The first day of kindergarten came, and we had one excited little boy!  He has never started school before Millie Janalee before.  So it was a treat for him to have something special just for him!  He had donuts for breakfast.  We like to load him up on alllllll the sugar before sending him off to others. Ha!  Donuts and chocolate are probably his favorite things in life.

He was ready and dressed early enough for lots of pictures and was even able to throw the football with Russ some before school.  Can you tell how excited he was?

 

This year has been different for sure!  Parents are not allowed in the schools this year.  Not for pickup or dropoff or parties.  Our preschool is going above and beyond to keep everyone safe.  We are thankful.  The children must wear masks walking in and out of the building.  However, they are able to take them off in class.  It has been so interesting how well the children have accepted the mask wearing.  Smith has not complained, and enjoys picking his mask out each day.

 

First day of school drop off always ends with me in tears.  No matter what age my kids are.  Dropping off in the carline this year may have helped that.  I was so sad not being able to walk him into his first day of kindergarten, but I was happy to see him greeted so enthusiastically at the the temperature check station.

It's a crazy time we live in...

 

 

When we picked him up from school he was proud of his new kindergarten hat and couldn't wait to tell us about his day!  He was able to Marco his birthmother as well after she sent him a good luck video earlier in the day.  A sweet time for my baby boy for sure!

 

 Oh, the places you'll go!

'Twas the Night Before Kindergarten

'Twas the night before kindergarten when all through the house...there was excitement and a crazy mama trying to make it special!  Even with five months to prepare for the first day back to school...it still snuck up on me.  I found myself rummaging through piles of books to find The Night Before Kindergarten to read to Smith.  I was busily gathering things for our special breakfast and getting clothes ironed.  What have I been doing all this time?! Ha!

One of the sweetest things our teachers give the kindergartners each year is Jitter Glitter to put under their pillow at night to help them sleep.  Smith was so excited about it and was completely sold on how well it would help him sleep!

Y'all.  He's just so stinkin' cute!  I know I'm biased, but look at him!  I teared up more than once when I just sat still and pondered how big he is getting.  I have taken trips down memory lane looking at photos from his first and second year of life.  I was tired.  Didn't even soak in what I should have between his screaming.  He has ALWAYS kept us on our toes. But look at how he has grown!  I miss that beautiful precious chubby baby with the white blonde curls and tiny chin.  Oh I could eat him up.  

But let's be honest.  I still could eat him up nearly every day.  He smiles so easily and loves life so much!  Every night at dinner I ask the kids for the worst and best part of their day.  Smith nearly every time says, "Everything" was his best part.  We love him so and can't wait to see him grow!

 

 

 All the clothes were laid out and the table was set!

 

'Twas the night before Kindergarten and all was well.

Back to School - COVID Style!

 We held our breath all summer.  I planned and gathered all the information I could possibly need in case school didn't start back.  I am thankful for virtual learning for many students who need it, but I really was not interested in my kids sitting in front of technology all day every day.  So I visited my sister-in-law to get all her homeschooling advice, I did my own research, I took notes, and I set up a semi-homeschool area in our house.

But thankfully, school did resume!!  Our public schools delayed a few days, so Smith actually went back to school first.  I am so thankful for our precious preschool.  They have gone above and beyond to get our kids back safely.

 

 

Smith started KINDERGARTEN this year!! I can't believe how quickly these five years have gone by!  Smith is the most cheerful, expressive, playful, and energetic little person I know.  I am so happy to send him to these sweet teachers who I know will love every bit of that in him. 

 

Meet the teacher was a little odd at first.  But it's our new normal.  We all wore our masks.  We all had temperature checks when we arrived at our appointed time.  For a minute, I thought we weren't going to make it as Smith's temperature came up as 106 at the door! Haha!  A new thermometer did the trick and we were good to go!  

 

Mrs. Kathy Ferris

Mrs. Kathy Wallace

Ms. Lauren

Smith was so quiet and taking it all in.  None of us are used to him being shy.  But it had been a long five months since he had been in school, so it was a lot to get used to with masks and temp checks and new rules about where you can go and with how many.  But he was excited and so ready to be a big kindergartner!

A sign of the times

It was surreal.  But we were all so excited to get back to a routine with friends and schedules and a love of learning!