Bus Ride

Izzy's first three days of school were AWESOME! After I picked Izzy up on day 2, I asked, "How was school today? Did you have a good day?" She said, "no" then paused (as my heart sank) and said, "I had a GREAT day!"

This week begins color week. Yesterday was red day and I wish I would have taken a picture of Izzy because she looked so cute. Today is yellow day. Again...so cute...



A kiss goodbye for me :-) Stephanie picked her up for school today.


This is also the day that Izzy got to ride the bus for the first time. She has literally been begging to ride it. In fact when I told her this morning that her friend Rylie might not be riding it today, she said, "That's okay. If Rylie doesn't ride it then I will sit with Laci. If Laci doesn't ride it then I will sit with Luke. If Luke doesn't ride it then I will sit alone." I guess she didn't care if she knew anyone...just wanted to ride the big yellow bus.

Our problem is that Izzy's bus is not the same bus that some of her friends would ride. You see, I don't think she would know a soul on our bus. I had her afternoon bus changed (I will continue to drive her in the morning or else she has to get on the bus at 6:45) so she could be dropped at Rylie's stop. I would rather drive a street over to pick her up and have her ride with friends then wait in the pick up line.

Today was the day Izzy had waited for. She was scheduled to be dropped off at 3:12. Uncle Wes, Drew, Chloe and I set out on our walk to pick her up just after 2:30. I figured it would take me 15 min. to walk to the stop. I would have plenty of time to visit with the other moms and get ready to take pictures. Guess what...as I was walking down the street I saw the bus at 2:50!!! I began to haul a$$ to get to the stop and as the bus passed me Izzy leaned out the window and said, "Hi MOM!!!". The bus driver told me to stop running cause she would stop. Well hot damn - no pictures!

Izzy loved her bus ride and can't wait to ride again tomorrow. I am going to leave plenty early tomorrow so that I can get some bus pics!

My Kindergarten Girl

Oh, say it isn't so! For 5 years Izzy has been my almost "constant" companion. My little shadow...if she didn't carry the title of my daughter then I might just call her my best friend :-)

It is no secret that a couple weeks ago I had a major "boo hoo" moment. I had a big cry - not a long cry (though I think it did come periodically over the course of a few days) but rather an ugly cry. You know the one...big alligator tears, dripping snot wiped with a sleeve, ugly moans coming from deep within...the kind you do either alone or in the presence of another mom going through exactly the same emotions. ...these were tears that even my husband didn't witness.

I am SO SO SO (could list a heck of a lot more "so's") happy to report that Izzy ROCKED her first day! These past few weeks we have not talked too much about school. I have tried not to freak her out by making a huge deal. It was in moments when the two of us were cuddling where we would casually discuss school. I told her that it was okay to be nervous and scared and shared that I was nervous and scared for her to go to school. I told her how proud I was of her and what an awesome kid she is, but that I was going to miss her something fierce while she was gone. I gave her the option to stay home with me forever or go to school (a place that I LOVED as a kid) and have lots of fun learning and making new friends. Well, I lost out.

I may not be the worlds best parent. I have certainly made many parenting mistakes! But one thing I know for certain is that Pete and I have sure done good with this kid! SHE IS AWESOME!!!

Here is my girl with a breakfast of champions. She had mini blueberry muffins and maybe ate one small bite...of one!


Getting ready to hit the road - posing for a couple pictures.




Waiting in line outside the school for the doors to open. School doors open at 7:30. YUCK!


Posing for a pick with RC


Saying goodmorning to Mr. H - the principle. LOVE HIM!!!


Izzy wanted to stop and greet Speckles and Pancake (frogs) at the top of the stairs that lead to the Kindergarten wing. It was at this point that I noticed Izzy's dress was on backwards. She said, "I thought it was on backwards, but it is just a bunch of stripes." I told her she could leave it, but she opted to turn it around.


Finding her room!

Have I mentioned that Izzy has the most wonderful Kindergarten teachers? You walk into the classroom and just feel love. It is just warm and cozy. I have always said Izzy is just like my Grandma...kind, gentle, warm and nurturing. You know what? Izzy's teachers are also just like my Grandma! Izzy is in good hands :-) and that makes this Mama's heart feel good!

...and isn't it always nice once you get to your classroom to see a friend. Laci is a friend Izzy met our very first summer here. She is one of the nicest little girls I know. She comes from good people!


I am super excited to be taking this Kindergarten journey with Izzy. Not only do I think she is a really neat kid, but I think she has a couple of really great teachers. I am a conflicted mess of emotions - so sad that my girl is growing up so quickly, yet so excited to see all the fun things she will experience in Kindergarten.

Kindergarten

World, I bequeath to you today one little girl in a crispy dress.. with two blue eyes...and a happy laugh that ripples all day long, and a batch of light blonde hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs. I Trust You'll Treat Her Well.

She's slipping out of the backyard of my heart this morning and skipping off down the street to her first day at school.

And never again will she be completely mine...

Prim and proud, she'll wave a young and independent hand this morning, and say goodbye and walk with little-lady steps to the nearby schoolhouse...

Gone will be the chattering little hoyden who lived only for play, and gone will be the delightful little gamin who roamed the yard like a proud princess with nary a care in her little world.

Now, she will learn to stand in lines...and wait by the alphabet for her name to be called...

She will learn to tune her little-girl ears for the sound of school bells, and for deadlines...

She will learn to giggle and gossip... and to look at the ceiling in a disinterested way when the little boy across the aisle sticks out his tongue.

Now she will learn to be jealous...and now she will learn how it is to feel hurt inside...and now she will learn how not to cry. No longer will she have time to sit on the front porch steps on a summer day and watch while an ant scurries across a crack in the sidewalk...

Or will she have time to pop out of bed with the dawn to kiss lilac blossoms in the morning dew. Now she will worry about important things...like grades...and what dresses to wear...and whose best friend is whose. Now she will worry about the little boy who pulls her hair at recess time... and staying after school...and which little girls like which little boys...And the magic of books and knowledge will soon take the place of the magic of her blocks and dolls.

And she'll find her new heroes. For five full years I've been her sage and Santa Claus...her pal and playmate...her parent and friend. Now, alas, she'll learn to share her worship and adoration with her teachers (which is only right).

No longer will her parents be the smartest, and greatest in the world. Today, when the first school bell rings, she'll learn how it is to be a member of the group...with all its privileges, and, of course, its disadvantages, too.

She'll learn in time that proper young ladies don't laugh out loud...or keep frogs in pickle jars in bedrooms...or watch ants scurry across the cracks in a summer sidewalk...

Today, she'll begin to learn for the first time that all who smile at her are not her friends. That "the group" can be a demanding mistress... and I'll stand on the porch and watch her start out on the long, long journey to becoming a woman.

So WORLD, I BEQUEATH TO YOU TODAY ONE LITTLE GIRL in a crispy dress, with two blue eyes, a happy laugh that ripples all day long, and a batch of light blonde hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs.

I TRUST YOU'LL TREAT HER WELL.