an ending = a new beginning.

better late than never.  i wrote this post on may 19.  it's been sitting in the queue waiting for pictures to be added.  i'm such a slacker.  so, take yourself back to the end of may and read along with me.  :)

tucker had his last day of preschool on may 18.  it happened before i really had a chance to blink.

i came home from work on monday and unpacked his backpack.  inside were his momento's from preschool; his attendance pocket, his locker tag, his cubby tag.  i have saved everything from this year ... the artwork, weekly readers, newsletters.  i'm kind of weird like that.  i will toss the stuff i don't need, but i kind of want to use it this summer to help keep his mind active with what he has learned this year. 

 

i have a special idea for the artwork though.  i plan to take pictures of all of his artwork and then make a book out of it.  how cool is that huh?  after trying to search for a creative way to 'keep' it all without having an entire tote collecting dust of it, i think that was my favorite idea.  sure, i will save some of his actual artwork, but not all of it.  plus, someday i hope to have a cool collection of little art books.  i'm pretty sure that flipping through them on any given day will make me happy.

anyways, back to preschool.  on wednesday they had their 'end of year' picnic and program.  we packed a lunch and headed down to the recreation building in town.  tucker ran and played continuously with his friends and only ate about half his yogurt and a few sips of his drink box.  i think he was a bit preoccupied.  then, we went inside for the program.  his class sang songs and then we all enjoyed a slideshow with pictures from the schoolyear.  afterwards, each of them presented their parents with a book of their work.  the teachers had also made cd's for the parents of all the pictures they took of their child throughout the school year.  i LOVED this.  it's like a little peek inside their world that i don't see.  perfect.  i hope to get these all printed soon and put into a book for tucker too.

 

that night we went to big wheels (post on that soon - like in september - gah).  when we got home, matt and i gave tucker a 'graduation' present ... new wii games!  lucky kid.  we told him we were so proud of how well he did all year in preschool and how excited we were for him to start kindergarten.  i wish i could bottle the look of pride he had on his face when we told him that. 

today (may 19) he had his first taste of kindergarten.  they had a half day to see what things will be like next year.  the preschool teachers were there so they were able to ease the transition a bit.  he was SO excited when i woke him up.  he loves school.  before we left, i wanted to take pictures of him.  he asked why i had to take pictures.  i told him that this was a very important day to both of us and i wanted pictures so we would always remember it.  he then allowed me to take 10 pictures (and he counted them out - trust me).  with a fast shutter, i think i was able to get about 25.  i also took a quick shot with my phone.

 

we dropped levi off at daycare a little earlier than normal and then headed to school.  i walked him inside, helped get his stuff in a locker and then boom.  he was gone into the room in the blink of an eye.  i didn't even get any hugs and loves.  only this time, he wasn't the one who was sad about it ... i was. 

i picked him up at noon and brought him home with me on my lunch break before bringing him back to daycare.  we talked about his day a bit.  he just seemed ... older.  already. 

i keep thinking to myself ... where is this time going?  gone, that's where.

Comments

[Nicole]

Ohhh can't believe these kids are going to KINDERGARTEN soon! NOOOO> Love the pics and the idea of making an art book of pics of artwork. I'll have to do that too! My 12x12 box is FULL of P's work... ugh.

[Kim]

Great post and yes defiantly better late then never.

[jenny's mom/tucker and levi's gram]

i love the way he loves to learn, i don't think i was very good in school, just average, one thing i have most enjoyed with tucker is introducing him to first's. he sooo loves to learn and he listens to every word a book has to offer, he has an imagination beyond mine for sure. i soooo enjoy our time together. and i am soo glad they only go 4 days a week, that way i can spend day 5 with him and his brother. i don't want to miss out on our weekly gramma times. i cherrish each and every one. my grands are priceless. i love your scrap book idea! thanks for the post...your little baby is growing up....real fast...lets slow the clock please....
love you, and love those little cookies!!! (i love matt too! :).......)

[anne]

omg, KINDERGARTEN. We're a year out and I'm already feeling anxiety about it!

[kim]

love the pics! xo. :)