Elf Day

All of the kindergarten classes participated in Elf Day at Claire's school today. The festive day consisted of centers in each of the three classrooms where the kids: (1.) played dreidel and made their own "dreidels" out of pretzel sticks, marshmallows and Hershey's kisses, (2.) sang songs and made reindeer food and (3.) made reindeer antlers out of construction paper and cut out handprints. I was lucky enough to be a parent volunteer in the "dreidel room." It was fun working with lots of Claire's kindergarten friends and Claire too!

The First Day of Kindergarten

Today was the first day of school. Claire was soooooooo excited! She woke up, had breakfast, took a bath, got dressed, ate lunch, then hopped on the bus just before noon. After the bus pulled away from the curb, we raced over to the school to wait for its arrival (I had to drop something off at the nurse's office.). It took much longer than we expected, but finally the bus arrived. Our big girl got off of the bus and walked into the school to line up just like she'd been doing it her whole life.

Getting on the bus

After school, I waited at the bus stop for the bus to drop off my kindergartner. Claire came off of the bus with a huge smile. She absolutely LOVED kindergarten! She told us that they put one straw in a container since it was the first day of school, that Mrs. C. read them a book during snack time, how she earned a sticker for being really good and she tried to remember some of her classmates' names, but couldn't recall them all. We were thrilled that she was so happy after this first day. She can't wait to go back for day 2.

Miss Independent arriving at school

Last Day of School

Today was Claire's last day of school. I put it off for as long as possible, but it's a little weird when your mom still makes you go to school even after you've graduated. Claire was so excited. I wasn't. As I wrote in a previous post, I have grown to love Claire's school and the staff. I have been dreading this day for a while now. But, my girl is ready to move on. She studied hard, played hard and now she's ready to have a fun summer before heading off to kindergarten.

Preschool Graduation

We attended a charming graduation ceremony tonight: Claire's preschool graduation! Claire spent three years growing, learning and playing with her friends at preschool. For the first year and a half, Claire went to preschool for two full days while I was working full time (My fabulous sister in law watched her the other three days.). After I stopped working, she went to preschool two half days a week, then in September 2010, she started going three half days a week. Suffice it to say, we have had a long relationship with Claire's school -- the caring, wonderful staff, Claire's friends and some of the mommies and daddies who we have gotten to know.

Tonight's festivities included some short speeches by the teachers, enthusiastic singing and dancing by the graduates and each child shared how they would make the world a better place (Claire said she wanted to read books to little children.). Of course, the graduates marched in to Pomp and Circumstance and received their diplomas while wearing their caps and gowns, which was completely adorable. Everyone also enjoyed watching a slideshow of the kids through the years at school.

It was a wonderful evening celebrating all of the graduates. We were especially proud of Claire and what a wonderful job she's done in school. She has grown from a little peanut who was shy and barely talked at school to a beautiful, smart, articulate young lady who eagerly participates and is a kind friend to the other students. I know in my heart that we have done a good job parenting Claire, but I also have to give some credit to the excellent preschool she attended. The smart, experienced, amazing director has been a constant in Claire's educational experience, but she has also had the good fortune to have been taught by some super women (the director included) who were not only effective teachers, but they were also patient and nurturing. We feel so fortunate to have found this school and hope that we are just as happy with the elementary school she will be attending in the fall.

End of the Year Pirate Party

Aaarrrrrrrghhhh, maties!!

Today was Claire's End of the Year party at school. The kids voted on the theme and the pirate theme won (Claire's vote was for a jungle party and she insisted that her party was going to be a jungle party because that's what she voted for. She doesn't get the idea of democracy yet.).

As soon as I heard the theme, I knew I had to make this pirate skirt I saw on a blog. It looked so cute and easy enough for me to whip up. The result was nothing short of completely adorable if I do say so myself! And it only cost $3 (for 3 bandanas)!

Oliver and Claire rockin' their pirate outfits

The kids had cookies, munchkins, chips and an awesome pirate ship fruit salad. We signed up to bring juice. To keep with the theme, we magically turned it into pirate juice.

 

Claire's graduation is next week. I signed her up for school until next Friday to kind of finish out the month before we have some other activities planned. I am very sad about ending our three-day-a-week relationship with Claire's school. She has been there since she was almost 2 1/2. The director has seen me through being a guilt-ridden working mom to a stay-at-home mom who is super-involved (and much more relaxed!). She, and all of the teachers Claire has had over the years, have all been fabulous. Fab.u.lous!! Claire has learned so much from them. I really couldn't have chosen a better school for her.

Claire with one of her teachers, Mrs. Parul

Pajama Day

Today was Pajama Day at Claire's preschool. Thanks to my friend, Gillian, posting about Pajama Day on Facebook, we didn't forget about it!! Claire was so excited to wear her "pajamas" to school. She thought it was hysterical when she woke up in the morning and I changed her from the nightgown she slept in to another clean nightgown for Pajama Day. At school, they read If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Laura Numeroff and made pancakes for snack. This year Claire didn't want to eat pancakes, but I distinctly remember that she ate them last year because I bought Claire-safe pancake mix for Pajama Day '10. It was a special day that I know Claire will remember for a long time.

Snowman Cupcakes

I always have these grandiose visions of making artistic desserts, but they never come out as perfectly as I would like (I don't have the artistic ability or the patience!). I won't be winning awards for my baking anytime soon, but these imperfect snowman cupcakes that I made for Claire's holiday party at school are pretty darn cute.

Better picture coming soon!

The First Day of School

The First Day of School is a highly anticipated, sometimes dreaded day that comes around each September. Like clockwork. When I was teaching, I always felt excited and nervous at the same time (And, in all honesty, I also felt sad since the summer always seemed to fly by soooooooo fast!). I even had nightmares! Now that I'm a stay at home mommy again, the first day of school feels different. I was excited for Claire this morning as she set off to be one of the "big kids" at her school. She was excited too. There were no tears shed this morning which is a big change from two years ago when little Claire started school/daycare two full days a week. We both cried. Now she's comfortable at her school and she LOVES her teachers and her friends.

This is going to be a great school year! I can feel it!