Tag: Preschool

Abby’s First Day of School

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Before we made the move, Shaun and I started researching preschools in the area. We found a few and once we landed in Bothell we checked them out and took tours. The decision was quickly made and now its time for Abby’s first day of school! She was so excited to get ready and go, I could barely keep her still long enough to do her hair.
This year Abby is in Pre-K. Yes she turns five in less than a month (Lord help me) but the Kindergarten cutoff for the school system here is September 1st. Shaun and I thought about challenging it but then we realized that this gives her another year to learn and grow, to be a kid a little longer and truly prepare herself for next year. So on to Pre-K it is! Abby will start off in the afternoon class since we enrolled so late in the year, but we plan to move her to the morning class if something becomes available soon.
First day of Pre-K. At this moment, Abby wants to be a doctor when she grows up. It will be fun to see if this changes over the years, as I am sure it does with most kids.
Walking hand in hand with her best pal… her sister.
In her classroom and looking for her spot.
Happy and ready to get going!
Abby’s backpack hook and cubby. Another school year has begun!

When we arrived, Abby quickly settled in finding her cubby and the hook for her backpack. She took off to play and didn’t even look back. I love that she enjoys school this much and I hope that love continues on forever. We did find out from her teacher that a spot opened up in the morning class, so her time in the afternoon will be short lived. Luckily, Abby is adaptable and the quick change will be easy on her. We left without a hitch and let her enjoy the day.

When we picked Abby up she had so much to share with us. She made friends, painted, colored, sang and loved it all. I know because I asked her what her favorite part of the day was and she said “I loved it all!”. So glad to see that Abby is loving life and making herself at home!

Abby’s Last Day at St. Stephens Preschool

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Today was Abby’s last day of school and her last day at St. Stephens Preschool. If we had stayed in Porter Ranch, she would join the Pre-K class in the Fall. But, our move will take her to a new school, with new teachers and the chance to make new friends. It was a bittersweet day for mommy and daddy but a fun one nonetheless. 
The day started with normal drop-off, nothing out of the norm. After Abby was safe in class I left, went home and got ready to come back with Shaun and Ellie for a family picnic. When we arrived back at school, the children has prepared a small show for all of the parents. They sang three songs and did a wonderful job, ending things with Happy Trails. After singing it was time for our picnic and to enjoy the last hour at school.
Abby’s cubby through the year. I found a lot of lovely projects and artwork here when we picked Abby up from school.
Abby’s adorable class.
Abby’s wonderful teachers, Miss Betsie and Miss Sheryl. I cant thank these  two enough for making Abby’s first school exerience so amazing. She has a love for school and learning because of these two ladies.
Sister Hugs. Abby was so proud to show Ellie around her classroom.
Abby wanted to show Ellie around the playground. This melted my heart and of course brought a few tears. I was already fragile knowing we were about to leave this place that Abby loves so much and find something new in Seattle.
Happy times swinging with Ellie!
Ellie really loves to swing. Especially on a big girl swing!
Last day of school picture to match her picture from the first day, sort of.

Abby and Ellie were more interested in playing, so we let them. Abby wanted to show her little sister around the school and show her off to her friends. Even though they fight like cats and dogs, Abby is very proud to be Ellie’s sister. That thought makes the tough days a bit easier.

Through the picnic time Ellie played in the sand and Abby showed her the mud kitchen. Then it was time for some fun on the swings. When it was time to go we had a hard time pulling the girls away. Abby gave big hugs and said goodbye to her teachers Miss Betsie and Miss Sheryl. It was hard to go but eventually we did.

The hardest part about leaving is knowing that we wouldn’t be back. I know Ellie would love it here and would have started in the Fall with Abby. But, a new adventure awaits us and, with some patience and perseverance, we will find a place in Seattle that they love just as much. Its exciting, scary, happy and sad all at once, but we know it will bring wonderful things for us as a family.

On to the next adventure!

Mom and Me Day at Preschool

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Today was Mom and Me day at Abby’s preschool. A special day in celebration of Mother’s Day and a chance to see what Abby does during preschool. We had such a great time. We sat and made sculptures with play dough, made a beautiful flower vase with tissue paper and a glass bottle, played with blocks and went outside to slide and swing. 
I loved having a day with my “Abber Dabbers”. She was so proud to have me there too. What a feeling it is to have your child show you off to her friends like you are better then any toy on earth. I have never been so proud to be called mommy then in that moment. I know one day that will change and my being there will be “uncool” so I will take it all in while I can. I will enjoy the hour and a half spent looking at preschool through the eyes of my four year old. 
Abby’s “Wind Up Monster”. She made him out of play dough and even has a wind up on his back.
Silly Abby… I asked for a big smile and she gave me a big smile!
That’s more like it. So proud of this little cutie!
Mommy and Abby!

