Preschool Graduation!

What an amazing year it has been for Lila in preschool!  I didn't know what to expect from 4 year old preschool, I kind of thought it would be more of the same from 3 year old preschool, but I was wrong.  Lila did happen to be in the blue room again with the same teachers, Mrs. O'Connell & Mrs. Rosencrants, but her days looked different this year.  She was in a two day program last year, but this year she jumped to a three day schedule with an extended class day on Wednesdays. Other than the different schedule the biggest change was her development.  I know, I know, she is a year older so she is further along, but to really see the development in the papers she brought home and the workbooks she started at the beginning of the year and finished at the end...it was pretty awesome!  I definitely think 3 year preschool was educational, but almost more from a social skills standpoint.  The 4 year old curriculum was heavily geared towards writing, math, and the beginning of reading!

Lila had a great year in the blue room and was super excited for her last day!  This year was different, she will go back to the same school, but it won't be for preschool, rather Kindergarten!  So, this particular "graduation" was special...she is truly moving on!

The graduation begins with the kids performing a few songs for the parents!  Each of the songs were so cute and all of the kids did a great job performing in front of the parents staring back at them!

"Y-E-L-L-O-W spells Yellow!"

To see a video of the kids singing "Goodbye" click here.  

After the performances each of the children were called up to the front of the room to accept their certificate and a book given to them by their teachers as a gift for finishing the year.  As each child approached the front the teachers told a small tidbit about the child and they took a bow or curtsied!

Being presented with her certificate!

Once each child was presented with their certificate and gift it was time for pictures!  Lila had a group of girls that she was thick as thieves with!  It was hard for these girls to let each other go as they are all going to different schools next year, one of the saddest things about growing up!

Lila & her besties!  (Sofie, Lila, Lauren, Maya & Jorja)

Lila & Mrs. Rosencrants

Lila & Mrs. O'Connell

Attempting a class photo!

After her graduation we had a special celebratory lunch and then a quick stop at Orange Leaf to top it off with a sweet treat!  As I look at these pictures from this special day I can't help but feel unbelievably proud of our little girl!  She is growing into a smart, funny, and caring little girl.  While it is unbelievable to think that she will be going into Kindergarten, we are so excited for her future and know that she is ready to conquer school with everything she has!

A sweet treat!

In the books...

How is it possible that a whole year has sailed by in regards to education?  I remember sitting at home a year ago in June talking with Mike about all of the change that was on the horizon.  Not only were we going to be sending Lila off to her first year of preschool, but Mike was getting ready to take the leap back into learning, too.  I remember thinking to myself..."am I ready for all of this?!"  I wasn't so sure at the time, but "poof!" a year has gone by and Mike has started another fall semester at Kirkwood and Lila has started her second year of preschool at All Saints!  We are in the midst of new notebooks, pens, pencils, crayons and such and are ready to meet another year with a lot less anxiety! 

Not only has Mike found his footing as a college student and Lila as a preschool student, but we have found our rhythm as a family.  A family that has a Daddy who works hard while Mom and Lila are off to their daily tasks, but also finds himself staying up late studying to accommodate the balance of student life and family life.  A family that has a little girl who has grown up right before our eyes and is loving learning! 

Mike started back full time on the 19th and Lila officially started her first full day yesterday, the 30th.  Here is to another successful school year for the Eddins students!

First day of preschool picture outside of All Saints

The End or Just the Beginning?!

You may remember a few posts about Lila going off to preschool.  First there was the post about picking the best option for her and our family - click here.  And then there was the post about her actually taking that huge first step and becoming a preschooler - click here.  It honestly feels like I just sat down and wrote both of those posts...however, I am here documenting her last day of her first year of preschool.  Talk about time flying!!!!

 

August 2012 - May 2013

 

To say we are happy with her preschool is an understatement.  There have been so many moments in her short life that I have worried, but I can't tell you how blessed I (we) feel that in the case of her in-home daycare and, now, her preschool/childcare, we are beyond comfortable with the care that Lila is receiving when we aren't with her during the day. 

 

Every time we get an invitation to attend an event at All Saints I get a twinge of excitement.  They are so good about involving the parents and the other neat things is...the parents are so happily involved!  Today was no exception as we all gathered to watch our little ones receive their preschool certificates for their completed year! 

 

Welcome to the Blue Room!

 

We walked into the room where the kiddos were all lined up ready to welcome us and sing us a song about how wonderful All Saints Preschool is! 

 



Happy to see her Mom & Dad!

Before the song, Mrs. O'Connell said a few words...thanking us parents for giving them the gift of teaching our children.  While that sounds like what every preschool teacher should say to the parents of the children, it was sincere, it was even said through some tears. 

Proud girl!

Our performer!

Click Here to see their cute song!

 

After they sang their song the kids were invited to sit on the rug while each one was called up to the front of the room.  The teachers had asked the kids a few questions: 1) What was your favorite thing about preschool?  2) What are you going to miss?  3) What are you going to do this summer.  They read each of the children's answers and then presented them with a brand new book and a certificate stating they had completed a successful year of preschool!  Finishing up with each kid getting a hug from both of their teachers!

 



Waiting patiently to hear her name!

