That big yellow bus took my baby away...to school!

This morning was a special day for my little Seraya, she has been looking forward to this for YEARS it seems. Her first day of Kindergarten! For me, the first day I've let my baby go somewhere without me (or someone I know). I feel so vulnerable knowing that someone else is caring for her now, someone else is also teaching her. I only hope that there will be a loving teacher or helper there the first time she raises her hand and doesn't get picked, or when she doesn't get to be the "line leader", or when she drops her sandwich, or can't find her class, or and of the many things running through my head right now.

It's silly to feel this way, I know. Seraya is feeling free as a bird! She carefully picked out her outfit last night and laid it out on the floor in her room, underwear, shoes, socks and all. We talked about doing this since she has am kindergarten and she did such a great job remembering. I'm really proud of her! Enoch gave her a little blessing at prayer time last night and I said a little prayer with her today before the left. She gave me the biggest hug and told me I'm the best mommy in the world. I made her one of her favorite things for breakfast, an egg, which she gobbled up. She brushed her teeth and got her backpack on and we were off!

Enoch and I piled the kids in the van and went to the bus stop. I was a little nervous for her when I saw the other "big kids" that would be riding the bus. One of the older girls asked who Seraya's teacher is and she said she's the best. Whew!

So, the bus driver, Ms. Jones, checked in each of the kindergartners as they got on the bus. Seraya was so anxious that she was one of the first ones on and she took a seat right on the front row just behind the bus driver. She looked out the window with a HUGE BYE-BYE grin and waved and blew kisses to her dad and I. I went back to the van as the bus pulled away and teared up. I tried to think about how excited she was to have the freedom she's been craving, but I' can't help but be sad that my baby is growing up. I am so proud of her. She knew nothing of the stealth action Enoch and I had planned to see her get OFF the bus as well.

Yesterday at orientation, the teacher said that we were welcome to come to school to see our child get off the bus and take pictures. Enoch jumped out of his skin at the thought! He loves taking pictures of momentous occasions such as this. So, after the bus pulled away we went across the street to the school and Enoch got some video of Seraya getting off the bus. "What's he doing here?" Enoch heard Seraya say in a giggle to a friend. We saw her line up by her teacher who was holding a dolphin sign high on a stick. From the looks of it she was already chatting it up with the girl in line next to her!

We watched her follow her teacher in line to her classroom and then Enoch and I walked back to the van with two children in tow instead of three and it felt so strange. Life just changed for us and now we have a daughter in school. We were choked up at the thought of it. I'm excited for all that she will learn and discover! When we pulled back into the driveway at our house Enoch jumped out to get in his car to drive to work and Kaija piped up, "I really miss Seraya".

Now I just have to remember to be at the bus stop at 12:05 to pick her up!

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Graduation Day, Graduation Day, Graduation Day is FINALLY here!

Words from the song Seraya has been practicing to sing at Graduation to the tune of “Dina won’t you blow, Dina won't you blow, Diana won't you blow your Ho-r-n!"

My Seraya is an official preschool graduate! See, she has a graduation cap and diploma to prove it!

For the special occasion I thought it would be fun for her to pick out a new dress so I took her to the store and she got to pick out whatever dress she wanted. This is a special treat from the usual mom buys her something on sale and she better like it scenario. She said, “Mama, I’m going to pick the most beautifulest dress ever.”

All I can say is that girl knows what she likes. I must have shown her at least 30 dresses, how about this one, or this one…..no, no, no. She found a white and purple dress and her face lit up, “Oh, mama…I love this dress!” We narrowed it down to five dresses to try on and each one was a nope until she put this same purple one on and then it was “Oh, mama, I love the sleeves”, she twirled around the it was sold! On the way back out to the car she said, “Mom, I can’t believe I found my best dress ever!”

I’m glad she felt really special going to her graduation. She sat up front with her teacher and special friends, some of who she has been in school with for 2 years. They sang their “Graduation Day” song and then Seraya’s class sang “I’m Gonna Praise Him”. They did a fabulous job. We are so proud of Seraya! She has grown and has learned so much over the past two years of preschool.

Afterward, we gave Seraya some beautiful hot pink baby roses (her favorite color) that her daddy picked out for her. She took a picture with Ms.Corinne and got her Diploma and a gift of a Children’s Bible. Kaija was waiting so patiently hoping that she would get one too, and she was so sad to find out that only Seraya was graduating., afterall she has gone to preschool almost every day this year to drop Seraya off and pick her up and that should count for something!

We all went out to dinner afterwards and happened to meet one of Seraya’s classmates, Bryan, and his family there. We all ate together and celebrated the accomplishments of out little ones. They SO enjoyed being the center of attention… "Drink it all in, Seraya”, I said, and she giggled.

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