Eva Goes to Preschool

Here is to the most random back to school photo you will get this year....Eva started preschool! Yep on February 3rd..because that's how we do things over here. Ha, so we had thought about starting her in preschool in January and I looked into it back in December, but we just weren't sure. Then throughout January things unfolded and we decided that this would be a great time for her to start preschool. Learning wise, she is doing great and just started building words and reading a few words. What we most wanted out of preschool was more playtime with kids and for us to get healthy time apart from each other, because it is possible we sometimes need that :) This is her first time to go away from home to school and we have been so excited since we signed her up. She already had a tiny Sofia lunch box and cute bag to carry, so we got her a matching Sofia thermos cup and a new "back to school" outfit! Ah! This is where my Mama love shines! I was super enthusiastic for her to start this new journey! I packed her snack for the day in her lunch box yesterday, complete with a Frozen graham crackers that are only for school days, and I even ironed her outfit :) Y'all. I have maybe ironed kid clothes 3 times ever, and I for sure won't do it again, but that's how excited I was for her. She did mention once yesterday, "I'm a tiny bit scared," but I think she was mostly good since it was the same place we did VBS last summer and she remembers having a great time there.

At her cubby! It even has her name on it!

We counted down the days on our calendar and this morning she came bouncing into her room saying, "Mama, mama! I get to start preschool today!" We had a good breakfast and then made it to school a bit early to take a photo. I am so happy because one of her good friends, Emily, is in her class, along with another friend, Anthony, that we used to do gymnastics with so she already knew some kids. We prayed for her on our way to school. We walked her in altogether. I was soooo happy when the teacher said, "The first thing we always do is wash our hands!" Yes! One of my biggest hangups on preschool was that she might get sick more. Yes, I know that kids need good exposure to germs and that they eventually get sick now or later. But still. I hate germs. So I was very glad to see that the teacher encouraged good hand washing.

Finally it was time to say goodbye. Just a quick hug and kiss and she was off to play at centers! No tears from anybody. I did have one emotional moment, but it was more a feeling of pride as we sent her off than sadness. All morning long I would look at the clock and think about what she was doing at that time...I wish I could be a fly on the wall to see her. My prayer for her is that she would love learning, be kind and generous, be a leader, and make lots of friends.

I arrived to pick her up a few minutes early and got to sit in the warm car and watch her play and run around on the play ground. She was in such a good mood! We got her things and walked out with her friend. I didn't want to bombard her with "How was your day???? Tell me everything!!!" so I played it cool and waited until she started to chatter which didn't take long. She said her favorite part of the day was chapel and she told me the story of Jesus telling the disciples, "Let the children come to me." She talked about the letter Q, and doing crab walks at PE, and playing dress up. She really likes her teacher and told me that snack time is at 10AM, just like at home. She told me that they made Valentine's Day cards for children who are in the hospital, but that she doesn't have to go to the hospital because another grown up will take them ;) I loved seeing her so filled with joy.

We will still do home school on Mondays and Tuesdays, working mostly on math, literacy, and science. Then she will go to preschool on Wednesday where she gets play centers, Bible, PE, some literacy and math, art, and recess. We also have our Moms Connect group on Thursdays where she is in a class and gets to play, do crafts, and have Bible time. I'm also so happy to get special time with Jensen. I love one on one time with my precious baby...who is turning ONE in two days...but that's another blog post.

I will wrap up this sappy mom post with a photo of another first Eva enjoyed 10 days ago that I never blogged about....

Her first hair cut! I had never even trimmed those baby blonde locks. How did this baby girl grow up so fast?