The Last Day of Kindergarten.
It's pretty unbelievable that Simon is finishing his last day in Kindergarten today.
Chris took this shot of him last week when I was in Houston. Running through the house in one of his many costumes. Right now he is "working for" a Storm Trooper costume. He's been wearing this Tigger one for years. [ Just thinking that a layout about his various costumes is definitely in order. ]
Found this one from January 2006 - nothing needs to be rolled up anymore.
I asked Simon what his favorite thing was about Kindergarten and he replied, "going out to recess."
Chris and I sat down the other night and reminisced a bit about watching Simon experience Kindergarten. Here are some of the things that stood out for us (it is written to him - these comments will become a layout called "We Remember"):
We remember driving you to school each morning; holding hands as we walk across the cross-walk and always saying “look both ways;” waiting for “the kids” to be released from the cafeteria; you walking upstream into the crowd of kids until you found Alexis and then turning around and heading back towards the classroom; placing your lunch token into the pockets on the wall; taking off your backpack and stuffing it in your cubby; following directions and keeping your "star" in "green" (Chris wondering if we would be walking you in to school when you were in highschool).
We remember the tough transition days in the beginning as you got used to the new routine, new surroundings, new teachers, and new kids.
We remember that many days (just up until about two months before school was over) you would stand at the window next to the door and wave and watch us drive away.
We remember the day we finally followed the regular routine of dropping you off outside. Daddy took the leap first. You were super brave and followed the directions perfectly. Such a big kid.
We remember watching, and working with you, as you learned to read and write. We remember specifically how excited we were when you came home one day and showed us that you could "correctly" hold your pencil. You would come home from school and pull the papers out of your backpack to show me what you had worked on during class. You would sit at the table working on your handwriting homework and be so proud of yourself as you wrote your letters and later, words.
We remember that lunch from day one has been “school lunch” : chicken nuggets, bagel + cream cheese, chicken burger, cheese pizza, nachos, pretzel, etc. You were always happy to share your choice.
We remember how hard you were working on standing in line and how much you always wanted to be the line-leader. You would come home and tell us about how one of your other classmates got to be line-leader that day and how frustrated you were because it was not your turn.
We remember the star system your teachers used: when your star was in green it meant you were following directions (that was the goal each day...to "stay in green"). You were super concerned on the days your star was in yellow or the very occasional red. You did not like it when your start was moved out of green. You brought your star home yesterday and you were so excited to place it on the refrigerator.
We remember lots of experiences related to the school bus. As the year progressed you got more comfortable on the bus and on many days were fast asleep when the bus pulled up to our house. Some of my favorite memories are the days when I walked outside and saw you sitting next to one of your classmates.
We remember the general anxiety related to your development. Would you make friends? Would you do ok? Would you move forward? The reality is that you did just fine. Sure there were challenges and good + bad days...but overall, you seemed really, truly happy just being you. What more could we ask for?
We remember so many little moments: how you would bring home the same library book week after week and think it was so funny when we would open your backpack and there it would be again; you eating a bagel + cream cheese + OJ every morning for breakfast without fail.
We remember how very thankful we are to be your parents and how much you make us better people every single day.
And when I was going through the large grocery bag of papers he brought home yesterday I found this:
I'm always amazed at your incredible ability to find the "everyday things" to scrap. It wasn't until I read this post that the light FINALLY went on in my head. My older daughter had just called me at work. It's her last day of high school. She told me when she and her sister walked through the doors at school today, they stopped, looked at each other, and the younger one said, "we'll never walk through those doors together again". They both cried. That's what I'm going to scrap. I'm finally getting it! Thanks!
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So cool - my oldest starts kindergarten in the fall and I have so many anxieties about it -- she is quiet and shy...knowing other children's success helps make those anxieties less --
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Man that post takes me back...Simon and my Taylor have the same personality. :) Maybe I need to do a page about his first year of College...:)
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Congrats to Simon, and you and Chris both. Wow, a great year!!! On to bigger and better things!!
