End of Year Pre-school Program

(Kaitlin is not wearing blush in this photo, I was playing around with my new editing skills trying to add a bit of pink to her winter white complexion and went a bit too far). :) 

The evening of Kaitlin's last day of school was her end of the year program.  We were racing to get there in time to get a seat and didn't stop to take photos at home.  Instead we took some outside of the front of the church.

 

 

Besties.

 

Kitti and Gracie filing into the church with their class.  This photo is so them.  Grace with her shy, reserved smile (though she is not shy or reserved at home, she is in situations like this)  And Kitti happily waving to her admirers. :)  I love the balance of their personalities. 

 

I love this photo of Kaitlin and her joyful expression.  You can see how much she loves to perform.

 

Kaitlin felt a curtsy would be an appropriate finish to the song.

 

She is so funny.



One of my very favorite things is the "self portrait" that the children paint.  I love that Kaitlin gave herself a bow and some very fine fingernails.



We received Kaitlin's scrapbook for the year, which is a treasure.  Included is her progress report, which she did great on, and also had notes written by her teacher.  She wrote about Kaitlin's joy for life and how much she will miss her singing.  :)  Apparently she sings about everything in Pre-school too!



Kaitlin and Miss Monica.



The pre-school director, Miss Sharon, whom we love.  She attends our church as well, so we will be happy to get to see her there too.  It's really her love for these little ones that sets the sweet tone for the school.   She truly cherishes each of these kids.  I told her that she'll always represent this sweet time in our lives. 







I snapped a few quick photos as we were walking out the door.  The walls to the sanctuary were coming down the next day for our big remodel.  The pews had already been removed, and I wanted a few last photos.





People wrote messages on the walls before they were knocked down.



The choir loft.  I love to close my eyes in church and listen to the choir ~ it's so beautiful.

And with that, we ended our time at Circle of Friends Pre-school.  On to Kindergarten!

Last Day of Pre-school

 

The end of May brought the last day of pre-school.  It was the passing of an era.  I remember so clearly balancing a baby Andrew on my hip as I hugged a 3 year old little Matthew so tightly as I said goodbye.

Here is Matthew at 3, when we started Circle of friends seven years ago.   Kaitlin wasn't even a part of our family yet!  I remember how my heart ached on that day to let him go.  He was fine, but I struggled to hand him over.



I had no idea on that day what this sweet school would grow to mean to our family.

We started attending Columbia Pres. (where our pre-school is housed) because of COF.  When I was in the hospital with complications after having Kailin the pre-school director called one of the church pastors who came and sat with Dan while I was in surgery.  We joined the church shortly thereafter.  Through this school we have made dear friends.  We found a church home & a church family.  Our faith has grown and blossomed as a result.   This little school has meant a lot to me ~ more than I ever would have anticipated when looking for a pre-school.  I loved the teachers.  Loved the director.  It was a wonderful experience and I am sad to see this precious stage in our life pass by, because really, there are few things in life sweeter than a pre-schooler and I will miss having one at home.

We didn't do carpool on the last day of school and so I just had Kitti with me.  As soon as I turned into the parking lot the tears started flowing. 

Another thing we will miss at pre-school is this darling girl.

 
 
We do not attend the same elementary school as Shannon's kids.  Andrew struggled a bit to not have his Claire there taking care of him in Kindergarten.  While I know Kitti will really miss Grace, I know she'll be just fine next year. But we will miss getting to share our days with Shannon and Grace.

Kaitlin had a loose tooth and she sat down in circle time and she and Gracie were so cute comparing their teeth.  Grace has already lost quite a few so Kaitlin was excited to join the ranks.

 

It was an emotional morning for me.  I loved this stage in our life, and I am sad to see it go.  Our life has followed the routine and rhythm of the pre-school school calendar for a long time.  The school traditions have come to feel like family traditions and I will miss them.

I know new traditions will form and there is so much fun to be had and new friends to make when Kaitlin steps through the doors at Fox.  We will embrace and enjoy our time there just as we have at COF.  I look forward to that and will make the most of that time.  But for this one day, I allowed myself to acknowledge and feel the sadness of seeing this time go....

