Oh! The Places You'll Go!

Today was my baby's first day of school. She is officially an elementary school student attending her Pre-K class Mondays - Thursdays from 9:15 to 3:15 at South Shore Elementary School in Seattle. She was super excited and could hardly calm down enough to go to sleep last night. Everytime I went in to sternly tell her she needed to go to sleep for school, she would insist "I CAN'T!". You would have thought it was Christmas Eve. I think I may have fallen asleep before she did.

We did her hair in her special "Hannah-Montana" hair (braids taken out in the morning so it is wavy) and she wore her new shoes and new back pack. She is now ready to conquer the world - or at least the playground for now. My dad made a comment the other day about how once your children start school, every step they take from now on is a step away from me. At the time it made me melancholy, but after taking her to school today and seeing her excitement, I am really happy for her and this opportunity to learn. As Dr. Suess would say,

Congratulations!

Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the [gal]who’ll decide where to go.

And will you succeed?

Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)


Kid, you’ll move mountains!
So…be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ale Van Allen O’Shea,
You’re off to Great Places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting.
So…get on your way!

LOVE YOU ELLIS!

The traditional first day of school pose

Now with her Tinkerbell backpack and matching lunch bag

Side view in case you were wondering how big the backpack really is on a little 4-year old.

Standing next to her cubby - note her name!

Every morning she has to put her popsicle stick into the cup to show she is HERE.

Playing with the quiet time toys waiting for everyone else to get there.