preschool graduation [mini film]

yesterday was such a fun little milestone for our family.  everly had a blast & every moment was just so sweet.  everly got to pick out where we ate, the music we listened to, and the movie we watched last night.  Panda Express, Jack's, Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2, and Elf was all a part of this epic experience.  here's a little look into our day...
Preschool Graduation from Lyndsay Lewis on Vimeo.

moments I will hold on to...
car karaoke with my favorites
her last little swing down the steps at her school with her daddy
her nona's tears as she came down the aisle with her classmates
the moment I saw her 'teacher' sign as her future profession
sweet hugs from her first teachers who had her loving school every day
thoughtful and adorable gifts, and how much she appreciates them
scooping up every last bite of blue cheese dressing with her urban fries
snuggles while watching our favorite christmas movie in may

shot on our Sony A6000
song - Sam Cooke, "Bring it on Home to Me" [Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2]

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

 

being a teacher, and a mom

game changer.  the minute my daughter walked into a classroom as a student.
everything that I've ever thought about teaching changed in an instant.
to all you protective mama bears out there, I get it.
I get it in a way I never thought possible.
but I also found myself seeing both sides of everything.
great empathy for the teacher, but still, knowing I wanted my child to have the best first school experience possible, I remember thinking, why couldn't my daughter just have that teacher?!?
And so it began.

Everly started pre-school in the fall, and at orientation we quickly found out her teacher was brand new.  Never taught a day in her life.  Breathe, just breathe.  I remember thinking, "you were a good teacher your first year, just give her a chance".  She seemed enthusiastic, and quickly the parent questions started flying, especially from those returning to the preschool for their second year.  Yes, I remember that.  I remember trying to fake answers that I clearly had no idea about.  "Are you still going to have Super Stars?  Last year, they had Super Stars, is this continuing?" The question, blurted out, and repeated, and repeated once more, and the teacher...already flustered.  Not a great start.

She lasted three class sessions, and was gone.

This past weekend I had the 'involved' parent experience of lining up in the wee hours of the morning to get your kid into 'that' school for the following year. [feel free to exchange out the word 'involved for one of your choosing, I get it]  Yes, there were sleeping bags, and rain, and lots of episodes of the crown on netflix, and eating cold pizza at 4 a.m.  It was that moment.  As the hours went on, the wives began showing up to replace their husband's spots in line, and so the conversations began.  So many times I had to bite my tongue, because, once again, I was finding it so hard to separate myself from being a teacher, and just be a parent.  What, you don't know what a Title I school is?  Wait, you don't know about open-enrollment?  You haven't heard of that school?  These are my thoughts. Because I'm IN this.  I'm so invested in my career.  This is MY district.  I've worked at that school, and with that person, and in that program.  And now, it is my child, and invested is an understatement.  Oh geez, how do I not sound like a crazy lady when talking to the other parents, the non- teacher parents?!?  Not sure.

Teaching in a program that is highly sought after, just like the school I was trying to get my own daughter in, really made me realize that so many times, these 'parent talks' were very much about me. And my teaching style, my strengths, and my weaknesses.  I knew that it happened, but being on the parent side of things just felt strange.  Because I've been a teacher for ten years, and a mother of a student for not even one year yet, I'm finding this balance between the two roles very challenging. And I know that so many others must have felt this way too.

And so, I have now enrolled my daughter in one of the most desired elementary schools in the district, now this next chapter will begin.  One notion that I believe to be true is that I will always find myself balancing between mom and teacher, never really being able to be completely on one side or the other of these roles.  And that will take some navigating. Now I'm off to process that I've registered my daughter for school, officially.

Thanksgiving Preschool Program

The other night Everly had her Thanksgiving program at pre-school.  It was just about everything I could have wanted, and yes, my outgoing child was the only one in her class not to say her name on the microphone.  But that's okay, I couldn't stop smiling at my little pilgrim girl.  Also, seeing her with her little friends, heart melted completely.  When she found out that we were getting to bring Nona and Grammie to school to she exclaimed, "this is SO exciting!".

Thanksgiving Program LMS from Lyndsay Lewis on Vimeo.


Song: "Pennies from Heaven" by Louis Prima [Everly's favorite song from Elf]

halloween [mini-film]

As a working mom, it's hard not to feel like you are missing out on things.  And I just have to get okay with that.  Thankfully, sometimes you can have a husband help you pretend to be there.  So here's a little look at Everly's Halloween.  And this time - I'm experiencing it the same way as you.

Halloween 2016 from Lyndsay Lewis on Vimeo.

song: "Wreck it Ralph Soundtrack" - Owl City, When Can I See You Again?

the pumpkin farm!

as a working mom, fields trips with your kiddo can mean a lot of work, just to get ready to go. especially when missing a day means tracking down a sub, writing sub plans, bribing some kids for good behavior, and so on. but man, I wouldn't have missed it for the world.  getting to see everly have fun with her friends at the pumpkin farm was a new experience that made our day very special, and getting to have mommy stay home from school for a day made it even more magical.  grammie playing hookie too, well, there you go!  win win all around.

see our first field trip mini film here.

and here are a few pictures from our morning.

first field trip [mini film]

Yesterday, I was lucky enough to get to go on Everly's first field trip.  Since I don't get to work in the classroom like the Mr. does, it was special to get to go on this outing.  Here's our trip!

the pumpkin farm from Lyndsay Lewis on Vimeo.

filmed on our Sony A6000
song: Charlie Brown Music/The Great Pumpkin - Vince Guaraldi

on the first day of pre-school...

yesterday was the first day of pre-school!  everly is attending the same little school I attended back in the 80's, and there is something strangely comforting about sending her there.  oh, and the fact that she's the polar opposite of me when it comes to being left at school is also a big bonus.  she couldn't have been more excited for school.  it probably also helps that she's very familiar with the concept of school since she's been coming to a middle school since she was four months old.  so, what I'm saying is, pre-school is rockin' it on all levels.

today she was so confused as to why I was coming with her again to pre-school since I already attended orientation with her last week, and she knows that daddy is the one who is taking her to pre-school.  she also wasn't sure why we stuck around for so long, apparently she didn't need us there the extra thirty minutes.  and apparently, the first day of school isn't really a big thing.

thankfully, we didn't have a single clothing meltdown.  she appeased me by taking oh so many photos.  and man, did she sure melt my heart by remembering her first teacher's name with such ease, her little, "miss jefferson" is just about the cutest thing I've ever heard.

and yes, they've done these buckets since I was there.  we had a blast decorating her bucket last week!

35/52

 "A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2016."

in this moment:

right now, in this moment, I'm in love with your excitement for pre-school. leaving you for your first 30 minutes while we attended the orientation was such a strange feeling for me.  you have never been in the care of anyone but our very close little circle.  you were completely fine with us leaving.  when we peeked back into the room to pick you up at the end of orientation, there you were, holding your teacher's hand, walking around the classroom as she was mingling with parents and helping other children.  and I melted, in this moment.