Finally it was Lila's turn!  She trotted right up to the front of the room while Mrs. O'Connell read the answers to her questions.  Lila's favorite thing about preschool was playing with play-doh and making cupcakes!  She is going to miss playing with her friends the most!  And this summer she is going to play with Connie!

A hug for Mrs. Rosencrants

A hug for Mrs. O'Connell

 

 

Our preschooler with her amazing teachers!

Mike and I both left the school today with our hearts bursting with pride!  What a fantastic day!  We couldn't have been more proud of our little girl and all she has accomplished during her first year of "school!"  As you can tell from the picture at the very beginning of this post, she has grown up a lot since August of last year.  Beyond the physical growth, and just as importantly, she has also grown emotionally and mentally and it has been so much fun to watch!

As parents, it is bittersweet for our children to spread their wings!  There is the anxiety that riddled us as we anticipated her first days and weeks at a new school, yet there is the pride that swelled in us today, and many days during her first year, as we watch her become more and more independent!

Celebrating a very special day!

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Sock Hop!

This Friday found us heading to Lila's school for a Sock Hop!  We met up with Jen, Celia & Ruby so the girls could all boogie down together!!!  It had been several weeks since the girls had seen each other, so they couldn't have been more excited!!!



All smiles!

We dusted off Lila's Pink Lady costume from Halloween two years ago, I was praying that we could still make it work!  Thankfully the only part of the costume that really had a "size" was her jacket.  It was a bit short, specifically in the arms, but we made it work! 

Smooch!



The Pink Ladies!

The gym was full of kids, and parents, dressed up in their best 50's attire!  It was too cute!  The kids were loving the music from the DJ and the parents were able to let them run off and have fun or join in on the dancing, too!

The gym starting to fill up

Taking it all in...

 

The girls all found their friends and then you could see them most often holding hands making their way around the gym.  They would stop and dance or stop to chat with other friends, but mostly arm in arm scooping the loop!

 

Lila & Ruby with good friends Hannah and Abilene

Enjoying a very large cotton candy!

Among some of the evening activities they called each age/grade up to the stage to have their picture taken!  There weren't a lot of 3 year olds there that evening, but those that were there were able to get a picture taken together!  Pretty cute!

Preschool 3 year olds!

One of the cutest parts of the night was wacthing the kids do the Chicken Dance.  Now, I have to admit, I can't stand that song, but when you have a room full of kids doing it, it made the song bearable!

The Chicken Dance

We got home from the Sock Hop with a tired little girl.  However, she had enough energy to open a special gift from her cousins! The girls had been in Hawaii for two weeks and they both picked out a gift to bring back for Lila.  While Lila of course loved the gifts, I melted over the sweet card that they made that was taped to the outside of the gift bag!

Thanks Cel & Ru for my great gifts!
Merissa the Mermaid & Hula the Bear

The rest of our weekend has been really low-key!  We went to Mike's grandparents last night to spend some time with them and have dinner.  Elaine had found an Electro Art (Lite Brite) toy from when Mike's Mom was a kid!  We spent a lot of time creating light pictures!  That particular toy was 50 years old and still worked like a charm!  Too much fun!

Carousel horse

Lila also enjoyed crawling up on Grandma's lap to look at photo albums of her Daddy and Aunt Maria they were little, just like her!

Grandma & Lila

This year we don't have big plans for the Super Bowl, we will just watch it at home with some munchies, hopefully snuggled in with a fire in the fireplace!  Considering the Detroit Lions aren't playing in the game this year, the Eddins household will be rooting for the Ravens!  They are Lila's favorite because they are purple!  Eh, good enough for me!

A Life Choice

I've come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that's as unique as a fingerprint - and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing the energy of the universe to lead you.
                                                                               -Oprah Winfrey

Anyone who knows Mike well, knows that he has this magnetic force with children.  Whether it is with his own daughter, his nieces, the neighbor kids or the young athletes he has coached, they are drawn to him and his youthful, yet guiding soul. 

After a few fateful changes in our lives Mike has decided to go back to school to pursue a degree in Human Services.  After a lot of soul searching and remembering a time when he was truly happy, we kept coming back to the discussion of him coaching high school football.  The discussion was rarely around throwing the football with the kids or calling out plays, it was mostly about the relationships he developed with the kids and the impression that he left on some of them.  This time spent even warranted some kids to send a letter, inviting Mike back to watch a game played in dedication to the personal influence Mike had on that young man, even after he was gone from coaching. 

Our discussions whirled from a new career path to school and back again.  We finally settled on school, but the question then became what?  We barely even touched on how?  Or even more importantly, are we crazy?!  We both knew in our hearts that this was right and that we are going to make it work.  He considered teaching, but after more research has settled into Human Services.  Ideally working with youth that are less fortunate in their personal environment...providing a strong, male influence in their lives, a friend, a mentor. 

Over a very short two weeks, we went from the feeling of what's next?! to a new dream, a new path, and a new sense of purpose beginning with class on June 4th!
Mike - Lila and I are so proud of you for taking the road less traveled.  It would have been easy to make the "safe" decision, but you chose to follow a dream!  You have an extraordinary gift of compassion and we are so excited to be on this journey with you, we are standing right beside you as you take on this new chapter in your life!  We Love You!