and now, we are done with kindergarten, and it took me almost a month to blog about it

to be honest, I think 'preschool graduation' was a bit harder for me.  not that I was quite the emotional wreck for that either.  I think I got most of my 'devastated she's getting too old' out of my system in her first 4 months of life.  when I think of my postpartum issues, that was one of them.  but once I got through that, I have been okay staying in the mindset of enjoying the heck out of each moment and stage, because I cannot stop time, and I'm damn lucky to have her.

everly also got to do kindergarten twice essentially.  she has a november birthday, which prohibited her from starting kindergarten until she was officially 5.  and, looking back on the past two years, I'm not at all mad about it.  she had a pretty intense kindergarten experience, meaning SO much learning.  if she didn't get to have transitional kindergarten, I think this year would have had a very different outcome.  there is NO WAY that my kid would have been able to manage this year being 4 for four months of it.  so, sometimes state decisions work out in your favor, and we can say that we ended kindergarten meeting and exceeding standards, which really means reading, writing, and doing some pretty high-level math.  and no, we don't need to debate if this is right or wrong, it just is the way it is right now in education.  I'm sure in the next decade we will be back to being happy they can use a glue stick by kindergarten graduation [or maybe not, you know, China and all].

^outfit change for the party^

our present for her hard work this year, Samantha!  she even got a graduation cap and gown for the special occasion!

her favorite cake - lemon from nothing bundt cakes, because, you know, she's gertie, my 80 year old

and here' a little first day of kindergarten, last day of kindergarten comparison...

I think it is funny she ENDS kindergarten with all her teeth, feels like it should be the other way around.  and yes, that isn't our front door.  we take the 'door photo' by my mom's front door since she lives right by the school, and I literally had to leave my class to go take everly to her first day of school, so we had to do with what we had [don't worry, I had someone cover my classes].  and even more dramatic, had to get a substitute teacher for the last day of school, but hey, there are some mom moments I'm not going to miss!

here's a little moment remember this milestone, probably one we won't have again for a while [who knows, sometimes 5th and 8th get a celebration, sometimes they don't - another educational pendulum].

Kindergarten Graduation from Lyndsay Lewis on Vimeo.

music: the likes of us - all together now
all photos and video shot on our sony a6500
photos edited with a color story

and finally, here's preschool graduation and here

and just like that, preschool days are done

man alive. that was fast. they say it, I know...but really, preschool is already done and in the books. thankfully I get to keep her a little bit tiny due to her november birthday, meaning she's off to TK in the fall, and then kindergarten the year after that. and really, that seems like something I need to keep my mother heart from breaking completely.

I have so many moments to share from preschool graduation today, but for now, here are a few of our 'last day' of preschool photos. because I'm tired, and apparently can't really put much more into words right now.

and as you can see, everly's writing has really taken off this year

and yes, that is a family portrait at the bottom

here was her on the first day of preschool