Our BIG Girl!!

I can't believe it - she's in Kindergarten! I thought since she went to preschool daily last year (and rode the bus), I'd already been through the "losing your child to school" syndrome, but I was so wrong. The first morning of school, we all drove there and then Rob stayed with the boys in the car while I delivered Erica to her teacher. She skipped ahead of me the entire way until it was time to say goodbye. Then the tears came..."Mom - don't leave me! I'm scared. I don't want to do this." It just about broke my heart (or at least my composure). I kept my stoic face while I said goodbye. Then I turned and sobbed while walking back to the car. Other moms were telling me that it was going to be okay. Erica was the only one crying and I couldn't help but feel loved that she was so sad to leave us. Once she started crying, all the other kids started to have nervous expressions.

After school, she was in skip-mode again. She was so happy to see us and didn't stop talking until she dropped off to sleep at 6:45 that night! She fell asleep the second her head hit the pillow. In fact, she does that every night since school began.

(the AFTER shot)

I am impressed with her class, teachers, and the school itself. I do wish we were in the realm of public transportation, as it is quite difficult to tote three children to and from the car - one in a stroller, one pulling away from my hand, and one skipping on ahead. I'm not feeling up to walking to and from school yet...hopefully later this year. It's so much fun to be able to greet Erica with a hug as she exits the building. Our next adventure is to have her eat school lunch tomorrow...I let her buy milk today (she was so excited) to try it out.

It's funny the things that make me feel like a soccer mom - buying school supplies, packing a lunch, letting Erica pick out the new shirt she wants to wear for the first day of school and then biting my tongue when she chooses the lime green one

Some funny things that Erica has told us:

• she calls the cafeteria the "AFTAKERIA"
  
• in one of her classes she got to build things with real wood, real nails, and a real saw
  
• she can't wait until it's her turn to feed the pet bunny
• on the first day, she apparantly walked up to the lunchline to ask for milk - they gave her some and asked her to bring money next time!
  
• she's worried because they were told that if they play in the bathroom, they have to go to the ("who's that lady in charge of all the other teachers?") principal's office
  
• she gives us a running tally on how many kids she's asked to be her friend (the hunt isn't going so well at this point)
  
• she loves this computer game in which a man falls asleep on the garage door, the fridge, the table, etc. (I'd love to know what educational value this game has :)
  
• during the fire drill today, she learned that if everyone in their class is there, her teacher will hold up a green sign. If someone is missing, she will hold up a red sign.

As much as I cried the first morning, I have to admit, it is so much fun to watch her grow! She is a delightful girl with so much zest and love for life.