Thursday, May 26, 2011

Fare-thee-well, Kindergarten

I'm in constant disbelief that my kids are growing up - Gracie's last day of kindergarten is today and I SWEAR it was only 6 minutes ago that I was wiping off her strawberry cream cheese mustache before taking her to school on her very first day.
(my ickle baby)

She's grown three shoe sizes. She's grown two clothes sizes. She's moved past the days of knowing only the alphabet and is full on reading.

And writing!

(Her journal from September 21st - the G represents Goldilocks)

Her journal from May 16th - about her Girls Just Wanna Have Fun b-day party
"I got to do wat I wonid to do"

(I'm seeing NYT bestselling memoir writer in her future)

(perhaps the James Frey kind...
about 90% of her journal was made up)

(all grow'd up!)

This past weekend Gracie said, "I'm glad it's summer. It will be like the old days again."

She often talks about how much she misses "the old days." (I do, too, little duckling - you grow way too fast).

So, in honor of the good ol' days, we're prepping our summer for the HOPKINS FAMILY (virtual) WORLD VACATION (inspired by Michelle at Michelle's Charm World) in which we spend the summer traveling the world through music, food, art and science projects.

Annelie begged to make a working replica of Mt. Vesuvius - why does this not surprise me? - and Gracie begged to make a paper mache globe. I see a messy future for us all.

I know a bunch of my mama blogger pals are saying fare-thee-well to their kindergartners and welcoming home their brand new first graders today. Congrats to you on surviving this first school year! And good luck to you, as well - three months of summer vacation! I'm already wondering how I'm going to cope...

xoxo,

13 comments:

  1. Awwww. I feel for you! My kindergartener's last day is next week. Luckily he only goes half days. When he is off for first grade for a full day in Sept. I am going to have a meltdown! (He's my baby)
    It sounds like you have wonderfully creative things planned for your girls this summer!

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  2. STOP MAKING ME CRY WITH YOUR POSTS, WOMAN!!! LOL! Awww, so bittersweet. Can I just say you are one of the best mamas I know? <3 Congrats on moving up to the first grade Gracie!!!

    Lex is starting Pre-K in the fall and I can't believe it... Seems like it was just yesterday that she was spitting up on me. Wait-- it WAS yesterday and she thought she was being funny. *growls* Time flies!

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  3. Haha, Kristen!!! Kids. Just so ... sweet?

    Aw, Kelly! I think I will have a total meltdown when it's my littlest baby's turn for school - waaaaah! See, I'm already having a meltdown.

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  4. It is AMAZING how much they grow in one year, is it not?! Congratulations to Gracie, and I hope you all have a wonderful summer!! (we still have about a month left to go . . . sigh)

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  5. I am saying farewell to elementary completely... my baby is graduating 5th grade next week. EEK! Yesterday her kinder teacher had a graduation party for all the 5th graders who are still at our school that were in her class together... so fun and so sweet, but they are so grown up! :(
    Orangies Attic

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  6. Wait until your oldest is about to be a FOURTH GRADER. FOURTH GRADE. DID I MENTION SHE'LL BE IN FOURTH GRADE?? YES I'M TRIPPING OUT AND MAYBE NEED TO GET DRUNK ON CAKE AND DIET COKE.

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  7. SNIFF. Amelia's kindergarten grad is next Thursday night. Cap and gown and all. We have a pretty sparkly pink dress all ready and waiting and I'm hauling all three jumbo boxes of Kleenex with me. I had the comfort of private kindergarten this year...when I have to walk her into the "big school" in August I'm just going to curl up into a ball outside her classroom and cry hysterically. Think they will haul me off?

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  8. I know it goes sooooo fast...trust me, mine are already in middle school and high school.

    Whooosh!!!

    BTW...love that pic of her...she's a real cutie. :-)

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  9. congrats on surviving kindergarten! it does go way too fast. my girls are counting down the days to the end of 2nd grade. i think we are at 10 now. enjoy them!

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  10. I totally feel your pain Marisa. I can't believe our babies are going to be first graders next year! Crazy!

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  11. Such a cutie! My boys are now BOTH out of elementary school--can you imagine that?

    Angela @ The Bookshelf Muse

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  12. The year has gone by so fast. I do feel like I just sent my kids off to school. Sounds like a fun summer!

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  13. a virtual world vacation? you are way too cool! my kids would adopt you in a heartbeat!

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