~KINDERGARTEN~

OK so I am super late with this but still taking it all in!  Mary started Kindergarten at St. Pius X school this September.  We were all so excited!  We made a few trips to the store to find unform clothes.  Mary initially was not very happy about wearing blue and white, because according to her blue is a boy color.  However, when she saw the skirt and dress (jumper) she could wear she was happy and loving this uniform thing!  We went in late August and had a school bus orientation...this was fun and got Mary excited and made her (and me) feel comfortable about the bus.  She was all set with her backpack & lunch bag (she earned them when she got her 5 year shots!).  We bought all the school supplies and went armed and ready to kindergarten orientation.  It was an emotional day for Chuck and I.  We were both teary eyed as the prinicpal spoke to the large group of parents and Mary was busy meeting her classmates and having fun with her teachers. 

It was the night before the big day and Mary was so excited and I had mixed emotions but was so HAPPY she was looking forward to this and eager to ride the bus.  She had her outfit picked out and was smiling all night ;)

The morning came and her favorite breakfast was ready and waiting...waffles and banana cakes (banana slices topped w/ peanut butter, sprinkles, and chocolate chips...mommy's creation) and lunch being made.  Grandma (my mother) came in from Buffalo the night before so she could see Mary get on the bus.  Even Johnny was excited!

So the paparazzi was in full affect that morning (that would be me!) and we took lots of pictures, we were all happy, excited and smiling ;)

Then Mary gave out hugs and kisses to everyone...I squeezed her so tight and we were fine until the bus door closed and then drove away and Chuck & I lost it, truly lost it.  We hugged eachother so tight and cried and cried as the neighbors and my mom and Johnny watched.  I can feel it all again writing this and tears are welling up.  My baby girl just got on a bus and now someone else gets to play a huge role in helping to prepare my sweet daughter for life.  Until now, the last 5 years it has been Chuck and I in full force, raising our babies and doing everything we believed was right to provide, protect,and prepare them for life.  We made huge financial sacrifices so I could primarily be home with them, Chuck had a "daddy" day during the week when I worked, we waited 2 years before anyone could watch them that was not my mom and we were raising our children the best we knew how, so we were doing it all as Chuck said from day 1 "with no instructions".  So as I sit here with tears in my eyes, we DID make all the right choices, it was worth every penny we went without, all the late nights and long days, being with my girl these last 5 years.  The moment she got on that bus I knew...And off she went happy, confident, smiling, strong, kind, and beautiful and I could not have been more proud!!!

And yes we were the parents who then showed up at school to see her get of the bus!  But we had to (my excuse..hahha), Mary had gym the 1st day of school and she was NOT (as far as she was concerned) wearing that gym uniform on her 1st day, she was wearing her new dress!  So I had to go and change her before school started (on gym days they wear their gym uniform all day).  I may have been more nervous about this day then she was and being there when she arrived eased my nerves. 

I then had to go off to work for rest of the day until school was out.  I was crying on and off all day and on top of this special day my nephew was in the PICU at Childrens Hospital, my brothers dog and best friend of 14 years died, and my best friends dog was very sick...so I was a MESS.  Note to self...take off of work on Johnny's 1st day of school when he heads off to kindergarten next year!  Made it through the day and was so excited to have a happy, smiling Mary Rose run off the bus into my arms!

 As promised she could pick where we celebrated and had dinner...off to Applebee's we went ;)

So the 1st day was a GREAT day and so was the entire 1st week.  Mary came home tired and hungry but no melt downs (which I was expecting and most people say that happens and Mary "melts" easier than most kids) and my favorite quote at the end of her 1st day, Mary said "Mom kindergarten is rockin"!  Here are a few more photos from her 1st week.  Mary Rose I am so proud of you and the big girl you have become and amazed by all you are learning!  Just last week, at dinner, Mary recited the Pledge, The Our Father, and then showed us all how she can count by 10's to 100.  She is spelling her full name, tells you where she lives and her ph #. And at the end of last week, she mastered being able to tie her shoes ;)   Love you more than Rainbows Mary Rose Swiderski , Mommy XOXO