Kindergarten

I can't believe my baby is a big Kindergartener already!  This is Will's first day of school.  He has to wear red, white, or blue shirts every day as part of the school's dress code which is no problem for him, since his favorite color is red!  He goes to Charter Oak Primary School and his teacher's name is Mrs. Mahrt.  We like her very much and she is already very fond of Will!  Here's will checking out his Bobcat paw-print necklace.  It helps get him from his bus to the correct classroom in the morning, and from his classroom to the right bus at the end of the day.

We're getting ready to walk to the bus stop together.  It's just down the street from us, so John is still in his jammies.

So excited!

Here comes the bus:

He was so excited, he didn't even turn around and say goodbye!  Mom got a little misty on the walk home, but Will was totally fine!

"The new journey begins August 20" - you got that right!

Here's his official school picture from a few weeks later (and after a haircut too):

The Graduate

 We just can't believe it, but Will graduated from preschool on Friday.  He has loved every day of preschool - he even cries when a holiday comes on a school day and he doesn't get to go!  He had a really great year.  Here he is showing off his cubby on the first day of school and then again on the last day of school just after graduation:

Here he is with his teachers Miss Nancy (left) and Miss Brittany (right).  They were so fantastic with Will this year!  I feel like either one of them could steal him and pretend to be his mom and nobody would know, they look so much like him.

Here's Will showing off some of the sneakers that he and his classmates sold to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.  Will sold all of his in one night to our friends in Life Group.  As people walked in the door he used his great sales pitch, "Do you have any money?" 

The Graduation Song:

As they called the kids names, they walked across the stage to high-five Miss Brittany and then shake hands with Miss Nancy and receive their diplomas.  I just taped the last couple of kids since Will was last in line.  Will, always a crowd favorite, doesn't disappoint.

Here's Will at the reception afterward with his BFF from the year, Katelyn.  Katelyn was all decked out in Hello Kitty! from head to toe.  Will insists that he's going to marry her, but they will be going to different schools for Kindergarten, so it will be a bit of a long distance relationship.

We are all so excited about Kindergarten in the Henley house, but it will be hard to say goodbye to Woodland Baptist Preschool.  It was really, really, really great for Will.  He learned a ton, made lots of friends, and really matured from practically a toddler to a big kid.  Will wanted preschool to just keep going all summer until it's time for Kindergarten to start!

First Day of Preschool

I can't believe Will is big enough for preschool! He goes Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 - 11:30a.m. He says that he likes his teacher, Ms. Nancy. Here he is outside the school on his first day:

Here he is outside his classroom, by the cubbies where I pick up his papers and crafts (and where we'll eventually try to cram his winter jacket):

The kids have to wash their hands first and then go to class. I let him go in the door and he headed straight for the puzzle table with the other kids. The teachers couldn't even get him to look up to tell me goodbye (sniff):

Here he is at the end of the day. Ms. Nancy (in the blue) called his name and he came running out the door with a huge smile on his face. He was excited to tell me that he got to be the "Flag Helper."

Here he is this morning before school. Today was his third day, but it was the first "Show and Tell" day. Will brought his favorite book, Alphabet Adventure: