Dear Simon,
Today you begin First Grade.
Yesterday we all went together to the Open House to meet your teacher and visit your new classroom. You were so excited you could hardly stand it. At first we weren't sure if you were just excited that we were coming with you to school or that you were going back and were going to be able to see all your friends and favorite teachers again.
Seeing you all jazzed up was the most fantastic gift - you hugged every single teacher from last year and went up to each of your friends to say hi. Watching you interact with each of them was one of my favorite moments of the day.
We visited your new classroom and met your new teachers. You found your table (with your name already on it) and your cubby and went right to work investigating your new classroom. You saw lots of words on the wall and found a good break area with so many books and puzzles. Together we read all the names of all the students in your class and talked about the opportunity to make new friends.
We also visited the other First Grade classrooms across the hall and found many of your friends from Kindergarten. We saw Nathaniel, Alexis, Analise, and Ben, along with a bunch of other kids you remembered from last year.
We checked out the gym and the cafeteria and talked about how this year you will walk to class with the First Graders, rather than the Kindergartners, which means you will have to wait just a bit longer before being dismissed. You are a school-lunch kid and are very excited about getting back into your lunchtime routine in the cafeteria (especially your favorite nachos).
I just kept looking at your Dad and smiling so very wide as you went from one thing to the next.
After we had thoroughly checked everything out we went to have pizza for lunch at one of your favorite spots to celebrate going back to school (and your excitement).
Today is a big day for you and we couldn't be more proud to see you moving forward! Have fun, take deep breaths and a break if you need one, and most of all remember that we love you very, very much.
Mom & Dad
Perfect for Today: A great read for back to school, parenting, and being brave: Like Mother, Like Superhero.
Also, just a reminder that there is still time to enter the giveaway today for Taking Flight (until 5pm Pacific).
Hi Ali,
What a great letter to Simon. My son just returned to college for his Senior year! I took pictures of every one of his first days of school and am so glad that I did. Believe me, Simon's school years will fly by, but I know you will cherish and preserve those memories. Enjoy them all!
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So excited for Simons 1st day!! Nice to see such great progress and Grade 1 is great!! Brodys was not as good, excited to go - however, the bus driver did not tell us that he would have to buddy up on the bus this year and that was enough to throw the start of the ride off!! We recovered good, so hopefully this morning will be a good day!!
Hope it is a good day!!
Nicky
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Oh my, I just relived my little fella's first day of school while reading your post. He is now a junior in college, so reading your post brought back a flood of memories for me. Way to go Simon, what a big guy you are!
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What an awesome letter to Simon! I'm sure you're going to come up with a brilliant way to scrap this on a page (or more). Thanks for sharing that with us. I hope he has The Best Day ever. Hope you & Chris have a great day too. :)
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I love this post. IT totally reminds me of my scrapbook pages. when i scrapbook my children I always feel like my journaling is a letter to them for when i leave them later! i have a first grader this year too!
what a transition!
xoxo
ronee
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Dear Simon, What an amazing fellow you are and how very lucky you are to be going to the 1st grade. I hope you make lots of new friends and learn wonderful things.
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I still remember the first day of school for my kids..i just loved to see how they took everything in and the excitment about another year, new teachers, new friends and seeing old fiends and teachers..still even with them one in first year of college and the other in 10th grade i still have my mommy cry on the first day of school..it is such a life moment.
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Ali, I love this post. So sweet.
Hope you have a great day!
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What a wonderful letter to sweet Simon :)
Erin :)
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I wish that blogging was an option when my kids were younger. What a great way to preserve a special memory, Simon is one lucky little kid.
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You've captured the first day feelings so perfectly. Thank you for sharing.
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This is just precious, Ali. I could picture him doing everything you described. :) Yay, first grader!
Jennifer
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I just got totally misty-eyed reading that post. I think sometimes I forget to look at it all through my children's eyes and remember that I am not the only one with anxieties about life. They both just go along pretty carefree and when they are upset or nervous about something it isn't super evident. (they clearly did NOT inherit their easygoingness from me) Your blog always reminds me to stop, listen and look from their perspective.
Good luck with your first grade adventures!
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As always, another great post. I'm so happy to see Simon growing daily. I was also happy to read about your new family addition when I returned from vacation. Wishing you God's blessings and much continued happiness in the new year.
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What a wonderful day for him. I was pregnant with my second when my first started grade 1 - this brought back so many precious memories for me. Enjoy!
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Precious post Ali!!, and I'm so impressed because I don't know that 'cafeteria' is used in english too!! I think that only in Spanish we use this word! I love that photo! =)
Mabel
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What a great letter (love the details) and how you wrote about your strong emotions as well as his. My baby is now starting first grade and I have experienced the same highs with seeing the excitement. Thanks for sharing this!
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So fabulous - on every level!!
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A great back to school read for Simon:
The Incredible Book Eating Boy.
I think you'll enjoy the artist as well.
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beautiful. i feel proud of simon after watching him grow here during the last few years. this is so fantastic! i hope this day is wonderful for him, for all of you.
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What a wonderful letter and a wonderful little boy and family!
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What a great letter to Simon. Now, I'm crying at work, remembering when my kids first went to school. Simon is becoming such a "grown up" little boy!
thanks for sharing, Ali . . .
Jenell
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Such a proud day for all of you. It's wonderful to watch Simon grow and mature through your posts. Congratulations to you and Chris and your families for doing and being what Simon needs.
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Ali, thank you so much for sharing this wonderful link. ***
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Way to go SIMON!!!! I just dropped my son off for his first day of 7th grade --- this was the year that he no longer kisses me good-bye........just a wave........sigh...They grow up to fast:)
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