One More Day

We have one more day of summer, one more day of 'freedom,' one more day before Anna is officially a first grader. Tonight we went to the school and saw her room, her desk, her locker (yes, she has a locker that she shares with a friend) and met her teacher. We had seen her at the pool last week, but this was an opportunity to talk about school!

Her teacher seems like a very, very nice, fair teacher. We found out last week when we got teacher assignments that three of her favorite girl friends from kindergarten are in her class. It was really exciting tonight when we found out that they get to pick their own tables and so three of them are sitting together (should be interesting).

As she and I walked up to the school tonight, I didn't have the same anxiety that we had last year. I don't think she did either as she bounded up to the school and took me right to her room. She was a little quiet with her teacher, but I know that by Thursday or Friday, she'll feel much more at ease.

Tonight as I think back on the last year, I can see, truly see how much she has grown. Not only in inches, but as a person. She is more confident. Last year at this time, she couldn't read, now she reads small chapter books. She can do one-handed cartwheels and round-offs. She's working on walkovers. She can swim so well that she can and always goes off the boards. She can handle cleaning up her room without help. I can see that she cares about others and that she LOVES her little brother, more so than ever. I've tried to keep her home a little this summer (instead of always outside with friends) so that they can play. The last week, they've been together, without other friends around, a lot. Owen is going to be devasted - absolutely devasted when she goes back to school. He used to say "Nana" when he needed/wanted her, but now so clearly in a bit of a whiny voice, "Anna?, Anna?" It's always almost in the form of a question because he always seems to be looking for her, wanting her to look at him, or just wanting to know how to do something. Even in the midst of arguments, they love each other so much and are always quick to apologize to the other.

She's growing every single day, every day... I am so proud of her.

Please keep her in your thoughts this week as she heads back to school on Wednesday. Owen and I as well... We're going to be the ones left outside crying for our Anna and counting the hours until she can come home.

She's my sunshine... always has been, always will be.