Outside of Henry W. Longfellow Grade School

Ready

Olivia, at home, and on the way to her first day of Kindergarten:  Thursday August 16, 2012. 
She was so earnest, eager, prepared, ready.  I was somewhat less so.  I had emotional moments all week prior to her going.  For me, I think these moments come from noticing the days and weeks passing, and seeing her change, and hearing the admonitions to treasure each moment with her, and knowing that I honestly do treasure every single moment with her even when I'm thoroughly frustrated with something she has said or done...and the days pass anyway.  Regardless of how much I savor them.  And I love to hold her, but I will not hold her back.  And maybe also because I am so tremendously proud of her; not that she wouldn't or couldn't have made it to this point in her life, or even that she overcame so much to get to this point because she didn't.  But that she is my happy, eager, attentive, thoughtful, brave little Olivia and she is looking forward to school, where she will thrive and ripen and battle and learn.  May I and your family and friends be a wind at your back, LaLa.

More ATCC Graduation Photos

Graduation from Apple Tree

The day has come and gone, as have the years since we first walked into Olivia's pre-school, hauling a car seat, trudging through snow.  In the five years between she has grown more physically and mentally than she ever will again in her life.  This school helped her learn to eat solid food, eat with lots of other kids, use a poddy, walk, run, ride and climb things, talk, yell, sing, joke, tell stories, read, write and listen.  She has developed patience, understanding, empathy, humor, kindness, frustration, attention and pride.  We cannot thank you enough, all the teachers and directors she has known at ATCC, and look forward to a couple more years in your company with Henry and Audrey.  She embarks on her school system education with enormous preparation and knowing she has been much loved by wonderful people.  

Getting ready for school next month

This is what Olivia plans to do to bullies in grade school.   And her friends.  And siblings and parents.  That'll show 'em.

New Big Girl Bike!

From Nana and Papa, earlier this month!  Riding out at the new lake park south of Iowa City!  Still totally scared even with training wheels!  But loves to pass her brother and sister; hates to be passed by them!  Yeah! 

Happy Graduation Ruth Anne

Taken at the graduation party of the kids' most frequent babysitter, Ruth Anne.  We will all miss her very much as she goes to Grinnell this Fall, and I can only hope that my daughters will emulate Ruth Anne in any way possible. 

Just to embarrass her later

May 2012

Olivia made up her own hairdo.  As she is obsessed with Mulan and China, this design might not be surprising as surprising.  Wore it to school.  I like your moxie, kid.

April 2012: Cherub Choir

Olivia absolutely loved singing in Cherub Choir at Zion this Spring.  Six rehearsals and the performance Sunday, May 20. 
She loved it so much that we had a little problem on the third rehearsal.  When Daddy was late picking her up and got her there 10 minutes late, after the kids had starting singing.
She found herself stuck in an emotional loop:  wanting desperately to go in and sing with Ms. Christy and her peers and the bigger kids BUT also embarrassed that she was late and coming in after they had started; maybe too much attention from all these people right on her, the shame of being late, the fear of disapproval for missing part of the practice and not knowing the song as well as the other kids.  I have the idea that these were some of the things running through her head because she was yelling or saying or crying or whispering them on my lap in the hallway, behind a closed door near the choir room, downstairs in the back of the church, then finally in the car driving away.  Because she could never quite pull it together enough to stop crying and enter the room and go into her seat and participate.  It was very troubling that night, and thanks to Nana and Mommy and more responsibility from Daddy, we got her to all the following practices on time or more than on time.  Her angry tirade as we drove away was truly frightening as she verbally lashed out at almost everyone possibly involved or that she even knew in her shame and frustration.  I think I may have to generate some milder forms of this situation to help her cope with these feelings before school begins this Fall, or even talk about the situation in calmer times to try and build some tools for her.  And it did demonstrate how seriously she takes her interests and activities she loves.
And a father who was basically NEVER on time for choir in the last 10 years clearly gets the child he deserves.  Character building for Daddy and Olivia.  And very musically talented - she sang great, had all the words down after 3 rehearsals and had great behavior in the pew during the service. 
I am grateful for this wonderful, emotional daughter I have.

A little backfill - March 2012

Just some postings of how Olivia looks this Spring, since I've been negligent updating.

Olivia in Winter

Some photos of this no-longer-little girl from this December. Some cooking - she made a Gingerbread Man and was very concerned about making sure he didn't hop out of the oven and run away, plus some really great Christmas cookies this year. Another in the "Mulan Costume" she asked Santa for this year. And another in her self-selected outfit for house cleaning. What a charmer.
She was really taken by the carol "Silent Night" this year. We got a great book about the history of the carol at the church library, and she can now tell you that it was written by Father Joseph Mohr and Franz Gruber. Her pitch is still scattershot, but she sings with much emotion and fervor.