school

As you can see Hannah is loving Kindergarten. She was so excited to go to school on Friday that she sat outside waiting for her ride to come.

Let me back up. Wednesday was Hannah's first day of Kindergarten, it went really well. Chris and I both got to take her which was nice...mostly for me. When we got to the school I about lost it, but I managed to keep it together. Once we got to her classroom we were able to go inside and help her put away her school supplies, chat with the teacher and take pictures. We had written her a note at Kindergarten roundup and I was able to read that to her. They also gave me a Kindergarten Mom's Survival kit with tissues, Hershey kisses and a note about praying for you child. She was happily coloring a picture when we left. I did shed a few tears back at my car. I don't really know why because I wasn't feeling sad. I think I was just overwhelmed with emotion. I look at that little girl and see so many ways that God has been faithful to our family. I also was just so thankful that I was leaving her at a Christian school where I know that Christ is the focus.

The entire way home from dropping off Hannah Caden kept saying "I love you mommy. I love you. I love you too." I love that boy! After playing legos with Caden I checked my email and had a message from a mom of one of Hannah's preschool friends. She told me that her daughter was in the same class as Hannah at Trinity! ...And asked me if I wanted to carpool. Um hello, YES! Again I was just so thankful how God was working out all these little details on the very first day of school.

Hannah was all smiles when we picked her up, telling me about how there were 6 boys in her class and 13 girls and how she was so impressed with Maiya because she JUST turned five and she could already do the monkey bars. Doesn't take much to impress a five year old.

Well, bedtime was another story. Partly I think she was just overtired, but she was crying about how she would never have lazy mornings watching cartoons with mom and Cade. I assured her there would be plenty of summer mornings, Saturdays and holidays for watching cartoons. My goodness, she probably watches cartoons one morning a week. Maybe. But now she has to start freaking out about not watching cartoons!

The next morning she seemed fine. I kept reminding her that I couldn't walk her into school that day, she had to do it herself. She was fine. Until we got to school. I dropped her off and she started to cry, she was scared to walk in with all the big kids. I pried her off me and told her she HAD to go in. I mean, I was in a line of cars with a hundred kids being dropped off, I couldn't sit there and console her for five minutes. She walked into school crying. All by herself. With all the big kids. My heart was aching for her because I remember those feeling all too well myself. I prayed and prayed that she would be fine and it wouldn't send her entire day into a tailspin.

Thankfully, someone helped her get to class and she was completely fine when I picked her up. Now we've started carpooling with Maiya so she has someone to walk in with. Already by Friday morning she was begging to please go to Kindergarten and she can't wait for Monday.

So we survived the first week. Yes, there was lots of melt downs after school from being WAY to over tired. She hasn't quite adjusted to falling asleep early enough but I know we'll get there. I am overwhelmed with God's faithfulness to us! It's amazing to watch your kids grown up! Such a blessing they are!

shoe shopping

Oh my goodness! I don't know why this has become such a big deal, but I'm seriously stressing over buying school shoes for Hannah. She has to wear uniforms to school (which I'm actually really glad about considering how uptight I am about just buying some stinkin' shoes!) so I need her shoes to look OK with her little blue plaid skirts. And contrary to what Chris tells me I don't think it looks good to be wearing a plaid skirt, tights and tennis shoes.

I know, I know. She's five. Who cares what her shoes look like. But seriously, you kinda want your kid to look half way normal on their first day of Kindergarten. And by the way, they have a little section in the dress code about the kind of shoes she can wear, which I think is what is freaking me out. See, I follow rules, that's just how I am. So I already have visions of Hannah in detention her first day of Kindergarten because her mom didn't get her the right shoes!

So, three days of shopping for shoes later, I think I finally found some. Believe me, it's not easy to find shoes for my little Hannah. For one thing, she's not quite old enough to wear the bigger girl shoes so we're still stuck shopping in the Toddler section. And those little shoes are really cute when they're in size 3 and 4 but something happens when they get big and they just aren't as cute in size 11. Plus every pair that I thought "OK, these are HALF way normal" Hannah did not like AT ALL. So eight stores later, we now have two pairs of shoes. Her little running shoes are not PUMA as Hannah had hoped, (she wanted to be like her Daddy, but I refuse to pay $50 for kids shoes) but all the same she was pretty happy with what we picked out. I have one more stop to return a pair that doesn't quite fit and to pick her up some boots (which are IDENTIFCAL to my black suede boots that Hannah absolutely LOVES) and she is set.

Thank goodness that is OVER! I'm glad this only comes around once a year, I can't handle it!

In case you care, here's what we got

I had to put the box next to those so you could see the price tag. I paid only a little over $5 for those shoes that were origianlly $35. Don't ask me who in their right mind pays that much for kids sandals, but I certianly don't!