When your kids wake up on a beautiful holiday Monday morning and say "Let's go to the Zoo"...
...you go to the zoo!
So we packed up some lunches and drove to the Dallas Zoo to see our old friends, the Mandrill Baboons...
...eat some fave foods (Cotton Candy and Dippin Dots!)
And meet some new animals: Hippos (not pictured, because they were sleeping and not being photogenic)
We had a wonderful family morning and afternoon exploring the zoo, and watching some other families at work (namely a chimpanzee family; i was impressed how the mom carried the big kid on her back all day <sound familiar?>; you guys (and I ) were impressed when the baby climbed up to the tree house to stand on the edge and pee off the side!)
...and we closed up the Zoo Day with your favorite part of all: The Carousel.
Then, to top off an out-door, awesome sauce day, we met up with the Shields and Nodelands and played, ate, and splashed!
My dear, sweet, sincere, creative, protective, amazing, son. I know how we got here. Your mother and I have been with you every step of the way, through every success, every set back, every tear, every bump, scrape, and bruise, every challenging work completed, every lesson learned, every friend made, every peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It's just how quickly it all seemed to go in hindsight that alarms me! How has the time flown so quickly...it seems like yesterday that we packed your first lunch and you went to your first day of "school":
2012- Headed to "Kidding Around" MDO
2013- Following your Final "performance" at Kidding Around MDO
2014- First year at White Rock Montessory
First day of Kindergarten 1 at White Rock Montessori: 2015
First Day of Kindergarten 2 at White Rock Montessori: 2016
And now you are a big Kindergarten Graduate who has learned and grown so much.
Kindergarten Graduation Picture: May 2017
Your sister, mother, and I were there for the big day along with Mimi, Pops, Aunt Sham, and Uncle Joe. Yaya and Baba were there in spirit. And we were all cheering you on!
Your graduation ceremony and graduation day was such a special, sweet, silly, cute, inspirational, successful, and lovely moment in time. It began with many big hugs:
It continued with a procession and a ceremony:
Your teachers, as part of the graduation ceremony, read a book about the uniqueness of being YOU. They gave each of you and your classmates a copy, and gave three words to describe your uniqueness and the amazingness of each of you soon-to-be first graders.
They described you as "Observant," Loyal," and "Loving." And their words brought tears to my eyes.
So did the love you displayed for your friends and your sister and teachers and family. So did the songs you sang. One about growing up, and one about being the "awesome you."
I put a little video together to hopefully capture the specialness of this day, and the awesomeness of YOU and your experience in Pre-school at White Rock Montessori!
The ceremony was followed by a reception with Cupcakes, Punch, smiles, frog-finding, hugs for family and teachers, photo ops, and a lot of fun. Neither you nor your sister wanted to leave!
Your reading teacher, Ms. Newman
Ms. Mary
Mr. Lewicki and Ms. Mary
Music Teacher, Ms. Wheeler
As all of you graduating kindergartners sang, "we are here to learn, we are here to grow, at our White Rock Montessori" (I'm paraphrasing). And it is true. Here, with your amazing teachers, you have learned. You have grown. And you are moving onward and upward to Lower Elementary.
Here's to the next adventure, Aidan. Our observant, loyal, and loving boy. We are so very proud of you, and all you've become, and all you will do. This is just the beginning! Go, Aidan!
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