Pomp and Circumstance - Kindergarten Style

It seems like just yesterday that I snapped these photos of Camdyn on her first day of Kindergarten.  She was so happy she was glowing and not a tear was shed as her Daddy and I kissed her goodbye that morning in her classroom. 

And now, here we sit at the end of May, the end of the school year approaching like a freight train. 

Kindergarten is nearly over. 

She grew up immensely this past year...and she had a ton of fun doing it. 

Come to think of it...we all grew up immensely this year. 

Where she began to lay the groundwork for good work habits, study skills, and focus.  I began to lay the groundwork for personal happiness, goals, and a functional family.

 


 

Where she declared victory for earning 20 reading counts points and getting her picture on the tree in the media center, I declared my own personal victory.  I am happier than I was before...maybe not every day, but in general I am happier and healthier. 

I told you.  :)

Where she did gem mining and learned about rocks.  I moved rocks too.  Actually, more like big chunks of concrete.  I took a long hard look in the mirror and I made changes.  Changes that make my life better and more active.  Changes that put priorities in order. 


She learned about rocks with the help of a guide.  I moved mine with the help of dozens; friends, pastors, therapists, my family and God.  It takes a lot of people, and a lot of power to move big rocks, but I am doing it....steadily and with help.

And throughout the year, she continued with her riding lessons.  She's posting like a pro, she's jumping rails and still looking forward to every lesson.  She's found her passion.  We've rediscovered ours.

It's up and it's down.  It's life. 

And friendships make it easier.

Maybe it really is true, that everything you need to know, you learn in Kindergarten. 

It's been a year of learning for all of us.

Last night Camdyn graduated from Kindergarten.  We are so proud of all her accomplishments this year.  She's grown, she's changed, but she's still our energetic, exuberant little girl.   

A little girl who has learned the trick of an "open mouth smile" from her Momma.

 Open Mouth Smile = Super Happy and Copious Amounts of FUN!

In celebration, we had yogurt at OrangeLeaf after the ceremony....nothing says celebration like ice cream with any topping your heart desires!

Please hang with this wiggly and over-zoomed video until the 3:10 mark.  It'll be worth the giggle.  Promise. (Taylor Swift Cam is in the back row)



I am so proud of you, Cam!  I'm hoping that first grade brings a whole lot of sunshine with it. 

Love you!
Forever n Always,
Momma

Wordy Wednesday - My Valentine

My Valentine Wrote This:

As we grow, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let us down, probably will. 

You'll have your heart broken and you'll break others' hearts. 

You'll fight with your best friend or maybe even fall in love with them, and you'll cry because time is flying by. 

So take too many pictures, laugh too much, forgive freely, and love like you've never been hurt.  Life comes with no guarantees, no time outs, no second chances, you just have to live life to the fullest, tell someone what they mean to you, and tell someone off, speak out, dance in the pouring rain, hold someone's hand, comfort a friend, fall asleep watching the sun come up, be a flirt, & smile until your face hurts. 

Don't be afraid to take chances or fall in love again, & most of all, live in the moment because every second you spend angry or upset is a second you can never get back.

Carol - You do matter, you are a brave, beautiful, out going, wild spirited woman! 
You are a wonderful mother and a dedicated friend.

I'm glad to have you as one of my dearest friends!

Hope my jar of happiness lifts your spirits!

Love,

The one and only Miss V

**and my eyes welled with tears.  I am loved.  I know this.**

The jar contains daily affirmations and they smell good too!  Sayings like:
"Problems are not stop signs, they are guidelines"
"Optimists are nostalgic about the future"
"Put all your excuses aside and remember this:  YOU are capable of anything"

Then I spent a part of my day with 18 kindergartners.  Their energy and enthusiasm is contagious.  I smiled from ear to ear...how can you not be happy when you are around kids? (that horse head is part of Cam's homemade Valentines day box - it is a horse of course)

Then, I picked up my little Lovie from school and we sang all the way home.

Life is Good.  I feel blessed.

