Your last day in the Toddler Room at Maple Tree

Dearest Lyla,

A lot has changed in our lives during the last six weeks! About six weeks ago you became a big sister.  Little Levi joined our family on February 16th and you have already been an amazing sister. You love to help hold him and feed him bottles. Levi is obsessed with you. He's only five weeks old and he already smiles when you talk to him and follows your voice around the room to find you.

March 17, 2015

Today was a monumental day. It was your last day at Maple Tree Day School for this year. Normally you would continue going to school until June but now I am taking a year and a half off of work, so we had you continue at school for six weeks after Levi was born. Now the three of us will be at home together everyday!

When you started school in the fall I was really nervous. Previously you had been with Asah, your nanny, and one other girl, Erica. I was worried that you would not get enough attention in a classroom of ten toddlers. I was worried that you might not keep your constantly happy personality. I was worried that you might not like it there. I could not have been more wrong.

First day!! Daddy dropped you off! You carried the catepillar around all day! 

You loved your new Elmo backpack and lunch bag.

Cutest school picture ever!!!

Your teachers were Ms. Ree and Ms. Jackie. When the school year started you had about five kids in your class. As of today you had about 10 kids in the class, but not everyone was there each day. Your days in the toddler room were filled with music, singing, playing, learning, and of course, your favorite...projects! You love doing art projects! You've started bringing your projects home and hanging them on the kitchen wall. You are so proud of your artwork!

Turkey feather Thanksgiving project

Your teachers said you eventually didn't want any help during project time! =) Love this snowman!!!

Since the toddler room is part of the bigger Pre-School system, you had a weekly learning theme. Some of your themes this year were: Apples, Turkeys, Bats, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Owls, Snowflakes, Christmas, Penguins, Winter Weather Gear, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, and Easter. You had dance parties at school, celebrated Wacky Wednesday, had a Teddy Bear Picnic, a PJ Day, a Thanksgiving Feast, you made applesauce, an adorable Christmas concert where you sang and danced to "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" (You were the leader of all the toddlers around the tree!), and you played for hours outside! You now know your ABC's, numbers, colors, months of the year, the Pledge of Allegiance, more songs than I could count, and many more things!  

Wacky Wednesday!!

Halloween!! You are Elmo and Landon (your best friend at school) is the bee.

You carved a pumpkin at school!!

So focused during reading time!!! 

You absolutely love your teachers and up until about two months ago, I would have to carry you out at the end of the day because you just wanted to keep playing with your friends. Your best friend this year was Landon. Everyday you would talk about playing with Landon and say, "He's so nice!" About three weeks ago Landon moved to a new school. You keep telling me, "Landon will make new friends." Knowing that Landon isn't at school anymore makes pulling you out early a little bit easier.

Today Daddy dropped you off in the morning and he said that it seemed like your teachers were really sad it was your last day of school. I cried as I drove to the school this afternoon to pick you up. I am so excited about spending the next year and a half at home with you, but I was feeling bad that I was taking you away from a place that you love going so much! Yesterday you got to lead the morning group time. You lead your classmates in the song about the weather and the day of the week. I saw the video today and it is adorable!! Your teachers made you a scrapbook from the school year and you got a little graduation ceremony too. I know you will be back at Maple Tree when I go back to work and little Levi will start in the Toddler class!

First day of school (August 24th, 2014)  and today (March 27th, 2015)...last day in the Toddler Class.

Ms. Ree & Ms. Jackie

As I look back at these pictures, I can't believe how much you have grown in these last seven months. It literally brings tears to my eyes at how fast you are growing up. It doesn't surprise me for a minute how much your teachers love you. You are the sweetest, smartest little girl ever (and I'm not just saying that because I'm your mom, it's true!!) You flourished at school this year and brought smiles to the faces of everyone you would talk to. 

I hope you continue to have a passion for learning little one. You are such a smart girl. I am looking forward to spending the next year and half making wonderful memories with you and Levi. You are my world...I can't wait to get out and explore the rest of the world with the two of you. 

Things I love about you:

*I love that you are obsessed with school buses! We point out each one when we would drive home from school each day.

*I love how you say "Maple Tree Day School" really fast.

*I love that you love your teachers "Ree Ree and Jackie."

*I love that you love to check your folder to see if there are projects in it at the end of the school day.

*I love your art projects.

*I love that you love your art projects.

*I love how you walk with a little bounce in your step.

*I love that you point out letters you know on signs we see.

*I love that you love your friends at school. 

*I love that you love your brother....and that you said tonight "ROOOOOOOMIES" because it's the first night he is sleeping in the crib in your room....speaking of that....I better get some sleep before he gets up to eat.

I love you forever little girl...you're my favorite little girl in the whole wide world.

Mommy