The Beginning of a New Era

Hannah was up by 5:45 this morning announcing it was her first day of preschool. P.K. has to leave for work early so we were already up. Hannah has been asking when she could go to preschool since the first day we got to our new house. We found one that is less than five minutes from our house. She will be attending on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9-12 with the option to stay until 1:00 for lunch. The staff is very friendly. She will have music, PE and library once a week. She will even get to check out library books like Rachel and Aaron do at school.

Rachel and Aaron both attended preschool/daycare off and on when we lived in California. It was more so I could get things done than preparing them for school. Once Rachel started kindergarten, I would take Aaron and Hannah to the Child Development Center on base one day a week so I could volunteer in Rachel's class, run a couple of child free errands and P.K. and I would often have lunch together. I also always tried to schedule any appointments for myself on that day. We always had our neighborhood friends to play with. Hannah doesn't have that so it was time. Kindergarten here is all day so having preschool a few hours a week will make it easier on both of us next fall.

I was in a bit of a fog when I drove out of the parking lot. I've done stuff without kids before but this had a different feel to it. I think because it is the beginning of a new era. The season of having kids at home all day long is gone.

What does one do without kids at home? After all, I have had at least one at home for the past nine years. There were a dozen chores to do at home. After having company all weekend and not doing laundry since Friday, I could have easily busied myself around the house. Instead I went to WalMart and Target to pick up a couple things. I took my own sweet time at both places. When I came home I ate an early lunch all by myself. Then I put away the things I had purchased at the stores. I will be more productive from now on, but it was nice to just sit back this morning and take it all in.

The school has a pick up system much like Rachel and Aaron's school. I have a number I put in my window and they bring her to the car. When the teacher opened the door Hannah could hardly tell me fast enough about the swings on the playground that were low enough for her to get in all by herself and she didn't even need a push to get started. She gave me a run down of the day all the way home. She was almost as happy as Christmas morning going through her take home folder to show me all of her treasures. The teacher sent a note saying Hannah is a very smart girl. (Not to sound to biased or proud but was there any doubt?)

This picture was taken in our front yard. My mom took her shopping and let her pick out an outfit for her first day.

This is the "housekeeping" area in her classroom. The loft above is called "the listening loft." The whole class sits up there for story time.

This is another shot of Hannah in her fabulous new room.