First Day of Kindergarten!

My baby is a kindergartner!  She was so excited to start school!  All summer she has been looking forward to this day, even asking if she could walk to school all by herself!  We picked out this pretty dress together and she wanted to put it on right as soon as she got up this morning.  She had met her teacher and a few classmates on Tuesday so she was somewhat familiar with the school.  After a few pictures, we were off!

Erika with her new dress and backpack.  She wore her backpack around the house all morning until it was time to go!

Laurel and Levi also wanted their pictures taken.

We are only 3 blocks from the school so we get to walk every day!

Laurel "walking" Erika to school.

Erika standing in front of her school, Antonia Crater Elementary.

All the kids wait in the gym before going to their classroom.  I was holding myself together quite well and was not even the least bit teary-eyed until I got into the gym.  There were so many kids there!  I think my hesitancy was that I don't want Erika to get hurt or lost amongst all those kids.  Whatever it was, I tried so hard to hold myself together as I am the world's ugliest crier.  I bet the 5th graders love the first day of kindergarten when they get to see all these adults blubbering!  Erika got a bit nervous at this time as well.  You can tell that her smile is a bit more forced then it was at home.  She doesn't like surprises or not knowing what she is supposed to do so she got kind of nervous that she didn't know where to sit or anything.  But, I got to stay with her in the gym and then walk behind her to class so that helped.  And, tomorrow, she will be so much better because she will know what to expect!

When the kids get to school, they take attendance by find their nameplate and answering a question of the day.  Her preschool models their curriculum after Newberg kindergarten curriculum so she was somewhat familiar with this.

Then she found her name at her table with the same kids that she had a small group meeting with earlier in the week.  Smart teacher!

There were books on their table to look at while all the kids found their seat.

Erika wanted a hug from her little brother and sister.  I really lost it then!  But, fortunately it was time for the parents to leave anyway.  Erika is such a great girl and I know she will do extraordinarily well in kindergarten!  I am excited for her and her school journey!