Preschool too!? *Sigh*

As if sending Redmond off to Kindergarten this year wasn't emotionally draining enough, Ashlyn, my baby, started Preschool!  Throughout the summer she was constantly talking about how she couldn't wait to go to school and was always asking "how much longer, mama?" 

The morning of her first day she had a perma-grin alllll morning.  She had already been wearing her backpack everywhere for the past week. 

We got to her school and she couldn't wait to get out of the car.  Once she was unbuckled and free, she ran as fast as she could to the door! 

I had never seen so much excitement!  I thought "wow, she's just going to march right on in there".  Then.......her teacher opened the door.  Poor girl clung on to my leg and would not let go!  I walked her into her classroom, peeled her off of me and handed my tearful baby to her teacher.  Just like Redmond, I knew she'd be okay once I left.  I just had to leave.

When I came to pick her up just a couple hours later, she was all smiles!  She had a great first day, was already making new friends and drew lots of pictures to bring home.

We've had many teary mornings since, but they are slowly fading.  Hearing her stories about her day make my day. 

She's growing up and even though I'm ready for it......I'm not ready for it.....

~ Sara :)

Kindergarten. No, really. Kindergarten.

So, I apparently blinked and now my little man is in kindergarten!  Say it ain't so!!

What a whirlwind these past almost 6 years have been!  How can he be old enough to be in kindergarten!?  Kindergarten.

Kindergarten.

Here in Michigan, we do it old school - we don't start school until after Labor Day.  That's how it should be, ya know?

So, as I saw all of these people sending their babies off to school throughout August, I was thankful that I got to keep mine for a little bit longer at home.  Sure, there were days I thought for sure I was ready for him to go, but really, I was never ready.

But, time went by and now....he's in Kindergarten.  All day.  Five days a week.  It's been an adjustment - for all of us.  The first few days, Ashlyn and I found ourselves looking for Redmond in the afternoon.  It's so weird not having him home with us! 

The first day was rough.  I mean rough.  There were tears.  Lots of tears.  Ugly tears.  Lots of ugly tears.  From him, from me.  Oh, what a day.  What an emotional, emotional morning and day.  Never did I think it would hit me the way it did.  He was scared and sad.  Momma was too.

There were lots of cool toys and things to look at in his class so we tried our best to focus on all the cool, fun things he'd get to do in school.

Our goodbye on that morning wasn't pretty.  I felt awful leaving him, but I knew I had to.  We said our 'goodbyes' and 'I love yous' and left him in the hands of his (amazing!) teacher.  Of course I knew he would be okay, but ugh. What a hard, hard momma moment. 

I couldn't wait to pick him up on the first day of school. I may or may not have showed up 35 minutes early and anxiously waited in the parking lot....

When I went into his classroom to get him, he was all smiles!  That made me soooo happy :)

He is slowly adjusting and loves his teacher.  We still have a rough morning every once in awhile, but for the most part, he's enjoying school.  He's making new friends and has great stories to tell everyday on the way home. 

Still unbelievable that this time has come.  Love that little man!!

~ Sara :)