Off to Kindergarten!

Here she is...my Kindergartner.  She has been talking about little else this past few weeks than how she couldn't wait to go to school.  She has been so excited and so, so ready.   

 

Look at that eager little face!

 

 

Gotta get juiced up and ready to go.

 

Definitely one of those photos that gives us a glimpse of what she's going to look like when she's older.  I'm so not ready for that.  Still mulling over the idea of an all girls school or convent. 

Ready to walk in to school!

Finding her seat.
 

 

  

I think she was ready for me to stop taking pictures and let her start her school day, hehe.

 

 

 

At 3:45 she walked out of that big ol' school and could barely get her seatbelt buckled for all of her excited chatter about what she'd done that day!  She said " I had so much fun at school, I can't wait until tomorrow!!" 

 

Today she was still as happy as could be with her new school.  I am so going to miss all of our Mondays and Tuesdays just hanging out together but I know she is happy, secure, and will just blossom this year in Kindergarten so that helps...a bit, at least  =). 

There's a little story behind these sweet little apple earrings she's wearing.  I spotted them at the Apple Barn in Gatlinburg, Tennessee at least 15 years ago and could just picture my future daughter wearing them on her first day of school, and I just had to buy them.  They sat in my jewelry armoire for the next nine years or so while I wondered if that would ever happen.  Four years ago they got a new home inside of a small Strawberry Shortcake jewelry box, and yesterday....yesterday my daughter wore them on her very first day of Kindergarten. 



Kindergarten Camp.

On Wednesday Kerry's school hosted a three hour Kindergarten orientation.  She is more excited than ever about going to school.  No nerves at all, yet.  My baby girl has come so far. 

Her special friend Nathaniel, from Mother's Day Out, is going to be in her class.  They were so excited to see each other.  Cute story:  during the opening activity everyone formed a big circle and took turns saying their name and something they like.  You know, my name is So-an-So and I like Ice Cream, or pink.  Well when the guy leading the activity got to him he said "My name is Nathaniel and I like my friend Kerry over there", haha.  Then later his mom informed me that he had already asked Kerry to marry him...and she said "No".  Good girl. 

 

After the introductory activity they gathered up all of children (there are four kindergarten classes) and took them on a tour of the school while the parents stayed behind to go over paperwork, etc.  A few of the little ones were very reluctant to be separated from their parent(s).  One poor little guy started wailing.  I felt so bad for them all.

 

 





 

A little while later the parents got to meet up with the kiddos in their new classrooms.

  



 

She found the library area pretty quickly.

 

 

She found her name on the "treasure map"

 

 



 

Then it was time for their very first run through the cafeteria line.

 

 

 

All of those sweet kiddos trying to figure out how to open those little milk cartons was pretty darned cute to watch.



 

After lunch they got to check out the school buses.

 

She's going to be a "car rider" but seeing her little face staring out the school bus window still kinda got me.

 

Soon it was time to go home.. but not after scoping out the playground, of course.

 

So, we've only got nine days 'til the real deal, y'all.  She's so ready for this.  I guess I am, too.  Maybe.

Playing baseball with Daddy.

Sometimes the cheapest toys end up the favorites.  Isn't that just the way with kids?!  Like this plastic ball and bat set from the Dollar Tree, for instance.

 

Kerry and Daddy have had so much fun with this one dollar find. 

 

 

Mostly Kerry, probably...but still.

 

Just look at that expression, haha!

 Winding up..

 

Hmm...still winding.

 

 

 

"Silly Daddy...you missed!"

She's going to be a Kindergartener in just a few weeks.  Not sure I am ready for this, but she is.  She had her Kindergarten check up a few weeks ago.  She is now 43 pounds and 43 1/2 inches which means she's grown an inch since March!  Not surprised...I was noticing just the other day that a pair of capri's she had on looked shorter than they did the last time she'd worn them.  We've bought her uniforms, backpack, and purchased nearly everything on the school supply list we were given.  On Thursday she said goodbye to most of her friends and teachers at the Mother's Day Out program that she's attended once a week for the past two years.  Turns out her special friend Nathaniel is going to be in the same class as her.  And another one of her friends is going to be in a different Kindergarten class at her new school. 

 

Our local library did a "Kindergarten Countdown" this year.  They partnered up with some local businesses and they give out free t-shirts to the kiddo's who will be going to Kindergarten.  These t-shirts give the child and one adult free admission to different attractions and events around town.  This past week Kerry and I went to an event at the Louisville Science Center.  She had a blast!  She was two the last time we went to this museum.    

 

 

Not sure what this is, really, but it's been outside the entrance of the museum since I was a kid and a photo in front of it is kinda mandatory.

 

 

She had fun trying to build the strongest structure she could, then "testing" it against earthquakes with the push of a button. 

 

 

She has been talking A LOT lately about space, the solar system, and wanting to go to outer space so when she found this space mission simulator she was one very happy little girl.

 

 

Another thing she's crazy for lately is "America's Ninja Warrior".  One area had a rock-climbing wall, maze, and this little rope obstacle thing.  She had the best time going through the course again and again and each time she finished her "challenge" she'd run up and smack her pretend stop-watch button. 

She loved arranging and rearrange this ball track.

 

It's in a different area of the museum now, but I can remember running through this "rain curtain" many times as a kid. 

 

 

Having fun in the water area.

 



 

My bubble-loving girl thought it was a dream come true to actually be inside a giant bubble =).

 

And just to bring home just how big my baby girl is getting, here's a photo of her taken during a trip to the museum in November 2009 at 21 months.

 

 

Same spot, Summer 2013 at five years of age. 

 

 

 

Slow down just a little, baby girl, Mama's heart can hardly take it!

 



 

Sigh.  As we were heading back to our car we spotted the Belle cruising up the river.  And that reminded me that Kerry has never been on a steamboat cruise.  Must do that soon.