How in the world is it time?

How in the world is it time for Jenna to be starting school?  We talked about it coming for months and then poof-summer was over, fall had arrived and our little Jenna bear was heading off to school.  

Our goals for her for the summer, were met, without really any complications; switch her from her crib to her bed, check, toilet train her, check, prepare Jenna for the big transition of heading to preschool, sans Mommy, Daddy or Maya-check.  

Sadly and happily, I admit that our daughter is more resilient than I would have thought.  She survived the two transition mornings of school with a fair amount of tears and then almost like magic, on the first "REAL" day, she put on a little weeping to make Mommy feel as though she was sad to take the big leap and then just as Jenna and Mommy did their secret goodbye wave at the window-her tears went away...  (Though someone else's started and it wasn't Maya!)  :)  

Jenna and AVA MISS BABY--Jenna's baby doll friend who has the opportunity to accompany Jenna to preschool-had a BLAST!  They helped make muffins, played in the sandbox, Jenna pushed Ava in the swing on the playground and ate a snack of crackers, apples and muffins.  

As the three hours were nearing completion, Mommy and Maya raced over to pick Jenna up (Mommy arriving 30 minutes early--a little eager to see how things were going, but resisted and stayed in the car until noon.)    When Jenna emerged from the classroom, she truthfully looked older, more grown up, more mature, more self assured and most of all, SO very happy!  She ran over, embraced Maya and I with hugs and kisses and said so proudly "Mommy, I not crying anymore, school's pretty much fun!"  

During the short, but priceless ride from school to Papa Gino's to have lunch with her classmate Jacob and his mom, Jenna recounted all of what each child did and who they played with and how much she and Ava enjoyed the day.  As I listened, I teared up, as I am now, and beamed with pride.  She COULD and she DID do it!  Jenna, I am so IMMENSELY proud of you and get that same warm tingly feeling inside of me listening to you now attempt to chant the blessings, (just as they do in school,) as I did when you first smiled, rolled over, crawled, walked, said Mama, and all of your other monumental firsts.  

Ferris Bueller was right---"Life is short.  If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."