Last Day of Preschool

Today was Karina's last day of 3-year-old preschool.  I can't believe it!  It seems like just yesterday she was starting the 2-year-old class.  There was a lot of celebrating the last two weeks. 

Last week, the school had a school-wide picnic in the evening.  There were animals from a mobile petting zoo, which included a llama, donkey, sheep, rabbits, baby chicks (yes I know chicks are babies but baby chicks just sounds so much cuter!), goats, a calf, and a pony.  The donkey was cranky and tried to head-butt me away, so we stayed away from him.  Elena loved the animals.  Our whole family was able to come, which was nice because there was no worrying about who was watching Karina while I was watching Elena or vice versa.  Karina was so different from how she was last year!  Last year she wouldn't do any of the bouncy blow up things, and this year she couldn't get enough of them!  She and her little friend just bounced and slid half the night away!  Then Karina realized that her friend had this balloon animal--it was a ladybug bracelet made from a balloon.  So she wanted to get in line to do that, and I stood with her while Elena made Bill let her go up and down the stairs about five gazillion times.  She was actually really good the whole night, even though it was so late for her to be out.  After Karina got her (much beloved) ladybug, it was time to watch a magician.  I thought he wasn't very exciting, but the kids seemed to enjoy him.  Elena was really tired by that point, but we were getting close to time to leave, so I just let her walk and roll around on the floor.  Then suddenly the rain hit.  We knew there was a chance of rain, and when it came, it just poured.  The animals were okay, they got packed up and went home, and all the parents were in a panic to get to their cars with strollers and bags, but it was all right in the end.  

On Tuesday was the school's end of year party day for the 3 and 4 year old classes.  Many of the classes met at a really cool playground overlooking a river.  Karina was so happy to be able to play there with so many of her friends, even some from other classes.  The teachers for each class brought snacks, and there was a little shelter where the kids got to sit to eat.  The weather on Tuesday was absolutely, positively *perfect*.  The sun was shining but not too hot, and there was this nice breeze coming off the water keeping it cool.  So perfect.  Elena did not nap at all, and was so tired that her eyes were drooping while I was pushing her in the swing!  Karina was having so much fun she didn't want to leave at all!

Then today was the last day of school.  It was also the day they celebrated all the summer birthdays.  It was also SUPER hot today.  Hot and humid, the worst!  I went back to school a little early so I could be there for the party and of course, Elena wouldn't nap.  The kids were also allowed to dress up in whatever they wanted today, so Karina put on her favorite Cinderella dress.  It's made of typical hot dress-up material, with long sleeves and tulle underneath.  Plus, because it's sheer, she had to wear clothes under it.  The child kept it on until fifteen minutes before time to leave!  She was so pink-cheeked, and I kept making her drink water.  But she didn't seem to feel hot, which was crazy.  I was glad when she finally took it off.  Elena was so tired that all she'd do was walk around a few steps, and then put her arms up and cry, "Mama!" to be picked up.  At one point she put her hands on this plastic separating stuff that keeps the sand thicker under the swings.  It's like a wall, but only about 12 inches high, so easy to climb over.  It's black and plastic, and it got super hot.  She put her hands right on it, and started crying, but wouldn't take her hands off it.  Poor baby.  She was okay though, she didn't get burned.  At the end of the morning, as we were leaving, her teacher told me that there was something extra in Karina's bookbag.  During the school year, she and her friends' favorite thing to do was play dress up.  In the dress up area were dresses and outfits and jewelry of all kinds.  She and one friend would--not argue, but compete for the same items.  First it was a fairy outfit.  Whoever got to school first would put it on and her friend often would not take it off so Karina could have a turn.  But Karina would do that for her.  Then after a while it switched to this one pink necklace.  I don't know what it was about this necklace that the girls loved so much, but the competition for it was, apparently, quite fierce.  So her teacher told me today that she was giving the necklace to Karina.  She said that since Karina was always gracious with it, and shared, but her friend was not so easy to convince to share, she felt that Karina had earned the necklace.  I can tell you I was almost in tears over it.  I know that Karina is a good girl, and I try to teach her to be kind and understanding and patient.  I know that she is sweet and loving, but to hear her teacher tell me how good she's been all year about everything, to the point that the teacher wants to GIVE her the necklace--I was so choked up. 

What a year!  Now we're on to a fun, busy summer!  And then her last year of preschool!  I hope that all of you out there have had a nice spring and if you have kids, that their school year was a good one.