Kindergarten!

And just like that, Baby Cate is a Kindergartener! I know time flies, but seriously? Kindergarten?

Cate has been counting the days until the start of school. Yesterday we had the chance to go check out her classroom and meet her teacher Mrs. C. As Cate looked longingly around the room she exclaimed, "I wish today were tomorrow!"

As we walked to school this morning with Dad and Anna, I turned to Cate and said, "Well, tomorrow is today!" She was beaming with happiness.

As soon as they opened the door, she was in the room, I think maybe the first person in. By the time Nate and I could get into the room, she was already sitting at a table lacing a card. She was very focused, it was super cute. (Sidenote: A place where there are hundreds of crayons organized by color is going to be HEAVEN for Cate.)

We put Cate to bed last night at 8:00, 30 minutes past her bedtime. She laid in bed WIDE AWAKE until 10:30. She just couldn't fall asleep. Then she woke up on her own early this morning. She told me "I just don't want to miss the first day!" Cate and I decided the first day of Kindergarten is a lot like Christmas morning. Cate seriously felt just as excited for today as she does for Christmas morning.

I only started to tear up once during the drop off, but I was able to hold it in. See, you can't even tell that at this exact moment my eyes are full of tears.

Mrs. C gave each parent a little white bag as we left this morning. I started to read the note on the outside and immediately started crying, so I stopped reading and stuffed it into the back of the stroller for later. What a mean teacher. Just look what she wrote to us:

Dear Parents,

Here's a little gift for you as you leave your precious one with me on the first day of school.

As you hold this cotton ball in your hand {editorial note: this is where I stopped reading while at school. brutal.}, the softness will help you to remember the gentle spirit of your child.

After you've gone home and dried your tears {she included a tissue in the bag}, make yourself a hot cup of tea {tea bag also included}.

Put up your feet and relax.

Remember that together you and I will work for your child to be the best s/he can be.

Thank you for entrusting your child to me for this special year. I will do my very best every day to be a nurturing guide for learning about and exploring this bright new world called "school."

Sincerely, Mrs. C

I like this lady. A lot. She's going to be wonderful. And I'm not even mad at her anymore for making me cry. That was going to happen anyway, she just helped it along...and even gave me a tissue. :)

I actually didn't cry that much when I read the letter later. But then Anna and I sat down to read a book. She picked an Angelina Ballerina book, one of Cate's favorites. About one sentence in I totally lost it, could barely get any words out. Anna just looked at me, sucking her thumb, and put her little hand up on my shoulder. I just told her I missed Cate (which she had told me herself earlier) and that I love them both very much.

I just love our little girls.

P.S. This is what the little sister's hair looks like the first day of school for older sister. Think I was a little more focused on Cate, perhaps? At least Cate's hair looked smashing, even if Anna looks like Einstein's protege.