Kindergarten

Kindergarten.  A big milestone that came too fast.

Samara has newly painted toes

for her new school shoes.

 Good thing we put off buying a backpack because only tote bags are allowed in Kindergarten.  Her teacher seems great.  She's making new friends.  There is even a little girl in the class named Samaya.  What are the odds of that?

Samara started pre-school 3 days fresh off the plane from Singapore and didn't bat an eyelash.  But she's worried more this year and definitely had an adjustment period.  But I can tell by the happy smile that greets me when I pick her up, that she is settling nicely into school.

I have to admit that even though we've been going through the routine for weeks now, I get choked up every day when I squeeze her hand to say goodbye and watch her walk into the classroom.  And Lizzie never forgets to do their little fingershake.  I told Samara I was sad she was all grown up already.  She corrected me, "Um.  I'm not all grown up.  There are still two more steps before that, teenager and adult."  Phew!  I still have some time.

She is excited about the new family member that will join us this school year.  That's baby brother "swaddled" in my arms.  I really like that I am taller than Ben.  I was going to include this picture in the last post but my brain is on a 24-hr time delay.