Kindergarten!

This week was Claire's first week of Kindergarten!  She was excited and nervous as we waited for the bus Monday morning (it comes at 6:44!).  She laughed and giggled with James but then when the bus arrived and it came time to get on, she clung tightly to my leg and started crying.  I essentially carried her onto the bus and put her into the front seat.  It was very difficult watching the bus pull away and seeing her little tear-streaked face peering out the window.  Everything got better for her from that point on though and she had a great week.

Claire has gotten to know a first grader that lives next door, Brenna, quite well and they are bus buddies with an assigned seat right behind the door.  They have a long ride to school but are quick to get off the bus in the afternoon (around 2:40) because they are the second stop.  James has enjoyed coming down to meet her in the afternoon.  Ethan was up early one morning so I took him out when she left and he looked very concerned and upset watching the big bus drive away with his sister.  Claire's church friend, Katy Jo is in her class, so I know Claire was glad to see a familiar face when she got there that first day.

Claire seems to have enjoyed everything so far.  There are been stories of coloring, play ground time, circle time, counting, getting to use a computer, eating in the cafeteria, going on a scavenger hunt around the school looking for the Gingerbread Man, PE, Art Class, Music Class, a fire drill, and reading new books.  Claire got a special reward one day for doing well sitting at "Code Zero," which she defined as "sitting still with my hands in my lap and not making a peep."  The whole class was able to have stuffed animal day today as a reward for a good first week.  There have been no tears since that first morning and she's disappointed that tomorrow is Saturday and she won't have Kindergarten, but she is excited about getting to sleep later!  I'm so proud of my big girl!