Chase's Preschool Debut

Our little Chase Ryan Boy (that's what he calls himself, evidently he believes the "d" in Boyd should be silent) started preschool today! Hooray!! Last year it was very hard and sad for Chase to stay behind when Cole went to preschool. Sometimes he would cry, and I would tell him that he had to grow a little before it was his turn for school, and he would stretch himself in his car seat to try and get immediately taller. It was so cute, and a little heartbreaking. So...you can imagine the happiness he felt (I felt it for him, too!) when it was finally his turn for school!!

We started a new tradition this year of getting a brand new pair of jammies to wear the night before school starts.

Here we are right before we're about to leave for school. He looks like such a big boy!!

The Brothers Boyd

The backpack is a very important accessory for any preschooler. Naturally, Chase chose Cars.

Cole spent most of the ride on the way to school with some serious sour grapes. Joyful Noise has been HIS preschool for the last two years, and he was none too happy to have to stay behind while Chase got to go. Hmm....sounds familiar. Here are some of his comments to Chase, "You don't get to play with toys during circle time." "Colby won't be in your class." (That's his favorite friend from Joyful Noise.) "You'll have to do crafts with glue and scissors." (This might sound like a benign comment, but it was actually said with great disdain because he does not like to do crafts.) I finally had to tell Cole to keep quiet with his discouraging remarks, to which he replied that he's been waiting for school to start for so long, and then he started crying! I feel so bad for Cole and the long wait for kindergarten...I have sour grapes about that too.

Sour grape face.

Even Caden looks a little bummed.

Chase entered his preschool class without any apprehension at all. Here he is greeting Miss Amy, and showing her the exciting things he sees, like The Very Hungry Caterpillar hanging on the wall...

...and of course, his backpack!

Chase and Miss Sara.

Making friends.

This is right before I left. He was totally fine with it, but I was a little teary to say goodbye. It's a very weird sensation, leaving one of my babies for a big event like preschool. I'm so happy that he's finally reached this milestone, but I'm going to miss him! After this day, he'll always be in school...he's not a baby anymore!

(After I left, we went to Costco and my tears became ones of joy when I only had TWO kids to manage instead of THREE. Oh school, how I've missed you over the summer.)

When it was time to pick Chase up, I got there a little early so I could watch him on the playground. But he wasn't there! My first thought was that he was naughty, and was having a time out. I got so nervous, thinking of what he could have done on his first day of preschool. But no! I was super relieved to find out he wasn't in trouble, he just chose to stay inside and play. I did learn however, that he had a lot of trouble with circle time, as I thought he might since this is his first exposure to structured activity. He really wanted nothing to do with it. He did confess this to me by saying, "I wanted to play with race cars, but Miss Sara wanted me to sit on the carpet. I didn't want to sit on the carpet." We talked (a lot) about how he needs to cooperate and follow directions, and obey Miss Amy and Miss Sara. We'll see how he does tomorrow! I am just so excited for Chase to get to have an experience he can call his own, make his own friends, and have something that's just for him. I can't wait to see how he grows and thrives at Joyful Noise with Miss Amy and Miss Sara!