Endings

Lately we've been celebrating Briggs' firsts.  Rolling, smiling, laughing, grabbing toys.  So many new things each day as he learns and grows and changes.  But just as Briggs is quickly growing and learning, so are Adelie and Staley.  And on Tuesday, Staley reached a milestone too.  She finished her first year of preschool.  Not that I was at all surprised, but Staley LOVED school.  She loved her teachers, her helpers, her friends.  She loved learning and playing and coloring.  She always liked singing her new songs and would sometimes tell us about what she was learning.  She was always excited about school days, and was very sad about school being over for the year.

Staley with her teacher, Mrs. Roberts.

Staley's favorite afternoon helper, Miss Mandy.

One of the best parts of Staley's first year of preschool was that she got to go with her same-age cousin, Lila.  Being together two days each week took them from being cousins to being best friends.  I loved seeing their friendship blossom. Whenever I asked Staley who she played with at school, she always listed Lila first.  For next year, Lila has to switch preschools because of her mom's new work schedule.  I was very torn because I was so happy with their current preschool, but I also wanted them to have the opportunity for another year together.  I couldn't decide what to do, so I asked Staley if she wanted to stay at her same school with all her friends and teachers or go to a new school with Lila.  Without hesitation, she said, "A new school with Lila."

Cousins and best friends who also have the same taste in clothes.

It's fun to watch my kids grow and learn.  I love seeing them make friends and find things that they love.  But it's also a little bittersweet to see them fly by these milestones and know that time is only going to keep marching forward.  Can't we just keep them going to preschool, holding hands with their friends, and wearing their pink twirly dresses just a little bit longer???