Berk's 1st day of Kindergarten!!!

How did we go from this...

to this?????

(I cropped this one kind of funny because the street numbers were in the background and I didn't want to post those so that's why Gracie is a little bit cut off)

I just put my baby on the bus. And so here I sit with tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat, not quite sure what to do with myself. I have a 4 year old and a 17 month old that also seem a little bit lost. It is really quiet this morning without her. She is Oliver's best friend and Finley's best friend and play mate.

Yesterday was especially hard knowing that it was her last day home. I had a rough day and could't keep myself together a few times. Last night during bed time stories I could barely get the stories read without crying. I feel like I just brought my first baby home...how can she be going to school for 6+ hours every day??? This morning before I woke her up I took a few moments and just looked at her tiny little body all snuggly, warm, peaceful and innocent in her bed and savored it. My little girl is growing up and there's nothing I can do about it.

This morning while we were finishing up breakfast Uncle Jer and the dogs came in. Jer wrote a little poem and handed it to me to read. I started to read the first sentence and quickly realized I wasn't going to get through it. He ended up reading it to us. Here it is:

For us nine it was the summer to remember

Oliver & I took our first swim and later we saw the first steps of Fin!

It was hot dogs, macaroni & cheese and father who drove the boat as fast as you please

The sand, the sun and games galore, I remember it to be the year that Oliver turned 4

Mother took us to pools for lessons and filled us with love during each of those sessions

And Jake, Sterling & Ridley were spirited and fun

We spent many happy days out in the sun!

Uncle, Oliver & I saw "CARS" at the mall

We slept at the Ritz and all had a ball!

It's the first day of school; new clothes & a pack

The nine of us here together a time to remember, forever and ever.

Ok, so, now you know why there was no way I was going to get through that. Seeing her off today just made me realize how incredibly precious these years are and have been with my kids. Oliver has already asked a few times "When is Berk coming home?" I keep looking at the clock too, counting down the hours & minutes till that bus comes pulling up, bringing our girl back home to us.