School’s Out.

And then we had a first grader.

A first grader!

Every time I say that I have a catch in my voice and a lump in my throat. It isn’t just preschool or kindergarten, but an honest-to-goodness numbered grade. It just doesn’t seem possible.

But between bringing home an art portfolio that was bigger than she is and a glowing report card (seriously, she would have a hard time getting better marks or comments – she is such a good kid!), Emma left kindergarten yesterday for the last time. And she just can’t stop beaming or talking about the “most fun day ever!”

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I have to admit, their little “graduation” party was pretty darn cool.

Even though we (a neighbor, two friends and myself) thought it a good idea to have a garage sale yesterday and today, I snuck out for a bit and went over to help out with the party, and take photos, of course.

They had little stations set up for the kids; bubbles…

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…potato sack races…

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…and water tables with water balloon games. By the way, I was filling up water balloons at midnight on Wednesday – and let me tell you, there is a definite art to filling them. I think I have mastered it after about my 50th balloon, and only breaking and getting sprayed by about 15 of them!

I don’t have a lot of action shots, because my station was…face painting. Another mom was doing tattoos and I painted. And painted. And painted – oh, probably close to 100 ladybugs, dinosaurs, puppies, kitties, butterflies, and flowers. There were 40 kids and once we got through all of them, one of them asked for another one on her other cheek, which started a mad rush to the painting table again. By the end of the day I had kids coming up and saying, “um…I still have a spot here!” as they hunted for a spare portion of their arm that didn’t have a tattoo or painting on it. It was really fun!

Except…all my pics of Em, as her last day as a kindergartner? She has this on her forehead.

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Nice, eh? This was before she got more painting and tattoos…she was all inked up and the bathwater last night was dis-gusting!

Notice she did wear her dress that I “had to make for the last day of school!” But they all made t-shirts to wear to the party, so she ended up covering up the dress, anyhow. And she asked for me to braid her hair like Aunt Meesh. Although she told me in no uncertain terms, that it was not how Aunt Meesh does it. Everyone is a critic.

Then of course no party is complete without pizza and popsicles!

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And goody bags.

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And then it was time to say goodbye.

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The little boy on the far left is Emma’s friend-who-happens-to-be-a-boy. His mom and I are always laughing about him (he has a twin sister that is in Em’s little group of girlfriends) tagging along with the girls. And apparently B. talks about Em. A Lot. And Em adores him.

So he walked up and said, “Have a nice summer Emma!” And her face just fell. He and his sister are going to a different school next year and I think it kinda sunk in that no more school, also means no more friends every day. And then I reminded her…almost every one of her friends lives within walking distance from our house. We could potentially see them a few times in the next few months. Silly girl.

And she also had another little playmate (who has been out of school for a week already) just patiently waiting for her first-grade sister to come home.

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9 thoughts on “School’s Out.

  1. Oh, love that pic of Addie! Too funny! Are her feet muddy? Congratulations, Emma. You are gonna go far, sweet girl.

  2. First grade does seem so much more grown up than kindergarten. Congrats Em. I know you will excel in First grade just like you did in Kindergarten.

  3. What a great last day of kindergarten!! I can’t believe she’s already headed to first grade -gah! Where does the time go??

  4. Did you notice (I’m sure you did and just didn’t mention it) how grown-up, mature and ahead of the other kids she looked in that picture! She is so pretty! Great year,Em. Congrats!!!!!!! How could it have been more that a couple of years ago that Uncle Dick stopped to see her at the hospital in Chicago on the day she was born?! Where did that time go? Hope you all have a great summer — before first grade actually descends on you!

  5. Adorable!!! :)

    Sounds like a wonderful year for a fabulous kiddo!

    What did they paint on their shirts that all match? did they paint or did the teachers paint them?

    Ahhhh….the luxury of a looser schedule….and in about 2 months you’ll be ready for a tighter schedule again. :) LOVE summer break!

  6. I feel as if I have just been to Graduation myself. (and I know all about the face painting thing….I used to do it for our church fete every summer in the UK). Funnily enough all I could think of was ‘what a lot of work for the teachers’ :-D Makes me glad I teach secondary. We just watch a video on the last day!!!!!!!!!!!! Naaaaaah. Seriously, that was a great way to finish the year. As to Emma’s ‘friend who is a boy’, I STILL see my Kindergarten Friend over 40 years down the track so tell her not to be too sad.

  7. That is one heck of a celebration for the last day of school. And you captured it so well in the photos. I hope you all have an awesome summer!

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