Kindergarten Update: Part 1

I think the verdict is, she loves school! She can't wait to go to bed every night just so she can wake up early for school. We drove the first day since we had all the school supplies to take with us. Yesterday we rode our bikes, and today we drove because she wanted to wear a pretty dress. It was so nice to be able to drive up to the curb and watch her exit the vehicle all by herself! Little Miss Independence!!

She came home on the first day with a cute poem that I thought was worthy of sharing.

And on the back, she had written her ABCs!

1st Day of Kindergarten

Yes, I know, I am very behind in updating this blog. I can't believe its been since March! Crazy how fast time flies.

Amanda was very excited to start school today. I think I was more anxious & nervous then she was! When we arrived at Ms Gunter's classroom, she immediately went to her teacher to give her a picture she had colored for her. After about 10 minutes of getting her all settled, she looked up at Kevin & I and said bye mommy and daddy!

I wasn't ready for that! I can't wait to pick her up this afternoon to hear all about her first day of Kindergarten!

I am dependable when...

This morning was one of those days...you know the one...where the children don't want to listen to a word you say so they throw a complete fit?

Here's the play by play this morning

8:00am - Pitter patter feet enter my bedroom, sniffles begin when she reaches my bedside...
8:02am - I finally roll over, asking whats the matter? why are you crying?
8:04am - after asking repeatedly, "I don't want to go to school"...yes you have to..."noooooo"
8:30am - please go get dressed so we can go to school, "I don't want to GO TO SCHOOL"...Yes you are going to school!
9:00am - I decide to shower while she is crying and screaming, which she continues right outside the bathroom door.
9:10am - In my towel, I promptly get her attention and yell "go to your room", apparently she thinks the living room is now her room, so I follow behind "go to your room" and point her in the correct direction. She now determines the bottom of the stairs is where she sleeps every night. I quickly get dressed so I am not running after her in a towel...
9:12am - Return to the stairs, "I said GO TO YOUR ROOM!", pick her up, place her on her bed and close the door. She continues to scream, attempting to get my attention.
9:20am - I don't hear anything, so I open the door to check on her...she is fast asleep.
10:15am - Pitter patter feet coming into my office, "do you feel better, I ask?", she nods yes. Come here, so I give her some hugs, some lovins etc.
10:20am - OK, lets go get dressed...sniffles begin "I don't want to go to school", here we go again?? I start asking her questions as to why she doesn't want to go, when she replies with nothing valid, we proceed to get her dressed. She's crying the entire time.
10:25am - Once we are in the truck and on our way, she is silent.
10:35am - Arrive at school just as her class is going outside to play. I stop the teacher, is there anything I should be concerned with? Is she doing ok while at school, causing any problems? The teacher assures me she is doing great and is only upset for a few minutes after I drop her off.
10:37am - I get back in my truck to go home...

I've been thinking about this behavior all day. She's 5 years old now, why does she throw tantrums like this? Is she trying to pull one over on me thinking I'll just let her stay home? Kids!

6:30pm - Kevin and Amanda arrive home, she's happy and had a great day at school. She sheepishly smiles when she sees me...then shows me the coloring she did at school...

so...does this mean I need to start feeding her ice cream for breakfast so the day can begin on a better foot???

Oh yeah...and wouldn't ya know she actually asked me if she could have ice cream for breakfast this morning...

Graduation? For Preschoolers?

Life is so different here. In Alaska, there isn't a graduation ceremony for preschoolers, but here, there is. Cap, gown, flowers, ceremony and all the other details that go into a graduation. First I must say, I can't believe my baby is 5 YEARS OLD and 'graduating' to Kindergarten!

Where has the time gone? I was always warned to savor the moments as it would vanish before your very eyes, but my goodness, nobody said at the speed of light!

Amanda was sick the week the pictures were taken, however, she was feeling pretty good picture day, so I took her in just for the pictures. As she was dressed in her royal blue cap & gown, the lady said "what do you think, mom"? As Amanda turned around, I felt the tears welling up. WOW! She looks SO grown up! Right then & there, I saw infant to 5 year old in a matter of 1.2 seconds!

I received the proof last week and although her eyes could have been a little more open, I'm still blown away at this whole process of preschool graduation!

And...just in case you need a little reminder...

February 10, 2003

Pre-K Pictures

One of the hardest things for a parent to do is pick which pictures you wish to buy. They have it down...multiple poses with multiple backgrounds for you to choose from...hoping that at least one of them will be 'good' enough for the parent to choose.

I arrive at school today to pick up Amanda with a big note on the door "Picture Pickup Today!" So before I enter the building, I go back to the truck for the credit card. Just inside the front door is the table setup, anxious parents ready to feast their eyes on their precious little ones picture perfect faces.

Last name?, she asks. Aldridge, I reply...few seconds later she is laying out 3 different poses where there is usually just two. Puzzled, I look down at the poses. Ohhh.....right...that day Amanda happened to have a cute matching jacket with the outfit she wore, hence the reason for one extra shot!

As I browse the images, trying to hard to figure out which ones I should get for the friends & family who I know are eager to see a recent picture of the smiling beauty, I am once again perplexed. How do I choose?

I like the way her skirt is laying in this one, oh but I like the way her head is tilting a bit for this one, the eyes aren't open as big as in these other two...etc etc.

This goes on for a good 5 minutes, meanwhile other parents are paying quickly & heading out the door, suddenly I look up & realize I'm the only one left...uggg now there's pressure!

$75.00 for all 3 poses? I ask. Oh no, she replies, $75.00 for 6 sheets, 4 magnets & 2 4x5 (which is just 2 poses)....$15 more for each sheet. GASP...decisions decisions.

So I look back down at the pictures of my sweet 4.75 year old & then back up at the women who's making a killing off of all us, then back down again.

OK, how much for all of it...give me a deal! I said to her. She thinks for about 2 seconds, $115.00 and thats with an extra $10 off, she replies. Gee, doesn't seem like much of a discount, I think to myself.

Ponder, pause, look them over again. OK, I'll take them all. The pressure! Its SOOO hard!

3 poses, 3 8x10, 6 5x7s, 3 4x5, 24 wallets, & 6 wallet magnets later...

Oh & did I forget to mention that 2 4x5 & 4 wallet magnets were black & white? When I asked, she informed me it was done by mistake & rather than reprint them they decided to see what the parents reaction was. Gee, thanks for adding more decisions to the ones I already have to make!

So, all my friends & family out there...the pictures are up for grabs...which ones do you want because I've made enough decisions already!

Pose #1

Pose #2

Pose #3