Monkey began kindergarten today. We began our day with a nice shower and a breakfast of sticky cinnamon rolls fresh from the oven. (The sleepy parents also began with coffee, not that it helped over much.)

Monkey chose to wear the princess shirt her Nana and Papa bought her, and I gave her a little kittycat necklace for good luck. She made quick work of two cinnamon rolls and a huge glass of milk. After breakfast we donned the backpack of doom and headed outside for pictures.

We also took a few pictures of the backpack of doom. Monkey wanted to decorate her backpack so that it was the “fanciest one anyone ever saw” and it is very nice, but what impressed me was it’s size compared to her. It sticks more out behind her than she does on front of it.

Once the photofest was over we were on our way. She was all right in the car but began to get nervous the closer we got to school. We don’t live very far from the school but navigating downtown Red Bank during morning rush hour adds time to our commute. At the school Monkey was very nervous initially and held my hand from the car to the lunchroom. The children gather there in the morning with their class at a specific table and the teacher comes down and brings them to their classroom. She kept saying, “I want to go home” and looking nervously around. There was a little girl right across from us who introduced herself. Monkey smiled at her and said “I’m Monkey, I want to go home!” She invited Monkey over to sit next to her and they were gabbing and smiling away within moments. I gave her a big hug and kiss and beat feet before she could get upset. Of course, I got all weepy in the parking lot on the way to the car because my teeny baby is now in school. Real School. And she still looks far too small and babylike in my eyes to be so grown up.

After three and a half hours of freedom (it was a partial day) I returned to pick up a triumphant girl. She had raised her hand and answered a question in class, which resulted in a sticker from the teacher. Her name is Ms. Diamond and Monkey likes her a lot. I am looking forward to more school days, and happily so is Monkey.

Thanks for sharing our first day of kindergarten with us!! More about our adventures in New Jersey coming to a blog near you!

While in New York on a safari for the world’s largest art supply store Monkey discovered a bubble gun that cost exactly as much as her allowance. Never one to pass up the chance to spend all of her allowance at once she happily purchased the longed for bubble spewing device.

Once the device began to clog and the fun to deteriorate the ever adaptable child switched to old school bubble fun.

After experiencing many hours of backyard fun and excitment we all decided it was a good investment. Enjoy the pictures, more about our weekend tomorrow!