Bella's First Day of Kindergarten

Wow! Summer is over and in some ways it felt like it never began. We enjoyed the cool weather, but it still seems strange that it is almost fall and never had continually hot days. Labor day was short and sweet. We went home to visit my family in the burbs of Chicago and celebrated Bella's fifth birthday. My mom threw her a Tinker Bell party and she got almost everything she wanted, so she is a very happy girl. We got home last night, so we were scrambeling to get her school forms filled out, unpack our bags and figure out a new nightly routine. Even though she attended preshcool last year, it feels like a whole new world with getting her ready to ride the bus. We had an open house last week and met her teacher and road the bus around the neighborhood to get her comfortable with this new transition. I thought that it was a good idea. Her teacher is Mrs. St. John and she seems like a great teacher, so I am very excited for Bella. I layed in bed with her last night and talked to her about what she was excited about tomorrow and what made her nervous. She was excited to make new friends. When I went to kiss her good night she started stalling and told me "don't go - tell me about yourself." Ha ha - she is good. We woke up this morning and it was nice that we didn't have to rush around the house since she has P.M. kindergarten. We picked out her clothes and worked on her first piece of homework. She decorated a star to hang in the classroom. I was still sressed making sure all her forms were correct and that she had her milk money and snack ready and clean clothes on. Aaron came home for her big send off since he already was in the area and we had lunch and prayed that she would be brave and have a good day. Last year I could barely hold it together long enough for that prayer. We waited in the driveway and when the bus came down the street, we walked her accross it, kissed her good-bye and up she climbed with out any worries. She amazes me every day. I held it together the whole time until Natty started to cry Bella's name. She wanted to go on the bus with her big sister, but she enjoyed the time with me all to herself until nap time. I am counting the minutes until my baby girl is back in my arms. (sigh)