Emma's last year in pre-k - Oak Hills

Emma had a GREAT year in the Chirping Chickadee class at Oak Hills.  Mrs. Ham is her teacher and she is so loving and nurturing to her students.  Emma has looked forward to each day she got to go to pre-k (school).  Though it was only 2 days a week it was good for her to have that time with good friends and be in an environment where she was learning so much.  She was there Wednesdays and Fridays.  On Wednesdays she would stay until 2:15pm for "extended day" and though she was the only one from her class that stayed she made great friends from the Wise Whale class as quite a few of those kiddos stayed.  What we love more than anything is that she wasn't just learning her letters and numbers...she was learning about God.

All the kids were given a tote to carry to school instead of a backpack.  Each had a chickadee on it with their name.

The first big event of the year was the Halloween parade.  The kids got to dress up in their Halloween costumes and trick'r'treat with all the parents there passing out candy!  

The Thanksgiving celebration was so sweet!  Emma's class were Indians and the Indian name she chose was Flying Ladybug.  During that time we were reading a lot of the Ladybug Girl books hence the name.  I had packed Emma's lunch that day even though they had some yummy food they were serving for their Thanksgiving feast.  She really didn't want anything that was being served but she snacked on a few pieces of fruit and pretzels.  She was happy to eat her lunch after I took her home.  

Emma and her bff Ivy!

The Christmas holidays were approaching and E was super excited!  Emma's class had a Christmas party with a "snowman/frozen" theme.  We had pretzel sticks for arms, mini oreos for buttons, and powdered sugar donuts for the body/snowballs.  I had gone into the class the week before to take pictures of each child so we could made ornaments during the Christmas as their craft.  The kids had fun with all the food, craft and the book gift exchange!

The day of LOVE!  Valentine's Day!!!!  Emma was all about Valentine's Day!  Her class had a party and they decorated cookies.  You can see E's was covered in anything sugar!  They ate Chick-fil-a, fruit and played a game for prizes.  The kids made cute Valentine holders and exchanged Valentine's.

The Easter party was off site as they do every year.  Ivy's mom, Jade, offered to have it at her neighborhood park but it was pouring rain that day so she was very kind and had it at her house!  She was braver than I.  The kids got to each lunch picnic style, play with bubbles, dye eggs, have a super fun Easter egg hunt and enjoy a few swings at a bunny piñata.  

The look of "no more pictures mommy!"

I include these pictures because it was a school morning and Emma wanted her hair braided.  I don't know how to braid and this was my best attempt.  She was very happy and complimented my work.  

It was Fiesta time in SA and Emma's first Fiesta parade.  She was supposed to have a shoebox float of her choice to pull around during the parade.  I don't or at least I didn't think I had one crafty bone in my body.  My mother has always been the one that I went to, outside of Ben one year, for such craftiness.  This year I surprised myself and created the cutest little unicorn float I have seen!  Emma was super happy and very proud.  She has one of the best floats at the parade. My mom said she knew it had to be in my somewhere!  

The class was asked to bring a bike, scooter or tricycle to school for "Wheels Day".  Emma has not learned how to ride a bike yet with or without training wheels.  So this was definitely a good reason/opportunity to get her on her bike.  She got a bike when she was 2 and just never had much of an interest in riding. I aired the tires up, got her a new helmet and she did pretty good.  She is definitely more like me in being hesitant trying new things like that but she did good.  She has to ride a little more lately so we are working on it.  The goal is to have her riding a big girl bike without training wheels by the time we take our Thanksgiving trip with the Leavelle's.  Now....the caveat to all of this is that I also have to learn how to ride a bike again.  UGH!  

Emma was not exactly in the mood for picture taking when snapped this but I had to.  Every first Friday of the month the kids wear their Oak Hills t-shirts to school and this was the last first Friday that she would wear her t-shirt.  (note to self....take memory pics like this in the morning!)

Emma got to have a couple of play dates with her friend Ivy.  Ivy and her family are moving to CO in July and I know Emma will be sad to see her go.  They have become really good friends!

Emma got to take snack the last week of school!  Mrs. Ham's snack bag came in handy this year and Emma loved picking out snacks for her friends.  She usually picked a fruit snack and a cookie of some sort.  For the last snack selection of the year Emma chose goldfish and apples.

Oak Hills had an end of year picnic for the kids and their families.  Emma chose McDonald's for her lunch so that is what I brought!  We sat outside in the sunshine with her classmates and their families!  Beautiful day!!!!  

Mrs. Ham created an alphabet book for each child and I love that she captured handprints in the book!!  These are items I love to keep!

Emma's classmates:  Jaycee, Ivy (her two best friends), Landon, Abram, Arie, Damon, Addie, Jake and Luke

Emma and Ivy

Emma and Jaycee

 I was sad toward the end as I knew that was it but to make it fun for our girl I had her give me a pose while shouting..."goodbye pre-k hello kindergarten!"

Mrs. Ham gave the kids some summer fun in a bucket!

Mrs. Ham gave me a beautiful plant and sweet note to say thank you for helping during the year!

I asked Mrs. Ham to write a note to Emma in her book On The Night You Were Born.  It brought tears to my eyes reading her sweet words to our Emma girl!

Emma got her very own birthday crown since she has a summer birthday quickly approaching but won't be in school to celebrate!

As we approach the end of Emma's pre-k years I am sad, surprised the time arrived so quickly, and excited to see this next chapter start.  That is a complete lie.  I am not excited...not even a little bit.  I am so not ready to start the next chapter.  I have been so incredibly blessed to have Emma home with me 80% of the time.  I have treasured every single second and dread sending her to school every day.  She still seems so little to me and though she is very independent I still want to do for her.   I do a good job of allowing her to have independence....brushing her own teeth, making her own bed, getting dressed, helping me clean and cook....just anything she wants to help with.  That is my way of keeping my emotions in check.  She knows that I am sad that we won't be together every day next year...or going forward and she is too but she is also excited.  It's very bittersweet.  Emma is SO smart, very rule bound, studious, and just so sweet!  I know great things are ahead for our girl!

This embodies the message Emma received all year at Oak Hills.   I hear her singing about Jesus, we talk about Jesus and she believes with all her heart!