Kindergarten!

Holy moly, how did we get here?!

 Jackson started kindergarten today, and let me tell you, it was harder on me than I anticipated!  He has been ready to go to school for a while.  He could've started last year, but we knew he had a little more growing up to do, so we held him out one more year.  It was fine with all of us, except when someone would ask him, "Are you in kindergarten?"  He always rolled his eyes a little and would sometimes launch into the whole explanation of "yes-I-should-be-in-school-but-my-mom-didn't-start-me."

I stick by my decision.

But when the first day came, he was totally ready.  Me? I thought I would be fine.  I'm not a cryer by nature. And this was a happy day, so why would I cry about that??  Yeah.  As we walked into the building, I could feel my throat tightening up. I had no idea it would hit me like that!  But I sucked it up and did fine.

 He has a great teacher who scored points with him right away because the first thing they did when they got to their seats was play with the Playdoh (also known as "that stuff we never get to play with at home").

When he got home that afternoon, he said he had fun, but that was about it.  He is soo my child.  All those days that my mom got the one word responses from me after school?  Yeah, I'm paying for that. I can't wait to see what his year holds.  He just seems so much more grown up already. Love that kid!

First Day of School, Girly Style...and My Little Kiwanian

My girls started preschool the week before Jackson started kindergarten.  It really worked out perfectly, because it gave them their own special morning, and it gave Jackson and I a couple of days of just the two of us, which never happens.  If you ask her, Sadie will make it very clear that she is going to her "very last year of preschool, and then she goes to kindergarten."  She's been pretty bummed that Jackson is moving on without her, but on the first day of her school, she was happy to be the big sister who knows the ropes. :)

The best part is that they only have to go to school two days a week, on the days I work.  I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to stay home with them and enjoy some girl time before they get too big for me!

When we found out Annabelle was going to be able to at least give Sunshine Friends a shot, we were so excited!  Her sweet teacher, Mrs. Molly, is so kind-hearted and patient...and boy, does she need it with this one! ;)  

 And then there's my Kiwanian. Seriously.  Last year, Jackson and Sadie went to Sunshine Friends on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, which left their Thursdays free for other things.  One weekly activity they both enjoyed was story time at the community library.  Nannie liked to take them (and Annabelle was too wiggly to sit through it anyway), so it became their weekly outing.  Then one week, Jackson decided to join Nannie at her weekly Kiwanis meeting. Pretty soon, he was going every week.  Then he was made an honorary Kiwanian.  Then he became their pledge leader. My mom would tell me how much they enjoyed having him there, but it was made evident to me one week when my mom was out of town and I had to make sure Jackson made it to "his meeting."  I had no less than three Kiwanis members ask if he needed a ride to the meeting!  So when the time came for his last meeting, I just had to be there.

 

Not only did he get a certificate of appreciation, they had a cookie cake for him and some presents too!  It was a special day for him. :)