A Miracle to be Thankful For

This is Mr. G.  He is the student teacher in Camdyn's Kindergarten classroom this year.  Mr. G decided to change careers and follow his true passions in life, learning and children.  He beams in the classroom and it shows, the children adore him, and he almost always has one, or five, glued to his side.

Just a few days after this photo was taken of Mr. G dressed as an M&M for Halloween, he suffered a massive stroke.  One so dehabilitating that the doctors said there was nothing they could do.  We were informed of this on Halloween night and told that his chances of survival were slim.  Our family began to pray.  Camdyn would pray for Mr. G every night.  Grief counselors were brought in to talk to the children about Mr. G, the hospital, and death (as frightening as that sounds). 

But, a miracle happened.  The swelling and bleeding in his brain subsided, he was moved out of ICU, and rehab therapists were bought in.  At this point he wanted to see children, so Camdyn and I made a trip to the hospital with one of her classmates.  They were shocked and overwhelmed, he didn't look the same, he could not speak, and he looked pale and frail.  His therapist asked the girls to sing "Happy Birthday" with him, and he would sing along.  He tried, but no sound came out.  The girls left the hospital that day talking about how much they love Mr. G.

A week later, and Camdyn is begging to see Mr. G again.  We make another visit with the same classmate and are astounded at his progress.  This week he is wheeling himself down the hallway.  He is holding the Potato Turkey that Cam made him in his hand, and he is grinning the biggest half grin we've seen; his color is back, his soul is shining.  This time when they sang "Happy Birthday" Mr. G sang along and LOUD too.  I was brought to tears.  What a miracle this man is!  He surely has more work left to do on this earth. 

Last Thursday, Camdyn's class had a Thanksgiving feast in their cafeteria.  Afterwards, the parents were invited to the classroom to watch the children perform their Thanksgiving songs and eat dessert.  It was then, that I saw this: 



A piece of artwork depicting what Camdyn is Thankful for.  1.  The Ranch  2. Natr (nature  - OMG cute!)  3:



Mr. G.  She drew him lying in his hospital bed.  When I saw this I had to blink away the tears, I pulled out my camera, my heart swelling with pride.  Her teacher saw me photographing her art and said, "She's the only one in the class that thought to put him on there" and then she began fanning away tears. 

My girl has a big heart. 

These are indeed great things to be thankful for, and now we are hoping that Mr. G., will be a walking and talking Christmas miracle. 

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

A Little Bit Broken

Last week, on our way to the gym, Camdyn and I made a stop at my favorite little cupcake store.  Totally counterproductive, but that's the way it works, I guess.  The cupcake store is located right next to a florist shop.  So, to kill some time, we wander in and look around.  Camdyn spies this little Gund stuffed Eagle.  It's cute and she wants it very badly.  I look at the sticker...$12.99.  I tell her that she'll have to earn it. 

We get in the car and we work out details on how she can earn this toy.  I tell her that if she gets stars on her behavior chart for the next two days then she earns the eagle toy.  Thursday she got a star, and Friday, she ended up with a straight face for disruptive/loud voice in the Library.  No toy for Camdyn.

So, this week brings a fresh start and a new goal...two stars in a row earns the toy.  She accomplishes her goal and yesterday on our way to the gym, we buy Camdyn her prized Eagle. 
(Cam is obsessed with birds right now - thank you Rio - and her school mascot is the Eagles...so she is super happy about this stuffie). She is so proud of herself and can't wait to show her teacher.  She talks about it all night long and sleeps with her eagle (named Flower) tucked in neatly beside her.

This morning, I tell Camdyn that she can bring the eagle in and show her teacher, but then the eagle is coming to the truck with me, toys aren't allowed at school.  She was on board with this idea.

We get to school early, she is playing with her eagle and is totally pumped to show her teacher. When the door opens she strolls in with her toy, and 10 other kids, and some parents. She waits patiently for her teacher's attention. She finally taps her on the hand and says "Look - Eagle." Her teacher says, "cute" and then goes back to the conversation she was having with a 9 year old school patrol. Cam stands there for another 2 minutes, waiting to have more of a conversation with her teacher about her eagle. She finally gives up, and walks over to me, half broken hearted because the teacher didn't give her more attention.

