Ansley Kate Is Off To Kindergarten!

Let's see if I can write this through all these tears.... ;)

This morning after attempting to wake Jackson up, I also had to go and wake up my little girl (that LOVES to sleep late), because for the first time this morning, she was heading off to school, too. Kindergarten. Ansley Kate is in kindergarten!

Last night before bed she picked out what she wanted to wear today, and she laid it all out. She even had to accessorize and lay out her shoes, hair bow, necklace and earrings that she wanted to wear. We then read "Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!" and "The Kissing Hand", and she asked if I would lay with her a minute. I climbed into her bunk bed with her and she says, "Mommy, I'm going to miss you the most tomorrow." I'd be lying if I said I didn't shed a few tears, but I told her that I was going to miss her, too, but I was so excited for her and reminded her how proud of her daddy and I are. We talked about how exciting it is going to be meeting new friends, her teachers, and learning all kinds of fun stuff. When I woke her up she sat up, crawled to the end of her top bunk and put her little arms around my neck. I got her out of her bed and while she was still in my arms, she whispered, "Mommy, don't forget my "Kissing Hands" today." I laughed and told her of course I wouldn't forget, and then told her to put on her clothes while I went to try to get big brother out of bed (again).

We then went outside to take a few pictures:

and then Mamaw Ollie and Bella pulled in. They said they would stay with Vada Belle and Elsie while we went and dropped Jackson and Ansley off at school. When Ansley first woke up, she seemed a little nervous, but by the time we left she didn't at all. When we pulled into the school, she was nothing but smiles and SO excited. We get across the parking lot and realized that she forgot her backpack (thankfully only in the car), so dad went to get that for her while we snapped a quick picture in front of the school.

We went into the gym and dropped Jackson off in his class line, and he was also very excited that his little sister was at "his" school. All the way to school it seemed like we were having a question/answer session in the back seat about school, and when we pulled into the parking lot we hear from the back in a very exciting voice, "Oh Ansley! Are you ready!" We then took Ansley to her class line. The bell rang and I told her that meant it was time to go to class. I thought maybe this would be when she would get tears in her eyes, hold my hand a little tighter, but no. She gave me a kiss and a hug and was on her way (with the bottom of her little skirt tucked into her Cinderella backpack- oops!). I watched her walk out of the gym with her long curls bouncing, and I couldn't fight back the tears. For (almost) five years now, I have been her teacher, her playmate, her nurse, and so many other roles, but from now on I have to share those roles with other people. If she falls and scrapes her knees, or if someone hurts her feelings, I won't be the first one she runs to for a hug and for comfort (but hopefully she'll still tell me all about it once she gets off the bus). So long are her days of sleeping however late she wants (and with Ansley, she loves to sleep late), spending her days care free with no assignments due and no clock to watch to make sure you are going to be on time. With the blink of an eye she turned from an infant to a kindergartner, and we couldn't be more proud of the awesome, smart, kind and loving kinder that she is. 

This afternoon when Elsie, Vada Belle, Bella and I went and picked her and Jackson up from school, I asked how her first day went, her exact response: "It was AWESOME!" Yeah! We then all went to get a special treat, some ice cream! She told me tonight at dinner that one time today she started missing me, "but then I put my hand on my cheek and I could feel love from ya." So sweet. Tonight when her head hit her pillow, it didn't take but a minute or so before she was out. 

So world, this is the first step in letting my green eyed, curly long hair, tender-hearted princess, go. Take care of her, and please treat her well, because...no matter what...she is always going to be my little girl.