"I'm Never Going to Be a Kid Again"

Yesterday we went to a come-and-go retirement party for M's teacher. Although I'm not sure M understands retirement, she does know the year is over and she's not going to be in that class anymore. As we were walking back to our car, M says, "It's the end of Mrs. Esser's class for me. I'm never going to be a kid again."

Wow.

We talked about it, and I think she's okay with things, but I still don't know how she decided Mrs. Esser's retirement signalled the end of her childhood. She loves school, but really! She's only been out since last Wednesday! This morning she asked how much longer before it's a school day. I told her two weeks, and she said (most pathetically), "But that's soooooooo loooooooong. It's too hard to wait!"

I'm glad she loves school, and I'll try not to take it personally that she's not perfectly content to spend all day, everyday with her mom. :o)

Speaking of moms, Mother's Day was lovely. I slept in, of course. Then the husband packed a lunch for us and we went to the park. It was a bit chilly and windy, so we hid away on the playground equipment to eat. Fun! Then we ran errands and bought fabric for a quilt I want to make.

Packing a lunch and heading out somewhere is one of my favorite things to do this time of year. It's going to start getting too hot for the playground at that time of day, but the trail is nice and shady. Today we took the dogs out and had our mid-morning snack on one of the benches along the way.

End of the School Year

We went to Little M's end-of-the-year school program yesterday, and their first annual "Spring Fling" family carnival in the evening. Is there anything more fun than a bunch of little kids standing on a stage, singing off-time and out of tune? It was delightful! The shy ones, the hams, the ones posing and playing to the crowd. I admit, I got a little sentimental about the whole thing, even though it's only the end of 3's preschool... not high school graduation, for pity's sake! Her teacher made a scrapbook for each student with photos through the year. Very cool!

The carnival was way more fun than I was expecting. There was bbq, of course, and lots of other things to eat. Turn out was great, and included some of my favorite other parents. We got a little rowdy during the chicken dance, and I'm surprised there wasn't more trouble during the water balloon toss, but mostly we behaved. M wasn't too interested in the games, though she played the beanbag toss, since Miss E was running it. On parents night out, M chooses to hang in the 2's room, just so she can be with Miss E.

Her favorites were the two different blow-up jumpy things, which everyone loves. The kids have a blast, and the parents enjoy that kids burn lots of energy. And believe me, our little coyote has a LOT of energy to burn. She had no trouble keeping up with the two H boys, and they were quite the trio.

All-in-all, it's been a great school year. Only two weeks left, and then she's off for two weeks. Then it's time for Summer School!