Aquarium

Three little monkeys

Sniff sniff

Ok so today was my first day of real tears over you going to Kindergarten. I labeled all your things for school and I did great until I got to your outer backpack label. I thought- what information can I write on this tag that would be helpful? Your name, of course. Your teacher? I don't know yet. (sore spot there- your principle has yet to call me back, can't imagine he'd be busy this time of year... Lol). Then I thought... What info would be good for if you were lost but not overly helpful in case you got ... Kidnapped.

That is so scary.

Ok so I put your name, your bus number and MY number.

What i could not fit on the tag was this: Dear teacher,
Please take such good care of my baby. She is such a huge, irreplaceable wonderful part of my life. She is a joy and an empty vessel, hungry for knowledge.

This is such a smart girl!! She can read real books. She sounds out words and tries so hard.

Now. I am entrusting you to teach my child because she thrives on a school environment surrounded by her peers. This was not a decision we made lightly. I still struggle with wondering if she would be best taught at home by me. Her dad and I have decided for now to give public school a chance, because she shines so with others her age. Help me to agree this time next year that this was the best decision for our whole family. Appreciate my little girl, because she is incredible and truly precious.

Please don't rush her. Ruby is careful with her work, easily frustrated because she just wants to do her best. Let her take her time. The look on her face when she comes to show you her hard work will make the extra time and patience worth it.

She is a kind and gentle soul with a wonderful sense of humor and a love for others. She has no idea how beautiful she truly is, inside and out.

She is sensitive and has a big heart. She cries when she watches someone in a movie die or get hurt or fall in love. She is unbelievably good to her family, her sister, and her brother.

Let her know it is ok to make mistakes- we all do. We just keep trying. Encourage her excitement joy and enthusiasm about the wonderful world around her.

She is a great friend, without a mean streak. My hope is not that she is the most popular, but that she continues to make me proud by choosing friends who build her and themselves up without tearing others down. Nourish her kindness and her open heart, her honesty and her sense of fairness as we have done. I am so proud of the five year old that she is.

Please, please dear teacher... Don't let my baby get lost. Don't let her feel afraid without someone there to comfort her. Don't let her be bullied, or ridiculed. Don't let her be pressured into things harmful to her. Let her know that she is loved, heard, seen, and highly valued as a member of your class.

I leave her with you because I think the school experience is an important one and I think you can do it better than I can. We will see. :)

Sincerely, Ruby's mom always, Jackie Sawyer

Sweet Frog

Dad is out of town so we decided to go to sweet frog. You had a lot of questions about dad flying on the plane. Is that that's plane right there? Etc.

Love

You and Charlotte

Hanging out a cmor again.

Ready for Kindergarten

Saw this on pinterest. You were not in the mood for posing with your pink eye (again! Poor lovey!) but tried to put on a smile for me.

Cmor Short pump

You are such a great helper!!

Mad Ruby

Cmor backyard

You and Henry are super close. You and Charlotte are close too, but not 100 percent of the time.
I love when you all get along, and I can tell that you are making an effort to be nicer to her.

You are really making me proud!!

"mama, do I look awesome?!"

Err. Yes.

"why do you love Henry the most than us?"

Dear Ruby,

You asked me the other night this question which pulled at my heartstrings. I answered " I don't -I love you all the same". You seemed satisfied and I do indeed love you all differently but I love you all equally- completely, undoubtedly, purely.

I love you. I love Charlotte. I love Henry.

I remember asking my mom the same question and her giving me the same answer.

The real question is "Momma will you always love me like you do now?"

And that is a yes. I could never love anyone more than I love my babies.

Busch Gardens

You were so very very sweet with Charlotte on this trip. You waited for her to make sure she didn't fall.

Bad Word

Well, this is a post I hate to write but if I only put the good stuff, you can't accurately measure growth.

So... It will suffice to say that you called me a very very very bad word last night. You repeated it twice, when I incredulously asked you what you said bc my ears could not believe what I had heard.

Anyhow. We have talked about it and you were punished by losing your priveleges. Hopefully you understand how serious it was.