Last day of kindergarten

Bittersweet I tell ya.  Bittersweet.  

Today is Olivia's last day of kindergarten.  

Then my baby is off to 1st grade.  Lots of changes next year.  She will be gone all day long and will eat lunch at school and ride the school bus.  All of this makes me excited for her - but all of this makes me feel a bit rushed.  

I will miss picking her up everyday at 11am and seeing her teacher walk her out to the parking lot as she runs towards me to give me a hug like she hasn't seen me in ages.  

I will miss having daily picnics, park play dates with all the other half day kindergarten moms after school.

I will miss my one on one afternoon time with her when the boys are napping.  

All of this is coming to an end.  She is growing up.  And I can't stop it.

What I will remember the most about this kindergarten year is how sad I was dropping her off the first day and how brave she was walking in those school doors for the first time.  

I never been more proud...

Not knowing a single soul in her new class she put her best foot forward and made new friends quickly.

I will always remember her very first best friend, Valeria, who made Olivia feel so very special and valued.

I will remember all the tears over the winter when the reading aspect of school became too overwhelming for her.  She didn't want to go to school anymore.  We almost withdrew her and sent her back to LUMP for a smaller school setting.  But after many conferences and dedication from her wonderful teachers and the reading resource teacher there, Olivia began to love school again.  I will always remember her perseverance and dedication to learn to read.  It was a such a relief to see her lack of school confidence soar.  I am proud of her.

She made lots of friends, art work that I have framed all over the house, learned some Spanish, learned to read and write, developed compassion at a whole new level, learned more about Jesus' love for her.  She grew immensely.   She endured a move and a new apartment.  She never skipped a beat.  She kept us smiling.

I will miss her as I send her off to 1st grade next year.  But I can't hold her back anymore.  

She is ready to spread her wings and fly.

Rough day

It was a rough day for Miss Olivia.  I received a phone call from her school nurse this morning and heard the dreaded words - "Olivia had an accident at school, it would be best if you could pick her up."

The poor thing was walking into her classroom this morning and the large, heavy, metal classroom door was shut on her finger.  Ouch.

When I picked her up from school the Nurse seemed to think all was better.  The bleeding had stopped and she didn't see the need for stitches.  Her finger was wrapped nicely with a bandage.  She told me to clean it really well and put neosporin on it today.  So after I picked her up we went on with our morning.  

After about two hours I had her take off her bandage and looked at the wound for the first time and felt very differently than I did when I first picked her up.

Turns out it was a lot worse than I was led on.

So after lots of blood, tears, a school nurse visit, a pediatrician visit - we made our way to the emergency room for her to get stitches and a splint on her wound.

She was very scared but she was very brave.  Me, on the other hand, didn't do very well with seeing her in pain.  So hard watching your child in so much pain and fear.  I wish I could have swapped places with her to make it all better.

But the injury is behind us for the most part.  She received lots of special care and attention at Children's Hosptial and she was treated to ice cream later in the day.  She made me so proud with her bravery and inquisitive heart.  She didn't let anyone touch her unless she knew exactly what was ahead for her.  I like that type of assertiveness.  Way to go, Olivia!

Daisy scouts

Cutest group of daisy scouts ever! 

I truly am so glad I was their troop leader.  I was worried that it would be too much of a commitment that I wasn't ready for - but it turns out it was exactly what I was ready for.  It brought me closer to Olivia's peers, I developed a great friendship with my troop co leaders, and I enjoyed watching my daughter develop friendships of her own while earning petals for good character. 

Yesterday was our last meeting for the kindergarten year!  We had a little party!  

Can't wait to meet again as first graders!

Star of the week!

Its Olivia's very special turn to be Star of the Week in her kindergarten class.  She has waited a long time for this as she is this years very last star of the week!  We created a poster over the weekend that will be on display all week in her classroom.  She gets to bring in her favorite book to be read to the class (Sofia the 1st) and she gets to choice an item to bring in for show and tell (her beanie boo collection).  And she keeps Max, the class pet all week and journal about their time together!  All fun things for a little kindergartner that loves special attention! 

 I told her they saved the best for last!

Enjoy your special week as the STAR!  You're always the star in our eyes!

"Olivia, you look so different."

These were the words out of Jack when he saw her with her hair cut for the first time. 

We couldn't stand her putting her locks in her mouth and she couldn't stand us brushing her long hair.