I walked down the hall from my last pre-school drop off with one of those familiar "mom" aches in my heart.  A "heartstrings" moment that you read about but never really made sense to me before.  I get it now...that pull on my heart that happens when I feel like I deposited a piece of my heart somewhere have had to move on and leave it behind.

Muffins with Mom

One of the Pre-School days I love most (and will miss most) is "Muffins" with Mom.  It is one of those days that conjures great excitement among the little people at Circle of Friends.  After starting this sweet school back in 2006, the traditions have grown familiar, yet no less cherished.

We start our morning together by making crowns for one another.  Kaitlin requested flowers on her crown, so flowers she received.



Sporting our crowns....



Her eyes are half closed in nearly all of the photos we took on this day.  I have no doubt it was due to something she was acting out in her little mind.  You'll notice her hands are together as if she was praying as well.  I was sitting in the hallway at Pre-school having my photo taken for Muffins with Mom.  I'm not exactly where Kaitlin was in her imagination!

We took a photo with Auntie Shannon and Gracie....



Kaitlin and sweet Miss Monica.



Miss Monica had her hands full with the class this year.  There were some very spirited boys in this class.  I think she was definitely looking forward to summer vacation. :)



Miss Monica asked if I would read the story during circle time.  Kitti was delighted over that.



And of course, I always love the sweet songs they sing...



She also asked the children some questions about their mother's and read their answers out loud which are always so cute and funny.  I always feel a tad nervous wondering what they will reveal! :)  The funny thing Kaitlin said was then when she is at school, I "go shopping and have extra hot vanilla lattes!"  

And then there is the treasured gift...



Which held the plate in the first photo.



I now have 7 sweet plates in my collection and we use them regularly!

And perhaps the best photo of the day was taken by Kaitlin while I was chatting....



Too funny!

Children's Museum Field Trip

 

I really enjoy going on the kids' field trips.

Some more than others.

Some are really great, and others I go home and think, "God Bless teachers."

This was a field trip that was really fun for the kids, and really tiring for the chaperones!  There were two children assigned to every adult, and that was definitely an appropriate ratio.  When 1:00 rolled along I was ready to go, but I was really glad that I went and got to see Kaitlin and her friends exploring & discovering willy nilly, their way through the museum.  Shannon and I had 4 kids between the two of us, but it seemed like they were always running in opposite directions.  We finally figured that it was simply better to scout out the exits to the room and guard them rather than try to trail the children.



The water room is always a favorite for the kids. 





The kids shopped for groceries in the "grocery store", they took care of Animals at the "Animal Hospital", they did a performance on stage, and decorated their own faces!  Kaitlin did ask for me to draw the dolphin on her forehead.



I certainly never claimed to be an artist.

The kids were VERY pleased with their handiwork.



That would be a pony on Kaitlin's chin.  "NOT a beard."

We were all told to dress in red so it would be easy to spot our class.  It worked really well.



The girls also did clay art and some rock wall climbing!



When it was time to go, an attempt was made to organize these little balls of energy into a class (really 2 classes, the am and pm class) photo....



And this was when we called it a day, and Black Beard and I headed home!

Doughnuts with Dad

I just realized that this is the third post in a row that Kaitlin is wearing this dress.  Clearly it's a favorite!

There are a few very significant days in the pre-school calendar that conjure a lot of excitement and enthusiasm.  Donuts with Dad is definitely one of them.  The kids are SO proud to have their Dad (or grandpa, or uncle) to join them for Donuts at school.  For 6 years we have been a part of this sweet tradition at Circle of Friends, and this is our last time.

 

I went to school to take some photos of Daddy and his girl.

 

Per tradition, they were hard at work making ties for one another.



The finished product & matching smiles!



Dan did a great job taking photos of the kids' performance.



I just love this age.



They ended their morning together with a sweet treat.



Dan loves these traditions as well.
It's bittersweet as they come and go this year knowing that they will be our last time to experience them.