::Sidebar:: I don't blame the teacher, she's busy, she has a million things to do in the morning, she has kids and parents coming through the door, she just didn't have time, and I get that, I really do.

BUT - the look on Cam's face killed me. I can still see her...eyes turned down, but trying to put on a smile as she handed me her Eagle to take home. The look of sheer disappointment blanketed her face. So, I said, "She said the eagle was "cute." She liked it!!" Cam just shrugged her shoulders. Then I left.

On the ride to work I was thinking about how something so important to a child is often just tossed aside by adults because we are too busy with our own lives and agendas to see their simple pleasures.
I wonder how many times I have done that same thing to her, only I was too busy to see that look of disappointment wash over her face.  Five times? A hundred times?  I have no idea.

So, I sit here, a little bit broken.   Feeling every bit as disappointed as my little girl was this morning.  I should have walked into her classroom with her (instead of waiting in the hallway) and said "Cam has something special to show you. She's been waiting all night to show you this." 

I should have made it important, because it was important, to my child.

I can't change what happened this morning, and like a good friend told me , "Luckily they [kids] also forgive and forget pretty easily."  She is right, Cam probably shook off her disappointment like a champ after I left the room.

But, me, I'm going to remember this...and the next time I find myself saying "one second" or "in a few minutes" or "not right now."  I'm going to stop and remember the lesson here. 

Time, is not more valuable than her sense of significance. 

She is worth it.

Her accomplishments, her imagination, her stories, and her interests are worth time. 

Reality Check

Well, we survived the first week of Kindergarten, but not without a serious reality check. 

Of course, this was MY reality check, not Cam's.  Cam adjusted brilliantly, just like I knew she would.  She loves school.  Every morning she says her "good byes" and "I love you's" from one side of the doorway while I stand on the other, then she scampers off to hang up her backpack. 

In the evenings, she is exhausted.  It's tough keeping her awake on the 20 minute drive to pick up Chloe from pre-school.  She's in bed and asleep by 8:00.  These are welcome changes for sure. 

But, there is this chunk of my day now that suddenly vanished.  The hours from 2:30 - 5, that used to be my own.  The hours where I would grocery shop, clean bathrooms, work out, or just veg out...poof gone.  These hours now belong to the taxi service that is picking up two kids from two different locations.  And now, once again, I am wondering "when in the world am I going to get this stuff done." 

I mistakenly thought that life would simplify a bit when Cam reached elementary school, but the truth of it is that life just got a little bit busier, a little bit more complicated as we now have two kids with two different schedules at two different schools.  And, now I'm starting to see a glimpse of what Momma's of older kids are talking about...driving them here, driving them there, homework, school activities, etc. etc...it's never going to get easier...the challenges are just going to change. 

So, we'll adapt.  This is going to be our new normal, and all the things that I stress about will get done eventually...or not.  It doesn't really matter.  What matters is that my kids are happy.

We are happy.

And the cleaning and scrubbing can wait.

Until we hire a housekeeper....

Wordless Wednesday - Oh, the Places You'll Go!

Oh, the Places You'll Go!

~Dr. Seuss

Congratulations!

Today is your day.

You're off to Great Places!

You're off and away!

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes

You can steer yourself

any direction you choose.

You're on your own. And you know what you know.

And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.

You'll look up and down streets. Look 'em over with care.

About some you will say, "I don't choose to go there."

With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,

you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

And you may not find any

you'll want to go down.

In that case, of course,

you'll head straight out of town.

It's opener there

in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen

and frequently do

to people as brainy

and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen,

don't worry. Don't stew.

Just go right along.

You'll start happening too.

OH!

THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!

...You'll get mixed up, of course,

as you already know.

You'll get mixed up

with many strange birds as you go.

So be sure when you step.

Step with care and great tact

and remember that Life's

a Great Balancing Act.

Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.

And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?

Yes! You will, indeed!