Nicky
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WAY TO GO SIMON!!
what an awesome accomplishment.
one of my very favorite school memories really doesn't even have to do with me.
my little sister has special needs, so school has been an adventure for us as well.
on the last day of school, every single year, i always sends her a balloon. nothing big and fancy, just a pretty balloon.
i will never, ever forget the look on her face when i would pick her up. she was always so happy with her balloon.
something so simple, but something that means so much.
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my oldest just graduated kindergarten as well.......your post made me tear up. Congrats Simon, his astronaut drawing is frame-worthy!!!!!
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This is so good to read and recap!
Ali - I just have to tell you, that for me it has become a daily routine to go to your blog and be a part of your wonderful life (YES i know - it may seem to you, that it's not wonderful every day, but for us you are inspiring!)
So have a great day and remember: you made someone smile, while reading your blog-entry, and that just on the other side of the world!
Lovely greetings from the BlackForest/Germany
Katharina (;
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i cannot believe the school year is almost over.
my son is finishing first grade next week- and i wish he could stay so innocent and small that he would want to wear a tigger costume all day... sigh...
they just grow up too fast... he loves mickey mouse, etc.. and the kids laugh and say its for babies.. imagine in first grade.. lol...
congrats simon-- celebrate a great year- you deserve it..
donna jean
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beautiful post and I love the astronaut drawing. Amazing how quickly they grow and show little glimpses of what they will become. Evan is going into fourth grade next year, and I don't know where the time went!
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Ahh.. Happy last day of kindergarten! Way to go Simon. Love your post and especially the We remember journaling. Great idea!
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They grow up so fast...
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SO cool - thanks for sharing
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Reading your post made me think about when both of my boys were in Kindergarten, and how sweet the experience was. It's wonderful how scrapbooking lets you focus on the little things- because it moves in the blink of an eye. My oldest just graduated from fifth grade, and it seems like he just started Kinder. Thanks for sharing all of your memories!
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My youngest son finished Kindergarten in May. I think I cried more on the last day of school than on the first.
WAY TO GO SIMON!!! (and way to go Mom and Dad!)
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Simply precious...I love every word you said about your monts with Simon. I wish I write as good as you. You're my scrap Idol!!
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SOOOOOO precious! What are your plans for scrapbooking Simon's school years? Will you keep all his "school" layouts, etc. in one binder or mix them in with the others? I'd love to hear your plans and thoughts :)
Erin :)
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What a wonderful post to read about Simon.
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Wonderful. I trust Simon's picture will be going in your album somewhere? I'm a great one for storing my 2 year old's artwork in with LOs about him (those American Crafts albums are brilliant for this purpose - I just pop them in their own page protector and they sit alongside that month's LOs). Thanks for sharing these memories - as so many people have commented, your view of scrapbooking is an inspiration to so many. Thanks, Helen
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Ali...the picture drawing is absolutely priceless! I just love it!
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Wonderful! I love how thoughtful you always are with his developments. You have a great love for each other.
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Oh this is so precious. I am sitting here with tears in my eyes because I totally know how you feel. Thank you for putting it so perfectly.
My son just finished Kindergarten and is autistic as well so it is just wonderful to have something in common with such a wonderful person.
Thank you for your blog....you inspire me everyday!
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Wow -- so many changes in a year! I love this idea for how to capture it all too. I'm going to try to do this with my boys too. THanks for sharing it Ali!
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Absolutely precious! :)
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as a mom of a son about to turn 5 but not going to Kinder till 2009, you have given me the ability to breathe a bit easier about the whole transition to school thing. Thank you for the great idea too! I love the "we remember" project.
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As the Mom of a Space Camp counselor - I can relate to a child who wants to grow up and become an astronaut. Of course...the first step joining Navy ROTC and aiming to become a fighter pilot, is enough to unnerve most Moms. On the other hand...when Simon is older...you have to know that Space Camp @ the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville is a wonderful experience...and the counselors there the best!
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