Ella's First Day of Kindergarten

I have been dreading this day for a long time. What ever happened to starting school when you're 5 and having half-day Kindergarten?! Ella's done preschool for two years and I was fine with that because it was only 3 hours, 3 days a week. Not a big deal. But now that she's in Kindergarten, she is gone for almost 9 hours every day!!!! She's only 5 years old! I know I sound like a crazy Mom, but I can't help it.

So even though I was dreading it, Ella was very excited for school to start. Her only concern was that her teacher would make her stand up and read to the class, but she didn't know how to read yet. How cute is that?! Once I explained that her teachers and I would help her learn how to read and that's what you do in Kindergarten, she was much more at ease.

I made her french toast for her first day breakfast, and yes, notice that it's still dark outside. I have to wake her up at 6 am so that she can catch the bus at 6:40! It's just not right! On the second day of school, she said, "Mom, I like school, but I don't like waking up in the night to get ready." Poor girl! She eats breakfast while I pack her lunch and snack, then she goes to my room, where she's laid out her outfit the night before, and gets dressed. She brushes her teeth and I do her hair. We try to be as quiet as possible to not wake up Ruby and Annie, but most of the time, Ruby gets up. She likes to walk to the bus stop with us.

Here she is, waiting for the bus.

I'm not gonna lie, I was very emotional when she was leaving, but I held it in. After the bus drove away, I almost started crying, but Ruby kept going on and on, whining about how Ella didn't say goodbye to her. So she cried the whole way home and ruined my sentimental moment. Oh well.
So far, she is loving school, but I think the long days are wearing on her. She came home the second week and said, "Mom, I'm ready for a vacation. I just want to go on vacation and have a nice long rest." She is definitely our daughter!! Apparently, it's assigned seating on the bus, and the first week, she was sitting next to a rambunctious boy who hit her in the nose. I told her to ask him kindly to stop, then if he kept doing it, to tell her bus driver. She surprised me one day by telling me that this boy had to switch seats. I guess she told the bus driver about him and she told her to go to the office. She went there all by herself and told them what was going on, so they put two other kindergartners next to her instead. I couldn't believe she was so brave! So, that problem is solved. Her only trouble so far is that she's had to move her behavior clip from green to red for talking. During the first ten minutes of lunch time, there is a strict no talking rule. I guess she just has too much to say because she's slowly learning that having to move your clip is no fun.

I am really excited for Ella to be learning so much. Her teacher seems great and she goes to an awesome school. I just wish I could keep her home with me a little longer!