(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So...

be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray

or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,

you're off to Great Places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting.

First Day of Kindergarten

I'm back.  We had the time of all times on our cruise.  Although, I've hardly had a moment to reflect, as we scurried in to the "back to school" routine the moment our ship came to port. 

This morning, we successfully dropped Camdyn off at school, without a tear shed.  How could I possibly cry when her expression was sheer exuberance?

I snapped a few photos (this was the only one on my cell phone) took a quick video, we sat her down in her seat, and said our good-byes.  We were the first parents out the door.  We had to be.  She doesn't like us to cling.  She doesn't need our reassurance.  She does change well.  She will be just fine and she knows it.

Although...I have already started counting down the hours until I pick her up. 

I just can't wait to hear all about her first day.

I officially have a child in elementary school. 

The thought is disturbingly wonderful.

Round 'em Up

Last Thursday night the whole family (Gramma included) attended Kindergarten Round-up at the elementary school that Cam will attend next year. 

When we walked through the door I was surprised to see kids in cowboy hats and then it dawned on me the Round-up name was actually a theme!  As luck would have it, it was rodeo week at Cam's school, so she had on her horse shirt, and pink cowgirl boots, and then was issued a cowboy hat when we registered.  CUTE!

If you know my kid, then you know how much she loves all things country western and she was in her element at Kindergarten Round-up.

I tried to stifle the urge to take photos, but I just couldn't, so I snapped this one of Cam & her pre-school school friend just as we entered the cafeteria (using my purse camera which is always with me).  Of course, Cam was having a hard time focusing because there was so much to look at, horse photos, a face painter, a balloon maker, and a magician. 

The girls got their faces painted and they browsed the library and book fair before the orientation began.  They assigned each child to a kindergarten teacher based on the colors of our program.  About 10 minutes in to the program they dismissed the children to go with their assigned Kindergarten teacher to see the classroom, read a story, and make a craft.  The parents were supposed to stay in the cafeteria, but you know how excited parents are, so ALL of the parents walked the children to the classroom.  Cam walked right next to her teacher all the way down the hallway.  She was talking her ear off about her cowgirl boots, horses, and all things rodeo related.  It was really awesome to see just how easy going and out going she is. 

Shortly after arriving in the classroom they instructed the parents to return to the cafeteria for more information and insured us that our children would be fine.  Well, I didn't hesitate, I think we were the first parents out the door.  I  was not going to be that hovering, clingy mom.  So, I left my kid sitting on the carpet, with her hand raised and about to ask a question about the craft.

The rest of the orientation was pretty basic and they returned the kids to us about a half hour later.  Mine was all smiles.  She was so proud of the horse she made and she said to me, "Momma I liked that class, but it was way too short!"  And, some kids were crying in the parents arms, traumatized by the separation, new environment, etc.

While getting ready to leave for the evening two different moms (well, I assume they were moms) came up to me and told me what a great job Camdyn did.  I don't really know what she did that made them say that; did she ask good questions about the story, did she share nicely, did she use good manners?  I'm not really sure, but I was proud of her for making an impression. 

Now, I don't worry for one second about Cam liking Kindergarten.  She's a social kid, she'll make friends easily, and she'll adapt well.  I don't expect that she'll cry on her first day.  I just hope that she develops a respect for her teacher and the rules and that it all kind of clicks for her next year.

One thing is for certain....I think that both of us are excited about Kindergarten next year!

Wordless Wednesday - Chubby Cheeks

There was a day when I thought these chubby cheeks

would never un-chubby

I thought they were there to stay  

and I almost wished them away

I still kissed them endlessly

They Vanished,

yet I still do...

Kiss them endlessly

Tomorrow night our family will be visiting the elementary school for Kindergarten Round-up.  This is our opportunity to see the school, meet the teachers, and pick up registration information for next year.  It's exciting, but it's also heart-breaking.  My chubby toddler, who is now a strong and athletic pre-schooler, will be a Kindergartner in a few months. 

Someone stop time for me....

just long enough for me to catch my breath.