Kindergarten and Joyschool

I've always been a bit cavalier about sending my children off to school. My attitude has been "HOORAY! When are you turning 18?"

So the night before the first day of kindergarten I must have been coming down with something. Because I cried. I cried about lost opportunities and about the end of innocence. I also cried because Hannah Montana will inevitably be part of our lives now. And I cried because someday Kenzie will have to go to that awful place known as jr. high where everyone will make fun of her clothes and body shape. And then I realized I was getting ahead of myself and maybe projecting my memories onto her future.

Kenzie was excited and ready. Mike took the day before off of work and we went out to lunch and clothes shopping to celebrate. The next morning she wanted Mike to take her to school, and I tried to be cool about that, but goshdangit! I had done all the work to get her ready and I felt entitled to this parenting moment. She was nice about it and let her pitiful mother drive her to school. I took her into the class, showed her where to hang her backpack and jacket and helped her find her seat. I didn't cry. Kenzie started happily doing the activity on her table and I left. When she got home Hannah and I had made cookies and we ate them together and talked about her first day of school. (There was a boy named Sebastian! They earn marbles! You can sit like a princess in the kiva if you are wearing a dress!)  

Sweet Kenzie! (My good camera was in the shop for repairs, so this is what I have) She has six of the kids from our church in her class and seems to be loving it. I always ask her what she learned at school and she says, "I don't remember." Then later that day she'll tell me all about her color creatures or be singing a snatch of song she learned. Hannah misses her terribly, but when she gets home all they do is fight. Because they love each other so much.

Hannah also started at her own little neighborhood school. She goes twice a week to a different house each week with five other little girls. Hannah is glad there are no boys, since she says things like "Boys can't spell!" and "No boys! They are yucky!" (This is an attitude that must change, right?) So far, Hannah has done alright. She cried for 10 minutes when I dropped her off one time (sorry Kristyn), but has been good most of the time--and last week she even threw a fit the day she had to stay home when she was sick. I love doing preschool with my girls. It's a good way to make friends and get them ready for school. 

Cute Hannah! She's wearing her matching dress with her doll. She loves to have her hair curled (or at least she did until I burnt her ear with the curling iron), and she is starting to love playing with friends. She loves putting on her backpack and heading for school.