I drove to Garrett's school and waited in the car pool line with 50 million other people. All the Kindergarten car riders were sitting in rows outside. Strangely everyone was super quiet. Garrett had spotted my car well before I got up to the pick up spot. He was jumping up and down, pointing at my car, and noticeably telling one of the teachers that car was for him. It was the cutest thing ever.
He came running to the car and I noticed his shoes were untied. He jumped in the car and was all smiles. He proceeds to tell me he ate at the "cafe" and that he made no friends because he didn't want to talk to anybody. He got to color 2 pictures and visited the library. He received a bookmark and explained how it works. Then he said that he has to follow all the rules, listen to the teacher, and raise his hand.
The happiness in his face made me want to cry (but I didn't)! I can't wait for the rest of the year.
Today is Garrett's first day of Kindergarten. He got up at 6 o'clock bouncing and ready to go. I made a special breakfast for him, pancakes, and as he ate he watched me make his lunch. He sat patiently (well as patiently as any 5 year old can) while Jacob and I got ready. He wouldn't let that backpack out of his sight.
Finally, we were ready to leave the house. Backpack and lunch box in hand he bolted out of the door. I begged for a couple of pictures before he got in the car.
We got to "big boy school" and he was so excited. We walked hand and hand through all the other parents and found Ms. Zindler's Kindergarten classroom. He walked right in, sat down (by himself), and started coloring. He did awesome. Jacob was sweet and gave him a hug and said BYE. 
We went to Walmart last night and bought Garrett a backpack and lunch box for "big school". He was so excited to pick out his own backpack; his choice was Kung Fu Panda! Today he is dragging it around the house and won't let it out of his sight.
Of coarse, I started crying in the middle of the lunch box aisle. It's happy and sad that Garrett is growing up; very bittersweet. He is my baby and it's weird to think that is school career is beginning. Chase looked at me in the middle of my mini breakdown and rolled his eyes. I guess he just doesn't understand.
Jacob is alittle jealous because he wants a backpack and lunch box too. He keeps saying he wants to go to big school with Garrett. This is the first time that they will be seperated that Jacob can remember. Next year Bubba.....and I will cry then too!
Garrett celebrated his Ratatouille themed 5th birthday on Saturday. I must admit that I outdid myself this year with all the "crafty" things I did for the kiddos.
1. Made the invites
2. Provided aprons with every child's name on it.
3. Baked cupcakes for them to decorate and take home.
4. Made goodie bags.
5. Cooked half of the food (the other was supplied by our favorite bbq place).
The day was filled with food, friends, family, laughter, and fun. How can you call that a bad party? Garrett had a great time and loved the attention.
Here are some pictures from the party!
Garrett loves to color, draw, paint, mold play dough, etc. Anything that consists of using his hands to create something beautiful is right up his alley. The past couple of weeks he has really stepped out of his shell and has started to use his imagination. Instead of choosing to color in books he is now choosing blank sheets of paper. The artwork he creates is more precious than any premade picture.
The one special touch I love finding is his name. Yes, I realize it is backwards and some letters are missing BUT he did that all by himself. Nobody showed him how to write the letters, or which sequence they go in. This is his "signature".
Garrett's 5th birthday is coming up and he decided to have a Ratatouille themed party. I took it upon myself to make his invitations this year. I feel a homemade invite is more personal than a store bought one. It takes alot of time and energy, but it's worth it in the end.
