School Night at The Farmstead

A few weeks ago Tralee's school sponsored a Family Fun Night at The Farmstead.  We got a screamin' deal to get in, and had a great night together (minus Jim who was in Alaska).  Tralee saw some of her friends and classmates, and even got to watch some teachers kiss a pig.  

Actually, Tralee missed the pig-kissing even though she was sitting in the FRONT  ROW!  The crowd even counted down from 10.  She was screaming the numbers right down with the crowd.  Then, after the pig-kissing event was over (something Tralee had been talking about for weeks), I walked over to her and said, "okay, lets go do something else."  Her response was, "That's it?  But nobody kissed the pig!"  I was like, "Uh, yeah they did.  Three teachers kissed the pig.  You were sitting RIGHT in the front row.  It happened right in front of you."

Blank confused stare.

She missed it.

I don't know how, but she missed it.  I was like, "What were you looking at?"

"I don't know."

"Why did you think everyone was counting down from 10?"

"I don't know."

I explained that next time people are doing a countdown, it means something exciting is about to happen, so start looking around until you see something that looks exciting.  Silly girl.

Anyways, she wasn't too disappointed about missing the pig kisses.  I lured her away from tears with promises of hot mini donuts sprinkled with powdered sugar from the donut vendor.  They were freshly cooked and oh-so-yummy.  Tralee actually ate so many from the first batch, that Hunter was sad he didn't get as many, so I bought a second batch with sprinkles just for him.  We all shared, although I made sure the mini-donut consumption was even between my kids to avoid a meltdown.

We did pretty much everything The Farmstead had to offer.  I even coughed up the dough for Tralee to ride a pony, and walk through a giant lizard maze.  The only thing we missed, was taking a hayride to the pumpkin patch to pick out some pumpkins.  It got too late and too cold to go on the hayride, so I told the kids we might go back some sunny fall day to check that off our list.

All and all, our night at The Farmstead was great.  

The only thing it was missing was Jim's company.  We sure miss him around here.  October will be a long month without him!

Keeping busy helps us not miss him as much.

Which is why we'll probably take another trip to The Farmstead before the month is over!  It's kinda fun!

The First Day

I don't even know where to start.  Tralee's first day of school was such a jumble of emotions, it's hard to go back and describe what went down as I don't think I was all together myself that day.  I'll do my best.

The night before The First Day, as Jim was tucking Tralee into bed he asked her to please stop growing and to stay small forever.  Her reply was, "You know I would love to stay small and stay your little girl, but there's no way I can unless you're a scientist that has shrinking potion and can shrink me down, but you're not as scientist, so you can't do that.  I'll always stay small in your heart Dad, your big heart."  Talk about a heart-melter!  

Sadly, it's true.  Jim is NOT a scientist that can reverse aging, otherwise Tralee's first day as school would probably still be a long way off.  As it happens, her first day went ahead as scheduled. 

I love this picture.  The look on Tralee's face as she watched the children play on the playground, you can tell her tummy has butterflies in it!

Jim came home for lunch on The First Day, as he didn't want to miss this momentous event.  We ate lunch, packed Tralee's snack inside her new Tinkerbell lunchbox, made sure her kitty backpack was ready to go, and lastly made sure our little kindergartner was set.  She was so excited until a few minutes before it was time to leave the butterflies found their way to Tralee's tummy.  She turned and said to me, "Maybe I wish I could stay home with your guys, because I love my family so much."  Ah. . . another melty moment for my heart.  But, I put on a brave face and told Tralee we wouldn't be too far away, and before she knew it, she would be home telling us tales of her first day of school.  

When it was time to go, we walked to the school, which is awesomely located right behind our house, hand-in-hand.  I snuck glances at Tralee who started looking a little less excited and little more nervous.  I reminded myself that all week long I had been preparing her (and myself) for this moment.  I was preparing so well, that when it came right down to it, I was sure I wasn't going to cry.  On the walk over to the school, I watched Tralee get a little more nervous, and my own surety wore off I bit.  But, I was still convinced that although my eyes might get a little misty, I WOULD NOT CRY!

When we reached the school, we took pictures, gave our final hugs, and watched as Tralee went off to play on the playground with her peers.  I couldn't help but think about how fast time flew from the moment I first held Tralee in my arms those five-years-ago, to the moment I finally had to let her go.  Too fast.  As I watched her running around with all the other children I told Jim, "If I had only a handful of days I could go relive, I would go back to a day where Tralee was a baby."  I would breath her in, hold on tight, and enjoy every second she was attached at the hip.

A few minutes later the bell rung.  It was time for the children to go into their classrooms.  Tralee kept playing and I realized she had no idea what the bell meant.  I sent Jim over to tell her, and as soon as she knew, she ran over to her classroom door, put her backpack on, and walked in.  When she walked in I heard her say, "I don't remember where to hang my backpack!"  I showed her the day before, during orientation, but she was too anxious to go play that she must have not paid very close attention.  Every inch of me wanted to go in and help her hang up her backpack, find a nice place for her to sit, and hold her hand until she was ready to let go.  I didn't.  I knew she would figure out where things went.  She could find a seat on her own, and probably wouldn't want to hold my hand for very long anyways.  So I turned around with my family-minus-one and started walking home.  As I took a few steps away from school, the tears that I was SO SURE wouldn't come welled in my eyes.  I looked over at Jim, who was carrying Hunter, and realized he was using our son to shield his face that was also brimming with tears.

