Kindergarten

I can't believe Isabelle started kindergarten this week! Even though she's gone to two years of preschool there is something different about starting "big kid" school. And, even though I teach kindergarten and am used to the chaos of 600+ children ages 5-11 running every which way, it is much different when your own child is dropped in the jungle and expected to survive. I am thankful I know the chaos is actually fairly organized and everyone gets to where they need to be.

Of course the very first event at her school conflicted with my schedule. Our open houses were on the same day at exactly the same time! I was so appreciative of her teacher when she arranged to meet with us earlier in the day so Isabelle could see her classroom and feel comfortable starting the first day. We looove Mrs. Odegaard! She is kind and sweet and really the quintessential kindergarten teacher.

Isabelle didn't seem nervous to start school at all. She was all giggles and smiles, even telling me there was no need for Daddy to follow the bus to school - "I can find my room by myself." (Clearly this was not going to be an option and Jason was waiting for her when the bus pulled up to school the first day.)

After carefully selecting her outfit it was time for the obligatory "first day photo shoot". Isabelle was even happy to pull out her best poses! It was raining though so we were confined to the porch. I am so glad that every morning I will get to put Isabelle on the bus. We had to arrange with transportation for Isabelle to get on at the first stop in our neighborhood so I can make it to work on time (sort of). Jason has arranged his schedule so he'll meet the bus after school right next to our house (the last stop in the neighborhood).

Check out Isabelle's huge smile! Her bus was the very last one to arrive at school. Settling in and writing her name.

On the second day Isabelle thought Madeleine might have felt a little left out so she wanted more pictures taken with her sister. So sweet!

I'm glad Jason could meet her at school so I could see this:

Isabelle is the only child in our neighborhood going to all-day kindergarten (everyone else is half-day) and she went to preschool near where I work so we were pretty sure she wouldn't know even one person in her class. We were happy when she got home and we heard this:

After school Isabelle's best friend Laney called to talk about their first day of school. After being together almost everyday at daycare I know Isabelle was really missing her now that they're in kindergarten at different schools. I tried not to eavesdrop on the conversation but, to my dismay, what I did hear was Isabelle saying to Laney, "now, when are you getting your driver's license?" What?! Come on girls, it's the first day of kindergarten! Ah, well. It's very apparent we only have 13 more years before she goes off to college. We're going to enjoy them!