First of Many

What a day. Today started with a nearly four hour picnic at the park with Madison's entire preschool. The weather was great and the kids had so much fun playing. I had a lump in my throat much of the day knowing she will never play with some of these kids again. Even some of her closest friends she probably won't see much of as they are all going to different schools. I have realized a lot about myself the past couple of weeks as we have neared this day and the prospect of saying goodbye to her school, teachers and friends. I am going to have a lot harder time with these transitions/graduations/rites of passage than I thought. Kindergarten will bring on so many new experiences, mostly exciting ones but the one thing that will be lost is the innocence of this young age. I can already see it happening. I know this is part of growing up but, in a small way, wish I could bottle up my little five year old and keep her this way just a little longer. I can completely understand why some people want to hold their kids back from starting school an extra year. There is so much time to be a grown up, childhood is incredibly fleeting. That being said, she is so ready to move on and experience new things. I know she is socially, intellectually and physically ready for any challenge kindergarten throws at her. She has grown leaps and bounds these past two years as preschool and I am really excited to see the new and wonderful things she will be accomplishing. I just hope I can get the lump out of my throat first.

The kids really flocked here. Mmm, Popsicles!

Queen of the Merry-Go-Round.

Strike a Pose.

Monkey Bars.

This evening was the graduation ceremony. It was absolutely adorable. Here is Madison pre-graduating with a quick pick with the cake before I dropped her to her classroom. I was stunned to see the words "Class of 2023" on the cake. What? That can't be right...then with a little adding in my head realized it WAS right. YIKES!

Before we went to graduation I gave her a special necklace. She loved it and when she was standing up at graduation I could see her holding it, I also saw her kiss it a few times throughout the evening...LUMP!

Her last time sitting in this classroom.

A quick hat fitting (and photo) before I left the room.

They sang a few songs and then the teachers announced the kids one by one. As they came down they asked each one what they wanted to be when they grew up. Madison said "a nurse". I started crying right then, she has said she wants to be a nurse ever since I told her I was going to school to be a nurse. Wow, I love this girl!

Officially the Graduate!

Some flowers from Eric, Kennedy and myself.

Ah, the best part of the night (for her). CAKE!

Possibly her last time on this slide. Kennedy will be going here next year so Madison might get a few opportunities to return but all night I kept thinking...this is the last time she will get to do this...and the lump returned.

To each end there is a new beginning...two more years ahead of us for this little angel.

I can't begin to express how proud I am of this young lady and how much I absolutely love her. The best part of the entire day was seeing how proud she was of herself!

After we got home we arranged her flowers and put them in a vase. She is sound asleep after such a busy day and her flowers are smelling up her room while she dreams of things yet to come.

Photo from my camera phone that I couldn't flip. I liked the picture so much I had to add it on to the end anyway. One thing is for sure, I had better start getting used to stuff like this because it's only the beginning.