kindergarten wrap-up

Ree finished Kindergarten last Thursday.  While we will miss Kindergarten, and I can't even begin to bring myself to think of her as a first grader... It's been bliss ever since I picked her up on that last day (with a buddy and sprinkle sugar cookies in tow).  

And before I begin the roll of the last days of kindergarten photos, I thought I'd get this part over with.  Yes, I know, I totally misspelled kindergarten.  I'm already bracing myself for the pokes and laughs this is going to cause - at my expense - years down the road.  C'est la vie.

Before we delve too deep into the last day of Kindergarten, there was her Kindergarten Celebration a few days prior to the final day.  I thought a 'celebration' was so much more appropriate than a 'graduation'.  

We love Ms Jones.

These two ladies totally saved the experience of Kindergarten for us.  I really can't sing their praises enough!

There was a little ceremony of sorts where they handed out awards, and the students shook hands with their teachers.  There was ice cream with toppings galore (and seconds and thirds available)!  Time for gathering with friends, sharing stories they had written, and lots of great photo opps.

Especially this one of Dada in a Kindergarten sized chair.

Eventually I will learn to navigate Picasa and how to piece pictures together.  In the meantime, I'm just excited that Pinterest and all of these fabulous ideas exist!

I'm going to miss the Kindergarten hallway.  Seeing these two buddies meander their way down to the very last classroom on the right.  Homework that doesn't need to be taken too seriously.  (Yes, homework in Kindergarten... nutso, if you ask me.)  Playing on the school playground after school with friends. Surprising Ree for lunch in the cafeteria... and all those other sweet little moments of Kindergarten.

It seems like it was just yesterday that we were all of us a bundle of nerves and emotions.  Anxious yet excited.  Uncertain yet hopeful.

And I am ever so grateful that even as we say farewell to the Kindergarten hallway, we will return to the same school next year.  That's always a perk and never a guarantee in this Army life we live.  Another perk is that both of Maria's besties will be returning as well!  

Even Camilly will relish in another year of meeting up with her best buddy, Bella... and sometimes getting to go to 'school' (hourly care) together just like their big sisters.