Today was your last day of Kindergarten. I’m so sad I wasn’t home to be there for this. We FaceTimed before you left home and the entire ride to school. Daddy took your pictures and did a great job! At pick up, you were playing with Micha and her Mom sent me a few photos too. I just can’t believe how quickly the year went!!! I’m so incredibly proud of you!!!!
I love you so much!
We Facetimed in the morning before school & during dinner. You even you went bike riding and I got to watch for a minute. Later Daddy sent me pictures of you melting your popsicle and playing with bubbles. I miss you so much, but you are having lots of fun with Daddy. I told you goodnight one last time as a Kindergartener!
I love you so much!
I got to Facetime with you in the morning before school. Today was Disney Day so you wore your Moana costume. Later in the day, I noticed in Dojo pics you had your space dress on. Ms. Wolleon said you wore it over your Moana dress lol. You ate 10 chicken wings and all the chicken salad for dinner lol!!!
I love you so much!
Today was water day at school so you got to wear your swimsuit to school! Grandma Noot came with us to drop you off and you were so happy when you walked in. You didn’t want me to leave today for our FUPPA trip. When we were getting ready, you asked me to leave tonight after you went to bed so you wouldn’t miss me today! Ms. Wolleon took some cute photos of you having fun. I miss you already!
I left you a new sketch pad for Daddy to give you at pick up! You were so happy about it that you immediately called me! Daddy took you to the Ringling Bridge park & Le Macaron on St. Armand’s. At bedtime, Daddy asked you “do you want to listen to the Zenimal and get lotion on your feet and legs?” You said “that sounds amazing!”
I love you so much!
You were slow getting up this morning. It was the last Monday of Kindergarten & it was pirate day! You took an extra backpack filled with pirate gear! You also took our photo gift for Ms. Wolleon for this year. It came out so cute!
We stopped by the office for a few minutes after school. You typed “you are my bff mommy” on my computer, printed and signed it. You absolutely melt my heart!
We stopped at Holistic to get dog food & you had a blast shopping for the dogs. Everytime I take you I spend twice as much because you pick so much stuff out!!! We had dinner at Dim Sum King before heading to the airport to pick up Grandma Noot in Tampa. When we were waiting for our food, you were playing with the sriracha bottle. I warned you several times not to point it at your face and finally you squeezed hard enough that it sprayed on your cheek. You cried so hard that I felt bad! We headed to Tampa to pick up Grandma Noot from the airport. You chatted the whole way home until we got to Ellenton and you fell asleep with her rubbing your leg. Daddy carried you inside and put you in bed.
I love you so much!
You woke up at 7a which was way too early for how late you were up last night. We snuggled on the couch and you played some games until we finally got up and moving. Olivia & Kingston came to the condo to swim. You asked to go to Zota for lunch so we did. We headed home around 7p to get ready for the last week of school starting tomorrow!
I love you so much!
You definitely woke up with a graduation hangover. You woke up at 7:15a – way too early for going to bed late last night. We took an early wagon ride around the block, had breakfast then we went shopping in your swimsuit. We headed to the condo for lunch & swam until we got cold. We went inside & showered. I made dinner & you, Daddy & the hounds fell asleep on the couch watching TV around 5:30p. As a result you went to bed after 9:30p after a few books.
I love you so much!
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Here we are on the eve of your Kindergarten graduation. The second graduation of many you will have I’m certain. I know, I know. You’re “not a baby.” You’re “a big kid.” You’ve told me this at least a zillion times so why can’t I just get it right? Just this Monday at drop off you told me “I’m going to college tomorrow!” Well, you see my baby girl, you will always be my baby girl. When you walk across the stage as you graduate kindergarten tomorrow, I will be the one in the front row (literally) with tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat cheering loudly for my baby girl. So, please bear with me. Tonight at bedtime, you told me “Mom, try not to cry out loud. Try to cry loud inside your head!”
Remember the first day when we walked hand in hand into that big new school building? I was so nervous for you and I think you were a little scared, although you did a good job hiding those jitters. I didn’t. My tears hit the moment I let go of your hand. I have a feeling that will happen a lot through the years. I knew immediately you were in excellent hands with Ms. Wolleon, but I still could not have imagined the connection you would have with her. I’m so happy this year was a magical introduction to learning where your confidence and character grew at a great pace. I will forever be grateful to her and I know you will never forget her and the impact she had on you.
Sweet Giovanna, I can’t believe your Kindergarten year is over. I knew this time would go fast. Lightning fast. And of course I couldn’t stop it. You survived a year of firsts: New friends, new school, new routine, and you did it all with passion. I survived too, although I think you handled it better than I did! And, now here I am laying out your Kindergarten graduation dress. I’ll blink again and you’ll be picking out your wedding dress. Time. Please. Stop. Let’s just get through Kindergarten graduation first. Of course, I am so proud of you. Of course, I want you to succeed and move on to bigger things in life. Like first grade. But, at the same time, my heart is breaking at the fact that our days of sitting on the floor in your room playing Paw Patrol are becoming fewer and farther between. The days where I am welcome in your room at all are probably numbered too.
I’m sure I will cry at each new milestone you reach. You’ll just have to roll your eyes at me because I can’t help myself. The tears flow because I’m so proud of the young lady you’ve become. You’re so smart and incredibly kind to your peers. You’re a little bossy, -but Mrs. Brusoe says that’s just leadership blooming.
I’m a little sad. Not because you are growing up—that’s natural and wonderful and expected—but because the older you get, the closer goodbye becomes. Someday you’ll leave to make your own dreams and discover your own adventures. And I want that for you. But secretly, I’m already crushed at the reality that will be. You see sweet Giovanna, you are the answer to my dreams. What a gift you’ve given me by just being you.
I know this summer you’ll spend hours playing with your friends at the pool, meeting new friends at camp and each hour of independence will make your Mom seems less cool. And that’s OK. But I really hope we have at least a couple more school years like this one. It was absolutely perfect.
I guess I need to know that just because you are growing up and becoming a big, bad first grader next year that some things can stay the same. At the same time, I want you to know that your Dad and I are so proud of the little girl you have become. You are kind to others, you are smart, you are so very creative. You are a remarkable story teller and you are absolutely hilarious. Some of the things you say make Ms. Wolleon text me and I can’t stop laughing. You are lovely. You are perfect.
I loved walking hand in hand with you to the front gate each day and the smile I received each afternoon at pick-up will forever be etched in my heart. I loved having lunch with you, even if you were trying to scam school lunch and blue applesauce (gross!). You were so proud to have your Mama sit next to you and you excitedly introduced me to your friends every time I came to your classroom. I wonder how long you’ll let that be. Can we never let it end?
I loved the school projects and the stars and smiley faces you received on each paper. You rocked your sight words test each week and burst with excitement to show me your 100% each time! You’ve learned so much in just a year! My hearts swells with pride when I hear you read books or try so hard to write sentences without asking for help. You are such a smart 6-year-old! I’ve known it all along.
My dear, you will always be wonderful, you will always be brave, you will always be beautiful, you will always be intelligent, you will always be strong, you will always be kind, you will always be perfect in my eyes.
I’m proud of you, now and forever and I’m so excited to watch you grow. You are going to rock first grade and all the years after that. And, I can’t wait to watch you and love you every step of the way. I just may get a little emotional at times. So just bear with me. I am just a Mama who loves my little girl with every inch of my soul.
I love you so much and I can’t wait to see you perform on that stage tomorrow!