Clara started preschool last week. Who took our baby and replaced her with this little girl?
After some debate, we decided to enroll Clara in a local 2-day per week preschool. It’s just the mornings, so she’s there for three hours on each of those two days. She loves being around other kids so we thought it was the right time for her… but we still held our breaths a bit on the first day. Would she cry? Would we cry? Would we get called half-way through to come pick her up because she was having an all-consuming sobbing fit?
Nope. There were dry eyes all around. Heck, Clara was so excited when she arrived that this is the only photo we managed to snag before she disappeared into the classroom. Seriously, she sprinted in without a look back in our direction.
When we picked her up three hours later she was all smiles and kept telling us how they sang and painted and played on the playground. Her teacher even reported that it was “the best first day of school” in all of her years of teaching. Apparently there were no tears from any of the twelve kids in her class, which has never happened before. So she is really excited about what the year ahead holds. And so are we.
Since her first day, she has gone four times, and she still loves it. In fact almost every morning that she wakes up she says “I go to school today?” with a big hopeful grin. We almost feel bad saying “not today, Clara” when it’s not a school day. But we’re so glad that she’s having such a good time.
As for the all important first day of school photo, we decided to take them in front of our front door with Clara and her school bag (a sweet handmade gift that we got from our friend Abby).
As usual, she was a ham.
Apparently the “hand in the air” is her new favorite pose.
This was her watching the elementary school bus roll by our house. Just a few more years ’til she’ll be on it. Crazy.
As you saw from the first image in the post, we chose to Photoshop the information about what grade she’s in right onto the door itself (the font is called Raleway in case you’re interested). We broke the words up and spaced them that way intentionally so we can keep things somewhat consistent for all future years – like when this occasion rolls around in 2016 (although hopefully she’ll be a bit taller by then)…
How’d the first day of school go for your household? Any big milestones? Any “emotions” from you or your kids? Sherry got a little “misty” but no tears actually fell, so she’s saying it doesn’t count as crying.
Roya says
My son is just 4 months younger than Clara and your posts about Clara are always helpful and inspiring for me. Thanks!
We’re in the process of choosing a pre-school too. There’s one that we’ve liked so far. I hope it goes well for him too.
Did you spend any time with her in the class before she goes on her own?
Young House Life says
Yes, there was one orientation day, so all the parents and kids came in and just sort of milled around (kids played, parents talked) so the kids got excited about all the activities and stations and then a few days later was their first day (so apparently the kids remembered all the fun and just sort of walked right in). Seemed to work like a charm!
xo
s
Heidi says
She is adorable! I love how she went into it with such confidence. It just shows she was ready for it, and you must be so proud. I have three girls (15, 11 and 11) and the years go by so fast, especially once they start school. Before you know it, it really WILL be 2016! :)
Nana says
I bet she is a natural for school! You guys are giving her such a gift of going to school a few days a week! The socialization will make her even more confident than she already is!!! I love the front door pictures.
Lisa says
I don’t have kids yet but my husband and I are teachers so we take photos of each other on the first day of school because we are dorks! They are no where near the cuteness of Clara’s first day of school picture! What a doll. And her hair is getting longer on top!
Also, we get misty too but only because summers over and it’s back to work :)
Young House Life says
Haha that’s so funny! I love it.
xo,
s
gilit says
OMG it’s so weird how excited I am for Clara. It was a hard decision for us to send our son too (he turned 2 in June), but we’re SO happy with our decision. He loves being with other kids and also asks when he’s going to daycare.
I think the best part is when we pick him up and he just starts “today I learned….”
I can’t believe I forgot the first day of school photo- Clara’s look wonderful (duh doi)
Hope it continues to be a great experience!
Clara Uribe says
I Couldn’t be more excited!!!! I Just pre-ordered your book guys, now I just have to be very patient, which is the worst part Lol ;) After months of following your blog and love everything you do, I decided to leave my first comment. Yes i’m a DIY freak myself, designer, crafter, shop owner and mural artist specialized in kids room decoration, happily married and mother of 2. I’m honestly one of many woman’s than when I saw your blog Said “Damn!! Why didn’t I do this before?? Lol :) but no…I don’t have your writing skills Hahaha. I feel so identified with you guys and you inspire me EVERY SINGLE DAY to follow my dreams, so….can’t wait to see what you are doing next :) One of my dreams/bucket list, is to be part of your blog somehow, so I don’t know….keep me in mind? I bet you won’t forget my name easily right? Hahahahaha :)
thanks again for being such an inspiration and keep following your dreams because you are doing a great job so far! Would you mind take a look at my etsy shop and let me know if that’s something you would like to see advertised on your blog? That’s also part of my bucket list ;)
Thank you, thank you, thank you…..Can’t wait to get your book!!!
Best Regards,
Clara
Young House Life says
Aw, you’re so sweet Clara! Thanks for leaving your first comment. And your etsy stuff is amazing! Love it all.
xo
s
Chloe says
Congratulations to Clara and parents! What a beautiful little girl. I’m glad she is enjoying school.
