The Night Before Kindergarten - Part II

(with a 24 hour delay due to a little back-to-school-kitchen-table-party with GP until 1:00 AM ...)

In the morning it came --
School starts today!
Would the teacher be nice?
Would they still get to play?

Faces were washed,
And teeth were brushed white;
Kids posed for pictures
With eyes sparkling bright.

Parents packed snacks,
And kids hopped in cars
As if they were boarding
A spaceship to Mars.

The first time both walk together to school, attending school at the same place and the same time.

BIG smiles.

Hello Mr. Crossing-guard!

Big L was off to find her new room line while I stayed back to wait with Lulu.

But not to worry, she had per personal bodyguard GP with her to make sure she made it safely to class.

Some kids brought blankets
Or their favorite stuffed bear,
In hopes they could nap
Like they did in day care.

(it's been a while since Lulu took a nap ... hahah ... she skipped that wonderful time of the day about three years ago :)

Mrs. O: "Good morning Lillie! I mean Lucy! I will get confused all year, Lillie, Lucy ... oh my"
Me: "Just call her L or Lulu :)"

L had been so shy on her first day but not Lulu, she came and conquered.
Bright smile and off she was ... a new adventure begins :)

One last BIG hug from Mama, telling her I'd miss her all morning and holding on tight ... for a LONG time!

Bye-Bye parents.
See you at noon!

Meanwhile the BIG ONE was waiting to be presented to they newest CZ school kiddo at home.

Good bye Lucy. See you tomorrow.

And then the anxiously awaited moment had arrived!
Zuckertueten time!!!

"WOW, thats a BIG one! I'll have to share this with Lillie!"
Awww ...

Papa and his Lulu :)

Lulu and her Nick, all smiles those two!

We searched and searched and found big sis on the playground.
Reluctantly she came and joined her sis for a quick pic but then was off to be with her buddies again.
Apparently hanging out with your parents at the playground is NOT COOL anymore :(

Lulu and I shared a quiet moment on the swing chatting about her first day.
Me: "How was your first day?"
Lulu: "You should have asked me earlier now I forgot!"
Me: ???

Lulu bringing L her little sister-tuete (which we completely covered with Star Wars paper since she would NEVER take a princess tuete in her hands!)

Little did I know, because even a Star Warts Zuckertuete is NOT COOL and she would only hold it to take one quick picture before her friends would see her.
I had the honor of dragging the thing back home just to have it ripped out of my hands as soon as the front door closed.
Apparently getting gifts on your first day of school (once you are out of the public eye) IS COOL after all.

Wow, I have a whole lot of learning to do about this second grade thing.
No kisses or hugs anywhere near school, no visiting at lunch time and NO holding hands!
:(

The evening was spent celebrating by going out to supper with GP, an early bed for the school kids (they were out within seconds) and a LONG and HARD celebration and VERY deep conversations with GP until VERY early.

And now we have officially two kids in school.
Three hours of HOME ALONE!
WOW ... what will I ever do???

The Night Before Kindergarten - Part I

'Twas the night before kindergarten,

and as they prepared,

kids were excited

and a little bit scared.

They tossed and they turned

about in their beds,

while visions of school supplies

danced in their heads.

Erasers and crayons

and pencils galore

were stuffed in their backpacks

and set by the door.

Outfits were hung

in the closet with care,

knowing that kindergarten

soon would be there.

Click here to see the ORIGINAL post from 2 years ago

In the morning it came --

 ... NOT YET!!!

To be continued tomorrow!!!

VIP NOTE: I am not the author of this wonderful piece. Natasha Wing is and we LOVE, LOVE this book!!!

Now and then ...

Two years ago I was very anxious and nervous about sending my first born into Kindergarten.

I called the "Ice Cream Social" to meet the teachers and other kids "meeting the enemies" and I was convinced that they would take my oh-so-loving and kind hearted girl and turn her into a vampire :)

Two years later and I almost forgot about Lulu's ice cream social. 

I walked her to school, pushed her on the play ground and said "Go play with your friends" and I was off chatting with my PTA moms.

Lulu came and pulled on my pants and said "Mama, I need to go potty!"

and I answered "Go, you know where the bathrooms are!"

But then I stopped in my tracks, looked at my itty Lulu and saw a little bit of fear and nervousness in her usually so mischievous eyes. 

I thought "Gosh dummbo! You are here for HER!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING??"

So I held her hand, walked her into the classroom and to the bathroom and never left her side again.

It's so easy to make a big fuss over the first one but then it's also easy to not make a fuss over the second one.

But tonight all my thoughts are with her, my little Lulu.

My youngest L, who will leave the nest tomorrow and become an official Kindergartener.

It seems like yesterday when L started Kinder.

Time flies!!!

So we walked in our own footsteps and (of course) I recorded it to share these very special and somewhat sad moments and make note of it for years to come.

I had made the Ls these awesome skirts and they wore them to Ls ice cream social.

Then

On Friday it was Lulu's turn and I remembered the skirts in time to bribe the Ls to wear them again.

Now 

Then 

Now

Then 

Now 

Then 

Now

 Then

Now

Then

Now

The Ls with Mrs. O, L's Kindergarten teacher AND Lulu's new Kindergarten teacher :)

Lulu checking out the lila (purple) table, sitting in L's old chair :)

She has been in this room many, many, many times!

Every time I taught in Room 1 & 2 Lulu was with me.

She knows these rooms inside and out.

She knows most of the teachers, quite a few of her new classmates and she knows the office staff.

You can't be better prepared than that ... yet, she is still not so sure about the whole Kinder thing and keeps talking about her beloved Mrs. Tang and Mrs. Dunn.

It'll be a BIG day for her tomorrow ... and for me!!!

I already prepared GP. 

I told him I'd probably hold his hand walking back home, make him sit and color with crayons and then eat Mac & Cheese and watch a Barbie show :)

I vividly remember walking back home, after dropping L off on he first day, holding my little Lulu's hand very tight.

Tomorrow on my way back my hand will be empty and I know I'll miss my little one VERY, VERY much!!!