First Day of School!

I have been thinking about this day since my sweet Haylee girl was born. I have always loved school, everything about it... the pencils, new folders, sharp crayons, fresh perfectly clean shoes, new clothes and lots of books. I still LOVE the back to school signs in the stores and shopping for cheap glue, pens, crayons, and notebooks for a penny from office max (thanks Ryan). So back to my story. The day was here. Haylee was going to kindergarten. I have a kindergartner! Many events led us to this day, starting back in February when I stood in line at the school at 6:30 AM to try and get an AM kindergarten slot (and missing it by 3 people), making sure she was all caught up with shots, getting a phone call 3 weeks before school started telling me that the slots had opened and that Haylee was now a member of the AM kindergarten class, going to the school orientation, meet the teacher day, collecting the necessary school supplies, laying out the clothes the night before the first day of school, father's blessings, and the actual first day activities.

I was terribly sick the day before the first day of school and we were getting ready to pack her stuff up into a backpack. I had bought a princess backpack last year for $3 that has sat in the closet getting very little use and assumed that she would use that. Well, when we got ready to put her stuff in it, Addilyn had a fit, something about how Haylee had given it to her and that it was hers for school. Haylee was sad because she didn't have a backpack for school, but realized that she had given it to Addilyn and Addilyn was sad because she thought it was hers. Again I was sick and didn't want to deal with fits, so I searched in my house for anything that would work, at least until I was feeling better and we could go to the store. I came up with a plain old black Jansport that had been lying on a shelf in my closet. Good shape, not too big... Then I found anything with bling on it in all of my craft drawers. This is the before pictures and the final product (Haylee is crying because she wanted to do the hot glue and ended up sticking herself on the cheek with the hot glue gun).

The morning was here. Ryan and I went in to wake up Haylee for school. He started talking about school and how fun it was going to be and how she was going to learn to read even better and learn math, etc... Before she even opened her eyes, she gave us the largest smile and then sat up in bed. (this is saying a lot, considering I have to go in several times to wake her up... this girl LOVES her sleep). She popped right up out of bed and started getting dressed in her new skirt from Grandma Muriel (I had to add a little ruffle to make it dress code appropriate, but it worked out okay!) We had found her tennis shoes at Walmart for $8.00 and the best part was that they were Velcro and she could put them on all by herself... why have I not bought this kind before? Possibly because all Velcro tennis shoes before were nasty looking and my vanity got in the way with convenience... now I have both cute and functional, thank you Faded Glory!) After getting dressed we had breakfast and did her hair. We had our morning family time, took first day of school photos, and then packed up the girls and we were off. Haylee has been talking about this day FOREVER! She loved preschool both years and basically loves any type of lessons/being away from mom. So we got to the school and I walked her to the kindergarten playground. We had kind of talked it over and she decided that she wanted to go alone, so I though okay, we can do this, but I want photos. So I told her I would just go to the playground and then when they lined up, I would leave. We got there and she was a little hesitant, but off she went. Then the bell rang and so we walked over to where they lined up. I motioned for her to get in line with her teacher and then I saw her eyes go big and large alligator tears went rolling down her cheeks. Her little face got red and there she stood in the middle of the first day of school chaos with moms, strollers, babies crying, kindergartners crying, aids placing backpacks with kids and whistles being blown. Time stood still and I ran (with Addilyn and Elyse in tow) to where she stood. I crouched down and gave her a hug. She was sobbing by this time. The chaos was too much for me, let alone a little girl who was so excited the night before that she wouldn't go to bed until 10:00 PM or who had been talking about this moment for months... I dried her eyes and asked why she was sad and she said that she was "just excited and a little scared." So I told her that I would hold her hand and we would walk together to class. As we walked hand in hand among the chaos, I held it together. We made it to her class room and by the time we got there, she was happy and excited. When we got to the door, she gave me a hug and a wave and then she was gone, enveloped into the kindergarten classroom and all that lay beyond. I put my shades back on and walked back to my car. When I reached the car I buckled Addilyn and Elyse in and then I sat there and I lost it! I sobbed and sobbed. Addilyn at one point said "lets move it" then realizing that mommy was sad asked "why are you crying" and I said that I was sad cause I missed Haylee, but that I was just excited for her and her first day of school.

When we got home I realized that Addilyn was my big girl at home. We played and it was interesting to see how she became 'the big sister' when Haylee was not there. It was good for me to be able to spend time with just her. I think that I am going to LOVE this time. After a little more than two hours I drove back to the school anxious and excited to hear about her first day of school. I found her smiling and happy in the bus line, so we walked to the bus "to make sure she would know where to go for next week when she was going to start riding the bus" and she said, "Mommy, I want to ride the bus." Apparently, she was on the bus list and was okay to ride. So I ran back to my car as fast as I could so that I could beat the bus home. She exited the bus happy and excited to do it all over again tomorrow!

(Haylee is covering up her face... it was really bright)

As we drove home from the bus stop, I realized that life has officially moved along. We have a kindergartner and there is no turning back. Watch out world cause here comes Haylee!