Kindergarten

Kelsey was beyond ready for kindergarten. Because of all the rain  school in Seattle starts pretty late because they want to give people time in the nice weather. That being said, we also get out of school like June 30th or something crazy like that.
The week before school started, we all got to go meet her teacher. Mrs Ferreria,  and I was just so impressed. She is a first time teacher but she is about 45/50 and has like 4 masters degrees. She said, she loved learning so much that she kept putting off actually teaching to keep earning degrees. I don't necessarily agree with that, but she is so awesome. She believes in reading all the time, wants the kids only sitting in their seats for about 10 minutes at a time, has this amazing math program worked out, and her classroom moto is "Mistakes make us great!" For our little perfectionist, Mrs. Ferreria just seems like the perfect fit.

The night before school started, I was getting super sad about having to send Kelsey off, so the two of us went on a date to TCBY. I know she is ready, but I just hate knowing how much I'm going to miss. She will tell me things and our relationship needed the distance, but I just hate knowing I'm going to miss giggles and her creativity. I will say though, with Kelsey, there is no way I could have home schooled even if I wanted to. She was so passed getting instruction from me. She is such an obedient girl and really wants to follow the rules, but she knows my faults too well that sometimes it was hard for us to get along. I'm excited for her to have a teacher that she just can put on a pedestal and be the rock star student that I know she will be.
Anyway, the night before we laid out her clothes, got a blessing from dad, packed her backpack and she was in bed by 7:15.

 

The newness of school has definitely worn off, the getting her off to the bus is a tad harder than it was (because she wants to stay with Madison and play) but that first morning she was ready by 8 for the bus. She practiced all summer making her lunch so she got that in her lunch box and in her backpack and just couldn't wait to head out the door. Now that school has been going for about a month, Kelsey is still really good about laying out her clothes, making her lunch, and doing her morning chores, but sometimes she just wants to play so its hard to help her understand that the bus will not wait. I would say overall though, she is very punctual for a 5 year old.

The bus stop is about 3 houses down which is super nice and the other family that is at our bus stop is amazing. Its really fun to see them every morning and afternoon. The bus originally came at 8:45, but they were getting to school late so now they come at 8:30. I love that we don't have to wake these poor kindergartners up too early for school. Granted she does get home around 4 or later so its a long day, but its nice in the mornings to not have to be waiting for the bus in the dark.

And that first time the bus pulled up, she just couldn't contain herself. She was so ecstatic! I hated putting her on the bus, but she is just so dang happy at school. How can you deny her of that!!!

 

Its amazing to me how involved I already feel having a child in school. I don't even do much but it just feels so different having this set routine. I love it. Occasionally the teacher will send home things for me to cut or I will send apples for a science project, but I think its just the routine of it all that I am loving. While we wait for the bus we see the same families pass every morning and some we know and some we don't but its just that feeling of being part of something bigger. I do wish she could go to the school down the street, but this is good too. I LOVE the bus. It feels to safe and it is so simple. As long as I am there to put her on and get her off, school life is pretty easy for me. 

Madison has loved getting Kelsey off the bus too. There is just something so exciting about watching the bus drive around the corner and looking for her little face waving to us. Kelsey and Madison are so used to having me around that sometimes I don't get all the excitement that, say Ethan gets when he gets home. When dad comes home it is a party, but they see mom all the time so I don't really get that. I wouldn't have it any other way!!! But its been fun to have Kelsey really excited to see me when she gets off the bus. I am loving it. 

 Here are a few pictures of Kelsey's back to school night. I love being involved in school even though I really don't do too much. It just is fun to have a little bit more on the calendar. I'm sure when they a re all in high school it will feel different but for now, it is a beautiful change

And Madison is doing AMAZING!!! I thought she would be so sad, but turns out the past 2.5 years of her life she has been super frustrated because she isn't getting enough attention. She is delightful and we get along so well when Kelsey is gone. She never throws fits and is just so go with the flow. This change has been so good for our relationship and I'm so grateful for the the few months that Madison gets to have of just being the only child at home.


*Because I am writing this a month into school, I now hav ea few insights to add about school that I don't want to forget:
Kelsey never ever eats lunch (which I thought would be the case) but when I ask her about it she either says, " I want to save it for an after school snack" or " Mom, I can't eat and talk at the same time!"
Kelsey loves her class especially Go Noodles which is wiggle time and free play where she can draw and color at the any station
Kelsey's friends right now are Gideon, Emily and Regan. she LOVES Gideon and we hear all about him including when he isn't at school and what he eats, but she just loves him. I'm so glad she has found some friends to play with and connect with.
Also, I thought Kelsey would just come home wiped out by the end of the day, but she doesn't. By friday, I notice how tired she is and we are really careful about early bed time, but she gets such a high from school that she just doesn't notice how tired she is. She loves it so so much. I'm so proud of her and this adjustment. She is awesome. I miss her a lot, but this is such a good thing for everyone