Debbie C says
I love the photo idea! Wow, she grew up so fast. She has so much of her mom in her! Adorbs!
Petra says
Lovely pictures! Do you find yourselves with more time to DIY?
Young House Life says
Haha! We wish! It’s just three hours two days a week, so it seems like as soon as we drive over there and drop her off we blink our eyes and we’re off to pick her up again. We have a lot of extra book stuff to do right now (organizing the tour, planning talks, doing some interviews/promos, etc) so it’s nice to have a few extra hours a week to do that stuff, but sadly that hour and a half between pickup and drop-off isn’t enough time to tackle much DIY. Thank goodness for evenings (we do most of our projects after she’s in bed for the night from around 8-12).
xo
s
Annie says
I just started driving when my older daughter was little so I was a nervous wreck driving to the preschool since it was in an area I wasn’t as familiar with. (Sherry, if you ever want to have my thougts about driving later in life please let me know. I never thought I could do it, didn’t think I’d ever need to do it, but it was the best thing I ever did for myself and my kids). I was worried my daughter would pick up on my anxiet. But like Clara, she sailed in without a tear. When I picked her up, she told me how one little girl’s mom was in the classroom the whole time ( I think ecause the girl was scared.) She said “Mommy, how come…(and I thought she was going to ask how come I couldn’t stay too…but then she said)…how come Lilly’s mom can’t run errands like you!”
P.S.
Clara’s looks ADORABLE on her first day.
Young House Life says
Aw that’s sweet Annie!
xo
s
Brittany says
Aww she looks so big here! Maybe it’s just because I know she’s going to school and that makes her seem bigger. She is gorgeous. And I noticed that her hair is starting to come in thicker. Yay for ponytails like mom soon!
Sharon says
Is it wrong that I would like to wear Clara’s shirt myself? It’s too cute!
Young House Life says
Haha me too!
xo
s
Erin @ His & Hers says
Clara is adorable. :) In that first “hand in the air” pic, she reminds me of John. In the second one, she reminds me of Sherry. DO you two spend a lot of time with your hands in the air?
Madison says
Clara is the cutest little thing ever! haha love the poses and outfit , you definitly got a fashionable little girl on your hands;)
Madison
Ally says
AWWW! I’ve been away on vacation for the last few days, but it’s sooo nice to come back and catch up with what’s going on in Clara’s World :)
That big gorgeous smile of hers says it all ~ I LOVE SCHOOL! :)
xox
emily @ cabin fervor says
These photos are some of the cutest you’ve taken of Clara! Something about her big girl excitement and her little girl innocence come through so well.
I just saw on YHL that Clara is 27 lbs. My 13 month old daughter is almost 26 lbs! She’s also super tall, so she’s proportional. Monstrously proportional.
Young House Life says
Wow- she’s a tall girl!
xo
s
Jen @ Our Fine House says
She is obviously the best dressed preschooler EVER! Seriously, does that shirt come in my size?
Young House Life says
Haha, I want half of her clothes in my size too!
xo
s
Jennifer says
Awwww, she looks so adorable. So glad you all had a great experience!
Chrissy Sparks (Brush Dance) says
These are super cute! Our tradition is to take a photo of our two girls next to their chalk board/dry erase easel… We’ve used both sides of it — and now that my oldest is in 1st grade, she wanted to write it out herself “1st Grade” and she drew a happy face because she said being a 1st grader makes her feel happy! It was adorable!
I thought it would be fun to do something creative each year… maybe once they start getting older I will have them make their own poster art (so it’s their style) and have them hang it on the front of the easel. For now, chalk & magnet letters seem to work great :)
Young House Life says
That’s so cute!
xo
s
HeidiG says
Holy moly, I really thought Clara looked a lot like John but the 7th picture down (she has her hand in the air) she looks just like Sherry. So adorable.
Meredith @ La Buena Vida says
Love this idea–it’ll be interesting to see how both Clara and your door change over the years. I wonder if it’ll still be yellow by the time she starts 1st grade, or some other color?!
Also, so glad she’s enjoying preschool. I’m a little jealous that she gets to go–Lizzy wants to go to school desperately, but I can’t find any place that will accept her before she’s 3. I also can’t find any place that will let her start in January when she turns 3, so it looks like she’ll have to wait until next September…which is kind of a bummer, ’cause I imagine her loving it as much as Clara seems to!
Young House Life says
Aw man, that’s a bummer! I bet Lizzy will LOVE it!
xo
s
Erin says
Congratulations! Our little 2.5 year old started preschool as well (in August). Sounds like we have a similar situation-two mornings a week, he didn’t cry, we didn’t cry, he’s always very excited about going to school, and he says bye to me as well are driving there (the kid is already too cool to have his mom walk him in-too bad for him that I have to)!