kindergarten!?!?

Yes... crazy, crazy indeed... but that time has arrived.  We have a kindergartener in our ranks!  And somehow we survived that 'first day'.  By we - I do mean, the entire collective 'we'... Mommy, Dada, the big girl, and 2 little sisters.  We survived, but barely!  

Our big 5 year old walked right in.  While she took off her backpack, I lost Camille, who had headed off to socialize and find a good seat... and Dada, who was stuck in the hallway being overrun by 3-foot-tall-little-people and I do believe a set of misty eyes.  Ree helped me locate Camilly, bravely found her seat, gave one last round of hugs and kisses (Dada had navigated his way through the short masses and into the room;D), and started her day!

(Saying her good byes to everyone! :D)

We parents definitely have it the hardest, I do believe.  You raise them from such wee helpless little babes, pour your heart and soul -the fiber of your being- into the very fiber of their being.  Then, you send them out into the great big world of school!  Oh my!  Sigh.  

I was comforted (and remain so) knowing how magical the world of Kindergarten is... new friends, recess, the great big cafeteria, glue, scissors, pasta noodle necklaces.  Maria's favorites so far are Art (it's every day, Mommy!!), P.E. (the games she tells about make me want to join in one day!), and Library (but we are only ever allowed to read Library books once! no clue). 

The Littles were supposed to be at home with Nana, but Camilly insisted on joining in the adventure (pajama top and all).  And truth be told we welcomed her along, knowing her smiley-ness would keep back tears (at least the public ones)!

(First day art work.  I found this tip from a fellow blogger back when Ree went to the little Ft Hood CDC school a couple of days a week - art work with little messages of comfort.  We've used the idea for all sorts of occasions.)

The whole process as gone about how I suspected it would.  The first day was fun - but full of trepidation.  The first week continued in mostly the same fashion - fun, but still uncertain.  Week 2 was a bit rough - new routines being established, the magic a bit dissipated.  By week 3, school was finally, "Great!"  and has continued thus so far.  

I knew this little stinker was going to be lost without her big sister, her best buddy.  Whoa, I do wish I hadn't been so correct.  It was a rough first day for her - one that required a nap on the sofa because she refused to go up to her room.  She was quiet (unheard of for loud-mouth Camille), clingy, and grumpy (insisting on Cheerios on the sofa while watching Mickey Mouse... and pretty much only that all day).

Then Maria came home.  And a little light turned on inside of sweet Peeley Camilly.  She smiled, screamed, "REE!!!!" with pure joy, and they hugged until they crashed onto the floor.  It was a heavenly mama-moment.  

Her treat for the day?  Giving little Lila a bottle.  When I asked Ree if she missed me, she responded that she hadn't missed me, but she had missed baby Lila.  Melt.