Kindergarten Grad

Miss A is now a Kindergarten Graduate.

It's been a wonderful year for Miss A. She's loved her teacher, made wonderful friends, and learned more than we would have dreamed possible. The little girl we sent to kindergarten in August walked out on Friday afternoon as an excellent reader, a vivacious learner, and a inquisitive thinker.

Miss A had a teacher who really turned her on to learning more, to challenging herself to try new things, and to explore the world around her. She's made some wonderful new girlfriends and has adjusted so well to being in school all day. In many ways, this year has been affirmation that we made the right decision to redshirt her last year and delay kindergarten.

She was ready to take on the world and she's excelled.

Miss A's fabulous teacher made a Snapfish Memory Book for each child in the class with pictures from the entire year and all the special events. She also made a DVD of pictures that included every child in the class set to music that made us both laugh and cry. What a wonderful way to document this precious year.

Kindergarten Graduation was a special day for Miss A and our family. She's on the road to a fabulous educational journey!! As her parents, we know only too well that the days ahead will quickly pass. Before we know it, she'll be wearing a real cap and gown and graduating from High School.

Please Lord slow down the days and teach us to enjoy each moment along the way!

Kindergarten Field Day: Finally!

Miss A and her Kindergarten buddies at Field Day/ All School Picnic

Yesterday was Field Day at the Elementary School and, before you conjure up in your mind thoughts of races and hurdles and ribbons for winners remember, we live in an age in which we are all "winners." Those field days when you ran the 1/2 mile and the 400 meter dash and finished either first, second, third or even last are long gone.

Nevertheless, Miss A was thrilled that it was finally Field Day for her. Just her. You see she's spent years in either a stroller watching her siblings compete in the events or she's heard the stories and seen the battle wounds of sore muscles and sunburn her brother/sister wore home after Field Day. Finally, it was her turn.

I love the fact that the school now combines Field Day with the All School Picnic. It's doubling exciting and it limits the number of days I have to fight the crowds to get a parking place within a mile of the school. Miss A's class had their picnic at 11:15 and then Field Day in the afternoon. I volunteered to help with both so I had the opportunity to sit on the blacktop and enjoy lunch with a bunch of adorable kindergarten girls and boys.

I'd packed a picnic lunch for both Miss A and myself because the school offerings of Grilled Hamburgers did not appeal to Miss A who has yet to have a hamburger cross her lips. Omaha Steaks, Scallops, Pork Chops are on her approved meal (meat) options, but not a good old fashioned American Hamburger. At first, A was worried that we'd be the only ones with homemade food, but when I told her the only other option, she was fine with PB sandwiches as long as there was a cookie involved.

Miss A told me that she was quite popular in the classroom later because she had sunscreen and was willing to share. Thank you Target Dollar Aisle for travel size sunscreens. Too bad I didn't use a little first, as today, I have a little bit of a sun kissed look on my face. I won't complain though as it's nice to see the sun.

My assignment at Field Day was the Jump Rope and Hula Hoop Station. Let me tell you there are very few K-2nd graders that can jump rope! Everyone loved the hula hoop game however, and it was fun to observe how much more willing the girls are from the boys to bend, move, and contort their bodies to get through the moving hula hoop. Miss A told me it was fun to have me at Field Day, but next year she'd like me to just follow her around and hold her water bottle.

Guess the pampered princess thought it was a pain to carry a water bottle around for herself. Plus, I missed seeing her "win" every event and how fabulous her Team 4 was at everything. Maybe this is why we no longer give out ribbons at Field Day events. If everyone is "winning" everything, it would be a very long awards ceremony.