Kindergarten Open House

     I returned to work for the first time when the girls were three and a half months old.  I will never forget when I left the house that morning, I thought to myself, "I can't wait for the day when I get to take them to school with me."  Seems like yesterday, and that day has come so much faster than I ever dreamed...now it's bittersweet for me.  I am thrilled that Lizzie and Maggie will be at my school.  We have a top notch school with a fabulous group of teachers and staff members.  It's bittersweet because I can not believe they are old enough to go to BIG SCHOOL.  Kindergarten...my babies...Wow!   I know they are "ready" to start school.  They had an awesome experience in pre-school.  They loved going to pre-school, and they love learning.  I know they will fall in love with kindergarten, too, but right now they are anxious.  They aren't sure what it's all about.  Because they are anxious, so am I, even though I DO know what it's all about. 
   Thursday night was open house.  We took their supplies, explored their classrooms, and met their teachers.  We went to Maggie's class first.  We found her table, and there was checklist of things to do at open house.  As I started reading the checklist to Maggie, I actually choked up.  I am thinking, "What is wrong with me?  I have to get myself together."  So, I managed to take a deep breath and pull it together, hopefully before anybody noticed that the assistant principal of the school was about to lose her mind! 

Our sweet friend, Riley! 

 Lizzie and Maggie were in pre-school

with Riley for two years,

and they adore her.  Riley and Maggie

are in the same kindergarten class.

Maggie in her classroom.

Mrs. Strickland and Maggie. 

Maggie already knows Mrs. Strickland,

because she worked in the day care

where the girls stayed the past two years. 

We absolutely love her,

and Maggie is so happy to be in her class!

Lizzie found her table.

Lizzie and Mrs. Goff. 

This picture is confirmation that Mrs. Goff

is the PERFECT teacher for Lizzie. 

She was able to get a giggle from Lizzie. 

Lizzie told me the next morning that she has the

BEST classroom ever.    That statement is an accomplishment, 

because for the past three weeks,

Lizzie has been in denial that

she is even going to kindergarten. 

I think Mrs. Goff, along with her class pets, 

won Lizzie over in a matter of minutes! 

By the end of the first day, I predict Lizzie's nickname

will be "Ms. Kindergarten". 

After checking out the classrooms,

we went to the cafeteria to practice

getting the lunch tray, milk, fork,

napkin.  After taking care of all

 that, the kiddos enjoy the

cookie and milk, and then practice disposing

of their tray, trash, and utensils.

Funny side story...someone pulled the fire alarm at the school while we were in the cafeteria.  Talk about chaos!  To make it even better, we couldn't get the alarm to silence...it probably went on for about 10 minutes before the head of maintenance could get there and get it shut down. 

Maggie practicing opening her milk.

Lizzie opening her milk.

     So, between me almost losing it in the first classroom, then having some minor drama when Maggie realized in Lizzie's room that Lizzie and her classmates got a goodie bag that Maggie did not get, and dealing with the fire alarm; I was glad when the clock struck 7:00 and open house was over!  Several of our teachers went out to eat and visit after open house, and that was a nice end to a BIG day!  I'm just thankful I have the weekend to recover and re-charge before the first day of school on Monday! 

Maggie's Words Worth Remembering

A few days ago, we were sun-screened up, loaded up,

 and packed up to go swimming at the pool. 

As we turned down the entry way to Longhills,

 it started storming, so we had to go back home. 

 Lizzie asked, "Why does it have to rain NOW?" 

I told her that God sent the rain because

He knew how much we needed it. 

 Maggie chimed in (with a little attitude in her voice),

"Well, which one of y'all prayed for this...you or Daddy?"

Psalm 27:14

"Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say on the Lord!"