First Day of School

August 19th 2013 came way to quick for this family!!! 

Our little Aubrey started kindergarten at Peterson Elementary.  I had a very hard time with this new stage in our life.  Actually all summer I worried and dreaded this day but as hard as it was for me I tried my very best to be excited and positive for Aubrey because I knew she would absolutely love it.  I'm not sure she had any idea what kindergarten was going to be like but I knew she loved the red school (pre-school) so I had a feeling she would like it too.  Here in Merced Kindergarten is all day and I just could not believe that she was going to be gone from me all day.  I looked into every school possible private and public (I was willing to pay if it meant she would be home at lunch time).  I'm not sure why this was such a big deal to me but it was.  I have had her all to myself for 5 years and I didn't want to share her for so much time.  When our house was built we were told there would be a new school out by us well 6 years later still no school.  They send our neighborhood children to a school across town in not the best area with really low test scores.  Spencer and I were not okay with this so I started my battle to get her in the public school closest to us in January.  Lots of emails and phone calls all summer paid off and I got her in our school of choice one week before school started.  We had a nice kindergarten round-up the Friday before where we met her teacher Ms. Stapp, saw her deck and cubby and checked out all the fun things in the room.  Sunday night we picked out her outfit and laid it out.  She also really wanted daddy to set her alarm so he did that for her.  In the morning we got all ready and headed down to the school.  I was expecting to have more of an easier drop off and I even thought I would get to take her to the class room but no it was very confusing and sad.  They had all the kindergartner's meet in the cafeteria and that is where we dropped them off.  Since it was super crowded we parked a few blocks away and got there right when the bell rang so the teacher just took her hand and walked off.   I had a quick second to hug her and blow her a kiss she looked confused and sad.  I was left with a real empty feeling and cried all the way back to the car with Carter.  It was very strange having her gone all day and I could not wait to pick her up and hear all her stories.  Well the day went by thanks to Carter playing with me at the park and Spencer taking us out to lunch.  I think Carter and I actually ran to pick her up and when we saw her seating out in front of the class room she had a huge smile and the first thing she said is, "I like it! I really like it mom." I was relieved that it was good day and no one was mean to her.  

Here she is on her first day:      

The first week was hard.  It was hard to stay positive for her when she was just starting to get use to this new life and wasn't to sure about it and neither was I.  She liked school but she didn't like being there all day.  She missed Carter and I and all her toys she would say.  We missed her!!! Making lunches everyday has been an adjustment and just being accountable to a school has been a challenge and not what I'm use too.  Her teacher seems very nice and organized but she has yet to let parents volunteer in the class room which has been very hard for me.  Coming from preschool where the parents run the school to having no involvement has been super hard.  The teacher says that she will start to have us help in October so I'm just holding my breath and can't wait.  It's hard to be okay with her with someone else that I don't really know for so long.  Her school does allow to have parents visit for lunch time so we have done that twice and I feel like I have started to get to know some of her friends.  She is lucky to have two friends from preschool in her class.  She also has become really close to a little girl that sits right across form her.  Her name is Advaitaa which is very hard to pronounce so on the first day of school Aubrey decided they need nicknames Aubrey being Pinkalicious since she loves pink and Advaitta, Purplecious since she loves purple.  It was very cute and I loved all the fun stories she had about her new friends.  The teacher got word about my love for crafts and has had me do a few projects at home so I feel like I'm being a little helpful.  This is a whole new life for sure and we are still adjusting but it's starting to be okay and we are happy.  

These pictures are from the round-up Friday August 16th: