GRADUATION DAY!

Claire celebrated the end of the school year with her classmates this morning. It couldn't have been a more beautiful day.

Time really flies! I remember her first day of school as vividly as I remember today. I'll always remember seeing Claire as she dropped by my room on the way to her new kindergarten classroom on that first day.

I'll never forget the lump in my throat or the tears in my eyes as I went to bed the night before her first day. It was amazing to think five years had passed so quickly. I thought about the first 2-3 years when she'd be asleep, curled up in her crib while I walked out the front door. Or sometimes she'd wake up and want a hug or a kiss before I left. And now here she was, getting dressed and heading off to school. It still makes me cry when I think about it.

And now, after a successful first year in school, Claire has grown and is ready to move on to new challenges. Her teacher this year, Elissa Johnson, is so proud of Claire. It has been such a neat experience to work at the same school that Claire goes to. I figured it would work out this way, but experiencing it is really a privilege, I feel.

After bringing a tear to everyone's eyes with a touching version of What a Wonderful World, the four kindergarten classes (AM & PM) split up around the upper field and had their own room ceremonies.

Claire's teacher Mrs. Johnson began the ceremony by reading a book (I Knew You Could) to the kids in Room 21.



I kept trying to get Claire to put her legs down. She was obviously too busy listening to the story. Or it could be that she kept shaking me off, nodding her head no. We'll have to work on that, or else just send her to school in jeans on graduation day.





Afterwards, she handed out their certificates one by one. Claire decided to walk out to Kari after she got her certificate instead of waiting for the rest of the class to get theirs. Mrs. J was like, "Come back, Claire."





Mr. Stinky was obviously busy trying to stay out of the sun during the ceremony.

After the distribution of the certificates, the class posed for a group shot.



Claire took another picture with Mrs. J.



And just like that, Claire is off to fun-filled adventures in the 1st grade!