Mary Kate Starts Pre-K

Even writing this almost four weeks into Mary Kate being in school makes me tear up.  It does not seem like it is time for my baby girl to be in school!  Spending last school year home with her was priceless and I am so thankful for the opportunity, which God provided when I never would have thought it possible!

We went to orientation on Friday, August 2nd and Mary Kate could not wait to see her meet her teachers and see her classroom.  We were excited as well and surprised in the anti-climatic reaction shown when we actually met the teachers and saw the classroom.  I think she was a bit overwhelmed because there were so many people down that hallway!

Monday morning, August 5th, was her first day of Pre-K at First Baptist Academy.  Here teachers are Mrs. Elizabeth and Mrs. Terri.  We went through our now daily ritual of getting ready and then the paparazzi in me came out!  I was armed with my camera for her to hold up her sign, which will be an annual thing, to tell about her grade, school, teacher(s), and what she wants to be when she grows up...The later one is hysterical this year!

 When Mary Kate put on that book-bag for the first time, she was so proud! This is when I really had to fight back the tears.  She looks so big and she really thinks she is grown!

 The picture below is courtesy of Mills. Not too shabby.

 Here she is outside of her classroom, underneath her class sign.

 Here is Mrs. Terri showing Mary Kate her cubby and helping her unpack.  She was so proud.

 The finished product...she did everything all by herself.

Mary Kate hugged and kissed me and was excited, but slightly apprehensive.  After we said our goodbyes, I stepped outside to watch her and make sure she was ok.  She was told to go find a center to play in and went straight to the kitchen and grabbed the vacuum...daddy would be so proud of her!  She was smiling and seemed oh so happy.  I was happy to see her so excited, but I was overcome with the emotion of it all.  I was able to make it back to the van before the tears began to flow.  I was proud of myself for not crying in front of her.  So, as a reward to myself, I stopped by Dunkin Donuts and got a french vanilla cappuccino...decaf of course.

Words cannot express how proud we are of Mary Kate.  She is beautiful, smart, caring, and compassionate and is absolutely loving and thriving in school. Two days into school, she was already writing her name, and doing so with confidence and ease.  She loves going to the library and her favorite, of course, is taking music with mommy...even though she has only had one class with me so far.  I cannot wait to see what all this first year of school has in store for her.  I know that she will continue to grow and thrive and am so thankful for a wonderful place for her to attend as we begin this new chapter in our lives!