Abby’s First Preschool Picture

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We picked up Abby’s very first school picture today. When Shaun came back to the car and handed it to me, I cried. I cried not because I was sad but because I was so proud and happy. She is growing so fast, which of course tugs at my heart strings, but she looks so beautiful and so happy. Every day she is growing and learning something new. It really amazes me. Oh what the future will hold. Until then I have her beautiful school picture to enjoy and admire.

Abby’s Preschool Christmas Party

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Just a few days ago Shaun, Ellie and I went to Abby’s preschool for a small party to celebrate Christmas and the last day of school before the break.  We all had the chance to enjoy some treats, take a peek at all of the work Abby has done in school this year and talk with the teachers and parents. It was a short party, only lasted through the remaining half hour of class but we had a lot of fun. As a special treat and surprise, the kids did a small performance for us. They sang six different holiday songs that Miss Betsie and Miss Sheryl have been working on for the last month or so. It was so cute to see Abby perform. Her first ever school performance (aside from dance)! Thank goodness I remembered to bring my camera to the party so that I could capture the whole show! Such a fun day for all of us and it was nice to see all of the progress that Abby has made.

Dress Up Day at School

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Today was Halloween Dress Up Day at preschool! While Abby is going as Merida for Halloween there was no way she was going to school in that costume. Her teachers are wonderful and Abby always comes home mess free but with my luck she would rip her Merida dress within the first 20 minutes. So, we decided that she would go as a kitty cat and boy did she look adorable. I think that part she liked about the kitty costume the most was having me draw a nose and whiskers on her face. When we arrived at school she was beaming from ear to ear and couldn’t wait to see all of her school friends and their costumes. Id say Halloween Dress Up Day was a success even if mommy was a killjoy!

Abby’s First Day of Preschool…

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Today was Abby’s first day of Preschool. Yup that’s right, our little girls is going to be in preschool! Pre-K for that matter. This time next year she will be starting Kindergarten! OK, I am getting ahead of myself there. Seriously though, today was her first day of Pre-K and I have to admit I was a bit nervous and emotional. Abby, on the other hand, was beyond excited. She hopped right out of bed, ran in to go potty and brush her teeth, then got dressed and was ready to go. Once we were all ready to go we took Ellie over to Nana’s house and then headed off to school.

When we arrived Abby could barely contain herself. Once she was out of the car she was headed up the sidewalk, saying to hello to all of the kids who passed by going to their classrooms. We even had a hard time getting a picture of her on her first day because she was too distracted by all of the children arriving for school. She was so excited that and of course that made both Shaun and I smile. We were so happy to see her excited to learn and make new friends.

When we arrived at her classroom, Room 2 to be exact, we quickly found her name tag and took one last picture in front of the welcome board. We walked Abby inside and before we could give her a kiss and a hug goodbye and tell her we would be back in a few hours and to have a great day, she was off to the rug where circle time was beginning. She sat down, talking to the children next to her and saying hello to one of her two teachers, Miss Betsie. And like that she was off to learn.

There were no tears or sad goodbyes, no “mommy and daddy please don’t go”, and no reassurance needed from the two people who have been her teachers to this point. I would be lying if I said that didn’t bother me just a bit. While most parents like to avoid the separation anxiety meltdown with their children, a part of you hopes there might be a few tears and a need for you to be there. But I should have known better. Abby is independent and pretty fearless. She loves to jump right in, especially when there are other children around. We had also discussed school with her and all of the fun things she might do and learn and her tour of the preschool before we enrolled showed her just how fun of a place this can be. She was ready to go and excited for the unknown ahead of her.

Really my reaction was selfish and I realized it the minute I started to think it. Instead I shed a few tears of joy and maybe just a few over the fact that our little girl was growing up. I was so proud to see her excited and ready to try new things. As a parent I can only hope that this excitement and curiosity continues throughout her life.

After we left, I counted down the time until I needed to go and pick her up. I busied myself with a few errands and chores around the house. Then finally it was time to head back to school and pick her up. I was there at the gate waiting. When we were let in and allowed to go to the room I found our girl sitting quietly in circle time listening intently to her teachers. When she saw me, her face lit up and once she was excused to leave she ran right to me, gave me a hug and then began to show me all of the items in her cubbie that we needed to take home. She had some newsletters and papers for me to read and then a picture of a “roller coaster” made with markers, crayons and colored tape. It was beautiful.

Abby then started telling me about her day, about the book they read with the raccoon family who were also starting their first day of school, they got to draw and color and to top it all off they got to paint (something she had wanted to do). She also played out in the yard with a few new friends, pretending to be pirates searching for treasure. She did find treasure, a coin and a dinosaur egg, hidden in the sand. From what I could tell it was the best first day ever.

As a treat I took Abby out to lunch, a place of her choosing, so we headed to Subway. Over sandwiches we continued to talk about her first day and what she hoped to do the next time she went to school. I watched her talk with such excitement and personality and it really began to sink on then how much she was growing. Wow… time flies. At that moment I did what I could to savor the moment and make it last for as long as possible. After all, this only happens once.