Kemper the Kindergartner!!

How in the world did we go from

THIS...

Kemper at 2 weeks old

to THIS....

Kemper on his first (real) day of Kindergarten

???????

Kemper with his very first teacher, Ms. Josie, at the CDC in Germany (age 10 months)

Over the course of the entire summer, Kemper has been PUMPED for Kindergarten.  He enjoyed being home with Hudson and me but he is a kid who is used to routine and seeing his friends more often.  We had as many playdates with Gavin as we could but with our travels to Virginia and their travels to visit family, he got bored just hanging with us.  

Kemper at 6 months old.

We attended Kindergarten Round-Up at his school and that only made him even more excited for school to start.  He got to meet a few of the teachers and see a couple of the classrooms.  I asked him if he had a certain teacher that he wanted and he quickly replied yes.  When he told me who, I immediately assumed it was because her classroom had been decorated so awesome and she was so friendly at the round-up.  When I asked him why he wanted that specific teacher, he said, "Because she has a big, soft, round belly!" with a huge smile on his face!  I was mortified and so very thankful that he had said that in the comfort of our home and NOT directly to that teacher.  

Kemper at 1 year old

We gathered the supplies and, in an attempt to not have to stare at a Ninja Turtles backpack, I let him choose a Ninja Turtles lunchbox and water bottle with the agreement that I could choose the backpack.  (Thank you, Lands End, for having a "Cav Man" colored backpack that will hopefully last us many years in the future!)  I loaded down the backpack with all of the supplies and wondered how in the world he was going to carry that bag in by himself.  

Kemper at 18 months

Our school district has a really strange start schedule for the Kindergartners.  The very first day is only a half day for them and a parent has to attend with them.  It really only ended up being an hour of meeting with the teacher and her going over classroom and school policies as well as finding out when he would be coming back for testing.  Even though we had gotten dressed in our first day of school finest and taken all of the pictures, by 10:30, we were done and on our way home.  Luckily, an invitation to meet up with Gavin and Trenton at Kids N play popped up so off we were to celebrate the successful "first day"!

Kemper at 2 years old...he still sticks his tongue out when writing or concentrating hard.

After back to school night, he realized that he and Gavin wouldn't be in the same class and the apprehension began to set in.  He was scared he would never see Gavin again and that he wouldn't be able to find his classroom after he realized that this wasn't going to be like The Youth Academy where I walked him to his class every morning.  We really started talking it up and trying to make it as fun and exciting sounding as possible.  They told us that on the morning of their testing we would be able to walk them in and help them get their supplies to their classroom so we assured him that I would help him find his way that first morning and he seemed to be good to go.  

Kemper at 2.5 years old

On the morning of testing, we packed his lunch and took a few more "first day" pictures and off we went.  As we pulled in, I showed him the line of cars and explained how we would wait in that line the next day and how he would get out by himself and walk in without me.  He seemed ok with it after seeing how it worked.  We found his class and his teacher, Ms. Davis, met him at the door and explained to him what he needed to do every morning when he walked in.  He has to put his lunch on the counter with the other lunches and take his folder out to put on the table.  Then he hangs his backpack up (peg #5) and has a seat at his table.  I got ready to leave and was half expecting him to be a bit apprehensive but he barely glanced my way as he hung his bag and started coloring at his table!

  

Kemper age 3

I was so incredibly nervous while I waited in line to pick him up.  I was praying that he would have had a great day and that he would love school and be excited to go back the following day but preparing myself to start giving him a pep talk if necessary.  As I pulled up to the front of the line, I saw a teacher start walking him out of the gym and he was all smiles!!  Yipee!!!  He climbed in and started telling me all about his day.  It had only been him and 2 other kids for testing and apparently one little boy had a pretty rough day.  Kemper made sure to tell me all about how the little boy moved down on the behavior chart but he stayed at the top.  He got to play outside on the playground and he really liked his teacher!  He was excited to go back!

Kemper at 3.5 - first day of 3-year old preschool

The next day, he was super excited about getting out of the van by himself and finding his class without my help.  He knew that his hallway was the peach hall and that there was a wall mural of a lady holding a cat.  When I opened the door, he bounded out without even looking back.  I was so incredibly proud that he was excited and confidant enough to not be scared to go by himself.  Hudson and I headed home and poo guy was just lost without Kemper around that day.  James was picking Kemper up that afternoon because I had an appointment but when I met them for dinner that evening (MeMe and Pops had arrived, too!) he was all smiles and said he had a great day!  

Kemper at 4 years old

He had been begging to ride the bus all summer and I have been the one who has resisted the idea.  James thinks I'm crazy but he still just seemed so little for the bus and we didn't/don't know anyone else on our street with little one his age.  He kept asking the first few days so I finally gave in and agreed to let him try riding the bus home in the afternoons.  We got all of his bus information and luckily MeMe and Pops were here to take my mind off it that first week.  His teacher had assured me that she walks them to their buses and makes sure they're on the right bus each day.  He got off of the bus with a big grin on his face and declared that he loved it!  We've settled into a routine of him riding the bus 4 days a week and I pick him up on the day that he has swim lessons so we can make it on time.  I had said that I would start letting him ride in the morning but dropping him off is really no problem at all and we would have to get up, dressed, fed and to the bus stop much earlier than we have to when I take him.  

Kemper at 4.5 - first day of 4-year old Pre-K at the Youth Academy

We're 2 weeks in and he still loves it!  His behavior reports every day have been "Excellent!" and he's been slowly making some friends in his class.  He keeps telling us he's shy and we know that's not the case at all, he's just slow to warm up in new situations.  He really likes his teacher and he really enjoys gym class and likes the gym teacher.  He says the art teacher is tough and doesn't give second chances but he likes going to her class.  He's not a fan of music class so far so we'll see where that goes as the year goes on.  

Kemper at 5-years old

He came home a couple days ago and told me that there was a pretty little girl in his class and her name was Cayden.  He said she was just so pretty and every time she walked by his table, he just stared at her because she was so pretty.  He was so funny talking about her and just had a big, silly grin on his face the whole time!  I asked him if she was his friend and he said no, that he hadn't talked to her.  So I told him that he should say hi to her and tell her his name.  When I picked him up the next day, I asked him if he had talked to Cayden that day.  He said that he waved to her and said hi but, "I just don't think I'm ready to tell her my name yet, Mom!"  He keeps talking about her and how pretty she is....my goodness, already has a crush on a girl and we're only 2 weeks into the year!

Kemper at 5.5 years old on his first day of Kindergarten

I can hardly believe that he is old enough to be in Kindergarten.  Where have the last 5 years gone?  It seems like it was just yesterday that he was the tiny baby under the bili lights for his jaundice or the 7 month old welcoming his Daddy home from Iraq.  The 9 month old who decided to just get up and walk on day or the 15 month old who had traveled more than some kids will ever get the opportunity.  I remember dropping him off for the first day at The Youth Academy and listening to him wail as I walked away from his classroom.  The morning cuddles when we didn't have to be anywhere at any particular time, the sloppy kisses and the bear hugs and how a kiss could heal a boo-boo better than anything else.  It's crazy to think how time has flown and that sweet, cuddly, loving baby has turned into a big boy who is off to school without a glance back over his shoulder.  A little boy who is no longer in to Yo Gabba Gabba but now into super heroes and Ninja Turtles.  And while he's growing up and gaining independence, it's nice to see glimpses of my sweet boy every now and then.  

Kemper and his teacher, Ms. Davis