Avery Goes to Kindergarten! {And So Does Mommy}

Our Avery had her first day of Kindergarten today!  And what a great day it was!

I will preface her first day tales by saying that I left my previous teaching position and am now a Kindergarten teacher at Avery's school.  This is not new news but deserved a mention since my blogging has been so slack this summer.  Long, long story short: I met to show my interest in a position at the school in the spring, a position became available mid-June just a few days after I had signed my contract with my previous school system, I interviewed for the job and was offered it, and then I waited over 2 weeks for the school board to meet and ultimately decide to grant my request for a release from my contract.  So, my summer has been absolutely crazy between waiting, waiting, and then moving my classroom.  But a crazy summer is so worth this change.

Because of all that, I was able to drive Avery to school today.  We arrived early so that I could take a few breaths and get some pictures.

She was so, so excited and has been for weeks.  She hung out in my room until Ned arrived to walk her to her room {across the hall} and get that first day experience.  We had a few tears as she prepared to leave me, but Ned said as she crossed the hall she puffed her little chest out and was fine.  I peeked in a few minutes later and he gave me the thumbs up.

 She was smiling each time I saw her today.  We had recess together and she didn't even acknowledge my presence until it was time to go.  She sat right behind me at lunch, but I never knew she was there, other than me fighting the urge to clean her face.  She was still full of excitement this afternoon, and she told Ned tonight that she couldn't wait for Kindergarten tomorrow.  It's music class day!

Not only am I thrilled to be back at the school I attended for 14 years, but it is such a privilege to be there with Avery.  I walked her across the lawn this morning to take a picture at the school sign where I took my class picture with my 16 senior classmates many years ago.  Kindergarten is a hard milestone for a mama's heart, even when you are right across the hall, but we are both off to a great start.

Avery Celebrates Five

Avery had a wonderful time celebrating her fifth birthday.  It was so fun we celebrated twice!

On her birthday, we started with her traditional Bojangles breakfast.  She had been talking about that breakfast for weeks.  Our elf Toes came for the party and had decorated and left some princess plates, napkins, and hats.

 

We planned do do something fun since Ned gets off at noon on Wednesdays, and we had a few ideas of things we could do.  When only 1/3 of Avery's birthday present came {the water bottle, not the backpack or lunchbox} we decided we would go to Avery's favorite mall for her first trip to Build-a-Bear.  We started off with a train ride which made train-loving Sam so happy.  Then we got busy stuffing expensive animals.

My hat goes off to whoever came up with this store, because while you can do it cheaply, they really make it seem like a lot more fun to cover your $12 bear in $50 worth of accessories.  Avery chose one of the Palace Pets and got a few of the accessories to dress her up.  Sam got a Ninja Turtle.  Thankfully, he was pretty decorative alone, so we passed on his $10 weapon.  It really is a fun experience.

 

We did a little more shopping before we stopped for Avery's dinner of choice: Chick-Fil-A.  Pretzels made the perfect, special treat, and then we were on our way home.

 

We celebrated Avery's birthday the following Sunday with a Frozen in Summer party.  It was a fun and easy theme and Avery had a great time with all of her friends.  We had a full house even with 5 kids and their families missing.  We opened presents, ate, played, and had a cleaned up house by 5:30.

It's so hard to believe that we celebrated 5 years with our big girl.  It's even harder to believe that's she's already talking about turning 6!