What's a Mommy to do...?

Last week I sent Ashley to Junior high and Duane to kindergarten. I thought this would be easier than it was. I watched Ashley, my young lady, wave goodbye as she joined her friends she missed this summer. She has become such a beautiful person and I am very proud of her and her accomplishments. She found out she had been placed in a junior counciling class, selected by her teachers, to lead others in her school when the situation should arise. Congrats to her! She also won an art award and was placed in the top three champoinship places for her art classes.
Duane's first day of school was interesting to say the least. He is very strong-willed, as we all know, and I think he gave his teacher a run for her money. When he came down the sidewalk to me he was almost in tears and very upset. He said the teacher got into his backpack and stole all his stuff, his kleenexes, his colors, and even his x-men beach towel! She wouldn't let me take it home... I could see my name on my kleenexes but I could take them back off the shelf! I am really mad at her for taking my wolverine towel Mommy! We had tried to explain to him these things were for his classroom but I think he still didn't understand. When he talk to Justin on the phone that night Justin asked him his favorite part of school and Duane answered ...Going Home!... we were trying not to giggle but it was so cute! Friday was much better and he was very excited when he came home. Meanwhile, I found this was very difficult to realize a chapter in my life was coming to a close and I was grieving the fact my children were growing up very quickly so I went home and cried, delt with my emotions and found this to be enjoyable in small amounts. I will be glad to get back to school myself so I don't sit around all day lisitening to the radio.
I start back to classes tomorrow and I am nervous again too, but a new beginning means one more step in a long journey of taking a single footstep in the right direction.
All our love, The Trents

Preschool Graduation

Duane has been attending Mommy and Me's Preschool (mine) and Saturday we finished our lessons so we had our Graduation. Ashley and Tiffany were my last ones to Graduate and since me life has changed drastically over the last five years Duane is the next graduate. We had a house full of company with all the Trent Family here and we had to have it inside because it rained but who is complaining about that!
He sang songs he had learned, read nursery rhymes out of mommy's big book we made for my class and did some fingerplays too. He recieved his diploma and then he threw up his mortorboard hat and yelled" Yeh I'm a kindergartener!" He loves Dr. Seuss so our party was themed around this topic and we read the book Oh, The Places You'll Go. I bought this book when I found out I was pregnant with him and read it to him before he was born all the time. So the Dr. Seuss Party was a must! Duane was very proud as were we and thursday he starts school. Yesterday we met his teacher and visited his classroom. He found his desk, his locker and was so excited he could hardly sleep. He would roll over and smile then say only two more days and I get to go to school! I finally made him sleep in my room so he would settle down and rest. I will be posting on thursday about the first day of school and pictures too. Hope this finds everyone well and good. Love you all, Melody