this picture when they graduate high school someday! Ayi-i-i!


Each child was chosen for a special certificate for the year. M was presented with the "Always Smiling" award. Love it!

Congratulations, Madison! You're on to Kindergarten next year!!!

Josh had to work...but we were all here to celebrate with her!

Madison will move on to Kindergarten this fall...I can't believe it!!!

Foto Friday - 1986 and 2014

Pre-School graduation!

(I was 4 yrs. old in the picture.)

VIDEO Post - M's Hat Dance

On Friday M had her first performance on a stage for an audience!

It was International Week at her school, and her class learned about Mexico for the week. On Friday I was able to watch her and her class perform their "Mexican Hat Dance."

Enjoy!


How cute is she?!?!?
My favorite part is when she realizes she's crowding the little girl next to her, but quickly finds and gets back to her blue spot on the floor.

Daddy Goes to PreSchool!

So Friday was M's last day at school before her winter break, and it was also their holiday party day. Josh and I were happy to spend the morning with M, and I was so glad that Josh finally got to observe M at school. I'll let most of the pictures do the 'talking.'

Practicing writing her name. Josh and I were impressed!

Working on a holiday craft.

Making a snow globe.

Josh was a hit playing puppets with all the kids!

Alphabet Bingo with her friend Barrett's mama.

Visit from Santa!!!

We love her school and teachers SO much. She is so happy while she's there - which is so comforting for us.

M knows "The Pledge of Allegiance"

Wanted to save/share this here, too.

"And justice for August."

My favorite line!

Foto Friday - Fall Decor

Gotta love M's contributions to the fall decorations in our home!

I love her bats the most. She told me she made a Mommy Bat and a Baby Bat just like her and me.
What a sweetie!

M's Pre-School Update

So M has been in Pre-School for one month now. We are still adjusting. And, I think that's normal. But, I wanted to document a a few things quick.

On Days 2 and 3 she screamed and cried a lot when I left. :( She'd be fine walking in together and putting her back pack away. And then...the big crocodile tears would flow. It was heart breaking. I would just quickly say good bye, give a hug, and tell her I'd be back later, and leave. I had to leave quickly because I couldn't stand to see her like that. I'd worry the whole 3 hours how she was doing and if she was still upset. She was happy both of the days when I picked her up.

After that, she did much better with drop off. She would even tell me she wasn't going to cry as we were walking in. She had a small crying episode last Friday...but Josh dropped her off with me and he had just returned from working out of town so I think she was sad to see him go. As I said...we are still adjusting.

Here's her first Pre-School project sent home! A mouse. She talked most about using the glue stick and his blue nose.

She has been doing great otherwise. She hasn't had any potty accidents. She is always happy when I pick her up and screams, "Mama! Mama! Mama!" as soon as she spots me.

They have 'reading buddies' - third graders that come and read with them occasionally. She loves this she tells me. They get to go to the library at the school on Fridays. She also has Spanish on Fridays. She has school pictures today...I can't wait to see the outcome of that!

Last week the teacher's stuck these two pictures of her in her folder for me. Her teacher tells me she's a very happy girl that loves books and loves to learn. :)


I'm so happy with our decision to enroll her at Rivermont!

M is Officially a Pre-Schooler!!!

Friday was Madison's first day of Pre-School! I was actually much more calm than I had anticipated! Josh took the morning off so we could drop her off and pick her up together. (He also told me he didn't want me crying by myself for the next two hours.)

Jengo wished her well for her first day, too!

We all arrived around 8:25am. The parents were ushered to the cafeteria for a brief orientation, and by 9am we said our good-byes for good and left. It was SO hard leaving, really. But, when we returned the room after the orientation she was happily sitting at the table with the other students coloring. That made it easier seeing how happy she was. She kissed me and there were no tears (from either of us). It was SO weird walking out of the school. I couldn't believe she was now in school!!!

I couldn't stop thinking about her for the next couple hours. I kept on wondering what and how she was doing. Josh and I ran some work errands together. And, at 11:30am we returned and picked her up. Yay!!!

In the car (and later on), here's some of the things she told us about her day.

"I colored."

"I had goldfish crackers and milk!" (She was super excited to hear that there was snack time everyday at school!)

"The kids were wild at the park (she was talking about the playground). They were chasing each other! I went up and down the slide."

"My teacher said, 'Time to clean up books and toys.'"

"My teacher said, 'Have calm bodies.'"

"I got sand in my shoes!"

"My teacher said, 'No laying on the floor.'"

"I had to go to time out 'cause not following directions." (I'm not sure if this was true or not. She is ALWAYS in time out at home for not listening and following directions...but at school they call it the "quiet corner' so who knows. I wanted to email the teacher and ask her if she was in the quiet corner today or not...but Josh told me not to worry...and to 'not be that Mom that emails the teacher on the first day! I still kinda wanted to email her...but I am letting it go.)

When we asked her if she liked her teacher, she said, "No!" But...she said it with a smile...I think she knew she'd get a reaction by answering, no.

Here she is when we picked her up...clearly very happy with her teacher. LOL!


"I was looking for you at school. But...I couldn't find you." She told me that later at lunch. That made me sad. But, I just reminded her that Mama or Daddy will always return to pick her up.

Oh yeah, here's the only picture I took last Wednesday at Unpack Your Backpack. She was SO happy to have her hand painted.


Josh and I are very pleased with our decision t enroll her this year for Pre-School at Rivermont. I actually think tomorrow - dropping her off for her second day - might be harder on me than last Friday! Wish me luck! :)