Graduation!

First day of Pre-K:

And last Friday, May 15, 2015, was her last. 

My little, big girl, graduated from pre-K last Friday. Daddy took her to school and Mimi, Diddy, Gigi and I rushed over as early as we could to get seats in the church for the big graduation program. I heard a few rumors about what would be included, but Libby wanted it to be a surprise, as she does with most of her programs, so I didn't pursue any details. 

Diddy arrived even before Michael and me (Matthew attended Mother's Morning Out) and we had a nice time chatting with each other along with other parents and grandparents, and staking out our positions before the program began.

As I reviewed the program, I saw the Pledge of Allegiance, "God Bless America," and more. It was SO great to see such patriotic enthusiasm from preschoolers.

I was doing just fine, until I read the inside of the program:

"We give you back the children, the same children you confidently entrusted to us last fall. We gave them back pounds heavier, inches taller, months wiser and more responsible than they were. They would have attained this growth in spite of us, but it has been our privilege to help foster it, and to watch their personalities unfold day to day. We have thrilled at each new achievement, each new success, each new expansion of self. We give them back reluctantly for having spent nine months together; we have grown close and have become a part of each other. 

"Then years from now, if we meet on the street a light will shine in our eyes, a smile will come to our lips, and we shall feel that bond of understanding once more. We have lived, loved, played, laughed, cried, learned, and enriched our lives together this year. We wish it could go on indefinitely, but give them back we must. Take care of them for they are very precious. Remember that we will always be interested in your children and their destiny wherever they go, whatever they do."

That was when "I got a little bit of wet in my eyes" (to quote Libby's fave lately, Junie B. Jones.) But truly, we all made it through the program pretty darn well. It was just SO cute and fun, and they didn't purposely try to make it too much of a tear-jerker.

Mom took photos throughout so that I could record the program. Libby trucked right up the aisle very proudly with her class!

And she sure participated in her program, too! So animated, and just one yawn!

We weren't able to get the still photo of the actual diploma receiving, but fortunately we do have the video. ...and then it was all over. 

So we staged the diploma shot with Mrs. Shannon back in the classroom when we picked her up.

She was very excited to show her grandparents her classroom and the starfish they'd been growing all week!

Then of course, there was the traditional post-program punch & cookies! We sat with Kira and her family.

And Libby was SO.OVER.PHOTOS.

But this was graduation day, so there were more to come!

Matthew wasn't so into them, either.

After the reception, we zipped off to a celebratory lunch at the restaurant of her choosing, Baked! She was pretty tired, but it has a play area, plus delicious fried okra and sweet potatoes, and really, everything tasty, so we all enjoyed it before coming home to regroup, let Matthew get some rest, work, etc.

Despite the fact that she was too hyped up to nap, Libby insisted on going to swim team practice, so she, Michael and Matthew went over for that. Then, wee got changed, hit the grocery store quickly and went to a picnic at a park with her two year-old class! A couple of the kids are moving to other states and wanted to have a little celebration and farewell with the kids and families that could make it. Of course, I neglected to bring a graduation table cloth (what?!), AND just picked up Chick-fil-A at Libby's choice, while everyone else made stuff and brought real picnic food, but we all had a nice time.  ...despite the fact that on the way, Libby also casually mentioned that she wished she could go to bed early!

I think we must have been all a bit fried though, because we didn't even get a group photo with the kids!

Anyway, as it mentioned in the program, Libby HAS grown and matured in so many ways this year. I think it has perhaps been... MY FAVORITE YET! She's so smart, funny, sensitive and sweet. Libby, you are every thing I could ever want in a daughter. Your Daddy and I are so very proud of you and we can't wait to be with you in Kindergarten and all your new adventures.

We gave her some fun graduation stuff.

You know, a "On the Places You'll Go" card & the book, a new Elsa swimsuit, a GRAD removable tattoo, some glow sticks and several other books, "When Small is Tall," and some chapter books now that she's getting in to those again (we read her the Pooh chapter books when she was an infant) "Charlotte's Web" and the "Little House on the Prairie" set.

But the "Oh the Places You'll Go" book, we had all of her teachers at St. Cat's sign for her (except Mrs. Shirley, from last year, who retired). So I read her the sweet comments and remarks and then we read the book that night. I may have choked up as I read it. Her response was a look of some concern and, "I don't want to have to go off alone." Of course we reassured her in many ways. But I want to again.

No matter how big you get, no matter what path you take, you will never have to, Miss B. You will never be alone.