Kindergarten

Somehow, when I thought of this day, it seemed so far away.  But then it was the summer before Kate started Kindergarten, and then that summer FLEW by, and here we are...on the very first day that my very first baby starts Kindergarten. 

I thought I would be sad, but Kate was so ready.  She was so excited and could not wait to start school, and her excitement bled onto me.  I was just so excited for her too.

It surprised me on the walk up to the building where it dawned on Maya the reality of what "going to school" actually meant because she, out of no where said, "I never see Sissy again".  My sweet, sweet baby.  I explained that she would just be in school for three hours and then she was all ours again.  That sweet love of theirs will never be broken.  I LOVE sisters.

Once she was actually in the building and I was walking back home with Maya I felt my eyes swell with tears.  But I reminded myself of how happy Kate is and how excited she was for this first day and they were soon gone.

I have no doubt that Kate's school path is going to be filled with positive accolade after positive accolade.  She is a brilliant star and she shines so bright in all that she does.

First official day of Kinder!

Sisters!

Backpack of the year + all the cool lovie keychains...

I absolutely love this photo.

The Lions.  I'm sure this particular lion is going to be in many
future first day photos!

My with my baby going to Kindergarten and my
other baby on my arm.  

+ Daddy.

Kate and her Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Savage.  We've heard
all great things about her and are super excited to be in her class!

The front of school that Maya and I walk past every day!

Looking towards the Kindergarten playground.

The double doors Mrs. William's class and Mrs. Savage's classes
are released from.

We topped Kate's first day off with a picnic at the park, which
I'm sure will become quite the tradition with the last bit of
summer days we have left!

Maya starts preschool just after Labor Day and still says she doesn't want to go... This one is going to be a bit more challenging for me...

Kindergarten Kick-Off

Ever since the very thought of Kate going to Kindergarten entered my head (several years ago), I thought for sure we needed to have a Kindergarten Kick-Off.  Then the time came.  And the summer had been hectic.  And I just threw together a little 3rd birthday for Maya.  And I was stressed about how I would throw together yet another party.  But my wonderful Mother-in-Law, Mary, convinced me I could do it and I'm so glad I did.  She helped with a ton of details and supplies and set up, so it really was a group effort!

And, since I officially decided the party was a go two weeks before the actual party date, I also decided a rainbow theme would be easiest - any color goes!!

What made it even more worth it was Kate had an absolute blast and has declared it BEST PARTY EVER!  Success!

Cutting out lots of colorful letters for our station signs!

I mean, seriously!  These scream Kindergarten!

A view from above to the left!

And to the right!

Build-a-Bag Station!

Game Station - consisting of a spinner where you could win prizes,
stickers, or cookies, and a guess how many skittles contest.

Craft Station - tie dye t-shirts, rainbows to color, and scratch
shapes with rainbow backs!

Photo Op Station - complete with "class of" signs for all grades
this fall and several for the next few years!

Maya models so I can test out lighting!

Mia, Kate, and Caiden - Class of 2031.

Mikey, Kate, Mia, Caiden, Rylee!

Kindergarten Kick-Off!

Games in action!

Snow cones being eaten!

Bags being built!

Taylor won the skittles container!  Most kids Kate's
age guessed either 100 or 1000.

The crew - Calvin, Sammy, Libby, Ella, Taylor, Maya, Kate,
Rylee, Mia, Mabel, Hazel, Mikey, Caiden, and Lacey.

Sylvia enjoys a snow cone!

The adults got snow cones with Malibu rum which was a
GENIUS idea on Brian's behalf!

Crafts in action!

Running and playing!

Kate and Lacey!

Malea and her daughter, Mimi, helped with
tie dying!  Malea is Kate and Maya's Spanish
teacher!

Mia wins a prize!

 

Games in action part II!

Sammy, Libby, and Kate have been friends since they were all weeks
old in daycare!

My Kindergartener!

Success!

It still shocks me that in 10 days Kate will be entering Kindergarten.  The last 5-ish years have flown by!  She still seems so small to me but yet so big!  She is going to move mountains that one!