There was only one solution.

And we all agree it's the cutest solution we could find!

Art work

Olivia and Jack know the way to my heart...

It's  through art work.

I packed up all of our house decorations and they are boxed in storage so I have been decorating the new apartment with THEIR master pieces.  You should see the mantle.  It's all decked out and looks oh so springy!  Makes me happy!  And the kids feel awfully proud.

Happy Easter!

Welcome spring!

We are welcoming you with open arms.  

We sure are soaking up our very last couple of days playing on Thistle Lane.  

My neighbor captured Olivia on film.

My girl looks so grown up here.  It just startled me a bit.

 

 

 

Father-Daughter Dance

It's one of Olivia's most favorite nights of the year.  A date with her dad.  One that includes a pretty new dress, a special dinner out, dancing her heart out with her friends, and enjoying the company of her very first boyfriend - her charming daddy.  It doesn't get much better than that, my friends.  To feel so loved and special from someone so important in her life is truly a feeling every girl wants to bottle up forever.

Kindergarten

I've been able to volunteer in Olivia's classroom quite a bit thanks to my mom for taking over the boys so I can do this.  This past week I helped these little students Christmas shop at the schools Santa shop.  That was a privilege to see how excited they were to purchase gifts for their loved ones.  What a great class Olivia has!  A true community of support. She is lucky.

5 years young....

She's Beautiful.

She's Confident.

She's Compassionate.

She's Funny.

She's Brave.

She's EVERYTHING I hoped for and more.

1st day of Kindergarten

Here she is...

Our little Kindergartner.

Olivia started school today.

A brand new journey and adventure lies ahead.

I am so proud of her. 

 She was so BRAVE today.  

I watched her walk right into her first day of kindergarten with such pride in my eyes.

  I also got chocked up - I can't deny it. 

 Tears happiness and tears of pain 

(letting go of my girl and watching her grow up stings just a bit!)

However I am so exctited for the next chapter of her life to begin...

And when I picked her up from school today

 she was grinning from ear to ear and said she can't wait to go back!  

And she also added that she made a new best friend.  

Success.

....AND THERES THAT SMILE I WAS REFERING TO WHEN I PICKED HER UP TODAY.

Her teachers, Mrs. Hohman and Mrs. Haglage

Tooth fairy

Look who lost her very first tooth on her 5th birthday.....

Happy 5th Birthday, Olivia

Dear Olivia,

Happy 5th Birthday to you, my first born baby!  I can't believe I have been your mommy for 5 years.  It has gone by fast - yet, I feel like you've been around my whole life.  I don't think my life truly started, with true meaning, until you were born.  I thank you for that.

I can't express to you enough just how in love I am with you.  You are my favorite person in the world.  You are the best part of me.  You are the daughter I always wanted.

Nothing brings me greater JOY than watching you develop into the person God intended you to be.

You are Strong.
You are Brave.
You are Kind.
You are Compassionate.

I've never met anyone who has a more infectious personality than you.

I am proud to have YOU for my daughter.  Promise me you will always keep that strong-will and fighter sword about you.  It will come in handy your whole life.

I love you, Olivia Ruth.  Thank you for the past 5 years.  You've challenged me, you have brought me to tears (both happy and sad), and you have opened my heart to a capacity that I didn't know existed.

You are truly one of a kind.

You are my forever, beautiful girl.

XOXO,
Mom

July, 1st 2008. 

 Happiest day of my life.

Still celebrating....

Party #2 was last night with the family. We celebrated a weekend early since her birthday falls on 4th of July travel week. So we had to grab the grandparents, aunts and uncles the weekend before. It was a beautiful celebration/gathering as always. Justin fired up the grill, we had Graeters ice cream cake, great conversation out back on the patio, and presents for her to open. She received her very first American Girl Doll, Caroline! She is in Heaven! Great night!

Olivia's 5th Birthday Party

We celebrated Olivia's 5th Birthday yesterday afternoon and well into the evening last night with our closest friends.  It was such a special day celebrating our girl with her favorite things!  She had her first "off-site" birthday party for her friends.  All 16 of her closest friends - ha!  It was a gymnastics birthday party at the YMCA.  They had fun in the gymnasium, then we finished up with pizza, cake and presents.  It was everything she had ever hoped for and more.  Afterwards, a few friends came back to the house to continue the fun.  It was a 7 hour event of fun.