First Day of School

Mia's school had a bar-b-que for all the new families and Lance and I got to take her on our date night to attend the dinner. She was SO excited and had all her own ideas about what she "needed to wear". She said she just had to dress up! She met a couple of other little kids there who would be in her class and had fun playing with them and we got to peek in the windows of her classroom. It was funny b/c after peeking into the classroom she asked us if that is where the big kids go and we said, "Oh no that room is just for the Kindergartners" and then she asked us "Oh well where is the room where all the kids go together?" and we finally caught on at this point that she was referring to primary (at church) where you go to your "little class" with the kids your age for half the time and then go with ALL the kids to the big primary class. (Makes sense given her experience thus far in life!) So we had to explain that "school" is not quite the same as primary.

Going on a Special Date with Daddy the night before her first day. They went to the bookstore and picked out a special book that Mia really likes called "Thank You Mr. Falker". Sweet story about a teacher who helps a little girl learn to read after she's been left behind in every other class. At the beginning of the book her family has a tradition where the Grandpa puts a little bit of honey on special book and has the child who is starting school dip their finger in and tell him how it tastes. When they say "Sweet" he says, "Honey is Sweet and So is Knowledge, but Knowledge is like the bee that made that sweet honey, You have to chase is through the pages of a book". I love that quote.

The Actual First Day...I love how the backpack is just about as big as her!

So excited!

Maddi was definitely sad to see Mia go on her first day but is having fun getting to spend "Quiet Time" with Mommy and getting to be the Big Sister for a few hours a day. And we find them trying to get their fill of sister-playtime whenever they possibly can. Mia has had fun bringing home new ideas from things she's learned at school and we've all had fun learning along with her. And she and Maddi have added "School and Teacher" to their list of imaginative games they like to play such as "Church, Mommies, and Narnia"

Sitting at her table on the first day. She told me she felt "Shy and Excited". When I picked her up on the first day, her first words were "That was Long!". But I think it was a "good" long because she seems to be enjoying every minute of school.

Mia started Kindergarten at the end of August. She is in the afternoon 1/2 day program at a Charter School here in California. Although we've done Joy school and my Preschool Program out of our home she has never done an away-from-home school program so this was a huge deal in our home getting ready (the school supplies for her and the emotions for Mommy) but we got everything checked off and both felt ready on the first day (it helped that the Moms and Dads got to attend the entire first day WITH the kids!) I think Mia has been "READY" for Kindergarten since she was probably 2 but I have absolutely cherished the time I have had with her here at home with me. There is nothing like the free days where you don't have any appointments or places to be at and you can just curl up all together and read and read and read and learn about new things at your own pace and in your own way. We did a lot of that this last year and I am so glad for the memories it's created and the new traditions it's brought into our home that will always stay with us. And now...on to more Car Time, A Schedule, Room Parent duties, Backpacks and Homework! :)