We were doing "the kissing hand"

We didn't say much on the walk home.  The silence between us and the tears rolling down Jim and my cheeks had enough to say for the both of us.  Hunter was oblivious to it all, and asked if we could stop by the creek and pick some cat tails.  We obliged, and has he ran around, Jim and I knowingly squeezed each other's hands.

When Hunty had his fill of cat tails, and Jim and I composed ourselves enough to finish walking home, we continued on our day. . . sort of.  I was unloading the dishwasher when Jim texted me to let me know he was still sitting in the driveway.  I walked out and we hugged for a few more minutes.  Words like, "I can't believe how fast this is going!" and "We're going to be blubbering idiots at her wedding!" were said.  Then we really did gather ourselves enough to continue on our day, and I couldn't wait for 3:45 to come around so I could go pick up my baby girl and find out how The First Day went.

The last picture before Tralee was off on her own!  She walked right into the classroom, and I realized she was officially on her own!

When Hunter and I picked Tralee up she was crying.  I panicked for a second thinking, "Oh no!  She had a bad day!!"  I asked what was wrong.  Tralee informed me she was sad because she wanted to ride the bus, but couldn't.  I explained that buses don't even come by our house, because we live so close.  She calmed down after a few minutes and told me how great The First Day was.  I heard a few stories then, and a few were remembered later.  All and all, The First Day was a success!

After school

Dear Tralee. . . From Mommy

I've been thinking about Tralee's first day of school over the last few weeks, and knew I wanted to start some kind of first day tradition.  Nothing over-the-top, just something special to commemorate Tralee starting a new school year.  I came up with the idea of picking out a special book, and writing her a letter on the inside cover as well as the bullet points of the Father's Blessing Jim gave her.  The plan is to give her the new book on First-Day-Eve, and read the letter, blessing, and book together.  When she leaves home she'll have a nice little collection of books and love letters from her parents.  The book I picked for kindergarten was The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn.  I gave it to Tralee tonight, and after everything was read, I drew a red heart with a permanent marker on Tralee's palm and kissed it.  She did the same to mine.  It was a lovely evening filled with love and excitement!  Below is Tralee's first First-Day-of-School letter.  

Dear Tralee,

It seems like I’ve been ignoring this moment from the very first time someone said to me, “Before you know it, she’ll be heading off to kindergarten.”  When I heard this, you were just a few days old.  I was holding you--pink soft you--beholding the best thing I ever created, and I couldn’t believe the tiny bundle sleeping in my arms would someday grow to be five.  I couldn’t imagine my baby girl crossing the last giant milestone from babyhood into a world unknown.  Yet here we are, just days away from your first day of kindergarten, and it seems like just yesterday you were cooing in my arms.  Making those sweet dove-like noises while you slept (you still do this sometimes).

There’s only one page left in your baby-book for me to report on.  The page says, “First Day of School.”  I’ve spent so long ignoring the very idea of this page, that I’ve never -- until now -- thought about what it might look like when it’s all filled in.  I’m still not sure how your first day will go exactly as there are many emotions (excitement and nervousness being a few) brewing inside us both.  I DO know the picture I glue in will be of you with an adorable smile on your face.  You’ll be in a pink outfit--no doubt--that you choose with little to no help from me (as hard as I tried to push my outfits at you).  You’ll be wearing the kitty backpack you picked out all by yourself, and when you do that cute look that you do, I’ll still see your baby face cooing in a blanket in my arms.  But you’re not a baby anymore, you’re such a big girl now!  A smart, strong, kind, loving, sensitive girl who is so polite, loving, and generous.  You’re so willing and eager to share your gifts of imagination, sensitivity, and playfulness with everyone, that I know you’ll make friends.  I know you’ll be nice to everyone, and I know your sweetness will radiate.  I’m so proud of you!

You know that game we like to play, where you are the butterfly, and I’m trying to catch you?  You’re so good at that game, always dashing just out of my grasp.  But I still catch you sometimes, and when I do, remember what I say?  “I finally caught you!  And I’m never letting you go!!”  That’s what it’ll be like on your first day.  I won’t want to let go of your hand (and maybe you won’t want me to).  Just like in the game you’ll find your way to fly, fly on your own away from the familiar.  Fly into a new adventure, and you won’t just fly, you’ll soar!  While your soaring, learning many new things from your teachers and peers, know that I’ll be waiting for you to fly back into my arms.  Even while you’re soaring, know that a piece of my heart is with you.  I gave it to you the day you were born, those five-and-half years ago!  It’s nuzzled right inside your heart.  So, if you’re ever feeling a little sad or scared soaring out there on your own, and wishing you could fly home, remember that a little piece of home is right inside to your heart, sending you love.

Tralee you have such a good, kind, sensitive heart, and an eager seeking mind.  You always want to do the right thing, and be kind to those around you.  If you keep this up, there’s no telling where you’ll soar off to.  My sweet, artistic, imaginative, kind, glorious butterfly, I know you’ll reach the stars!  

No matter what happens on your first day of school, or this entire year, OR for your ENTIRE life, I want you to know that no matter what, your mommy loves you so so so so much!  I know if I had it my way, you’d still be a little baby sleeping in my arms, and I’d NEVER want to let you go.  That would be wrong, because you’d never experience all the adventures waiting for you -- pleasant and sour.  Each adventure will mold you into a better version of yourself.  So, get ready little butterfly, because you’re about to take the flight of your life, and I’m so excited I get to tag along for some of the ride!

I La-la-la-la-LOVE YOU!!!!!!!  More than you’ll ever know!

Love,

Your Mommy, Leslie Jean Jacobs

XOXOXOXOXOXOXO