Way way back……

Today is a big day for my youngest.  The day she gets to board a bus to head to her “home school” for a visit.  Our district is very large.  We have a building designated just for Kindergarten.  From there the kids branch off into one of 5 elementary schools.

Today the kids all arrive to school like normal and then board buses for a visit to their  assigned elementary.  They will tour the school, meet some teachers and eat snack in the cafeteria.  It is a great program allowing the kids to ease into the next step of their education.  Madison has been talking about this day for weeks!

After a long weekend she was very sleepy this morning and did not want to get out of bed.  I reminded her what today was and up she leaped.  She had a little extra pep in her step.  As she boarded her bus I was left a little sad.  My baby is just a few months away from starting first grade.  She is no longer a baby.

A happy little girls preparing for a big day!
A happy little girls preparing for a big day!

One thing I found very funny was the conversation I overheard as the girls were eating breakfast.  Megan, who is in third grade, went on this very same tour a few years ago.  As the big sister I guess she was attempting to help the little one’s nerves.  It started with the line, “Way way back when I visited….”.

I did not say a word but it made me laugh.  Way way back 3 years ago.  Things move so fast in life now.  I sometimes long to return to a day when 3 years could be referred to as way way back instead of the blink of an eye that it is now.

I can not wait until she gets home…I can only hope it went as well as she envisioned! My big girl!

When your children cry

So Madi tried out for the travel soccer team.  She is young so we tried to prepare her that she may not make it. She did great at the try outs fast, alert and on the ball.  There were not too many girl so we fully expected her to make a team.  Technically she was better than many of the girls who were there.

The announcements are made on-line, delayed several times by well over a week making the waiting a real headache.They finally posted Saturday night.  She did not make the team along with 3 other girls.  I had to tell her the news.  She was so upset.  We had tears for a few minutes, we laid on her bed and I held onto her.  There was nothing I could do but hug her tight.  Mommy could not fix this one, for as much as I try sometimes the reality sets in that I am not a super hero. :-(.

Yesterday we were having some friends over for a BBQ.  As I was running around getting things ready she asked for a special request.  Could I read her our “special” book.  We have had a book since they were babies that I love to read to them and they have always loved to hear.  I still read it each year the night before the first day of school.  Of course I could stop what I was doing so Madison and I settled in on the sofa  The title of the book is “Oh My Baby, Little One”.  images

Although I was not sending her off to school for the first time, I guess since we have made this book such an important part of our lives it helped her process.

“But still this love is with you, like the leaves are with the trees,                                               like the sand is with the sandbox, like the kite is with the breeze.”

It was not to long after that our friends arrived and the kids were happily splashing around in a rather cold pool.  The weather was not what we would have hoped for to kick off pool season but for the young it is never to chilly to swim.  The disappointment of the soccer team was gone in its place a young girl with not a care in the world, as it should be!

And all was right with the world!
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School day blues

I spent the day in Madison’s Kindergarten class today.  I only have one more left before the end of the year.  That thought made me very sad.  Adding to my “blues” was the permission slip to go on the elementary bus trip which I was presented with yesterday.

Our district is rather large.  Our Kindergarten is half day split sessions in its own building.  They then split up into 6 elementary school followed by 3 middle school and finally a high school that is over 1/4 of a mile long.  Moving from one phase of school to another can be a bit overwhelming for the kids.  Our district does a nice job in making that transition as easy as possible.  Heading into Kindergarten, Madison and I took a bus trip and tour of the school.  Now, heading to elementary school the kids will all go to school in two weeks and then board busses for the elementary they will attend next year.  They will tour the school, meet some teachers and have snack in the cafeteria.

Madison is so excited, I am excited for her, proud of her and so sad all at the same time.  With Megan heading into fourth grade, and Madi  to first, it is more clear than ever that my babies are growing up.  I think about my miscarriage and about the mastectomy, I envisioned us with a third little Bailey but that was not to be.

I have two beautiful, smart wonderful girls and I know that I am blessed!  My blues will pass but tonight I am allowed to mope a bit. Tomorrow is another day.