The Graduate

Jared has "graduated" from preschool today!!! Don't you think that's the cutest thing ever? Who's ever heard of a preschool graduation? They even had Oreos and everything. His teacher put on a little presentation of all they've learned over the year. The kids sang about a bazillion songs for us parents. Well, SOME of them sang. Some of them just picked their nose. They sang about the days of the week, the months of the year, and something about quaking ducks. (Jared's favorite, since he totally got to wear a construction papered-stapled-together duck hat. Dude, it was COOL, I'm telling you!) After the songs, the graduates snuck away and walked proudly out single-file donning their cardboard grad caps. Okay, let me just tell you, that was the CUTEST thing EVER!! I'm a little embarrassed to say I got a little misty eyed watching my tall 5 year old baby searching my eyes for approval as he walked out to stand in front of us. I was so proud of him in that moment. I smiled to him and I hope I conveyed in that smile how much I love him, and how proud I was of him. Not just for knowing his abc's or how to count, but for how he is becoming a truly strong, independent, loving, brave little person. He really is the bravest 5-year-old I know. He is so much like his father. Cautious, shy, protective, un-afraid, independent, self-assured. He is going to grow into a wonderful man and father. What more could a mother ask for?

Imaginary friend?

Every morning Jade gets her "mommy fix" by comming into my bed after she wakes up to snuggle my hair. Not me. Just my hair. This is an everyday thing. This morning though, as she's inhaling my greasy two-day old unwashed hair, she tells me of her new "friend" Sarah. Aparently, she met Sarah last night in her room, and they were playing together. She even let Sarah sit in her princess chair. (that's a big deal) I asked what Sarah looked like, but she couldn't give me a description. She just said that she's a big girl with a "really bad headache on her cheek". Mmhmmmm. Weird. Jade wants to play with her today too, or..rather, tonight....because that's when Sarah comes to play. I'm guessing she's been dreaming this, hence the "playing at night thing". Jade also said Sarah is sick, but nice, and keeps telling me now she's her new best friend. Okay, here comes the weird, and maybe a little freaky part. I ask her one more time to try to give me a little more of a detailed description of what she looks like. I say "so can you try really hard to remember what Sarah looks like?" Jade points BEHIND me, giggles, and puts her finger over her lips and says "ssshhhhhhh", and laughs hysterically at the wall. I ask "what's so funny?", and again, she laughs, looks BEHIND me at the wall, points to...nothing, and says "sssshhhhh".

Yeeeeaaaahhhhh. I look behind my shoulder, see nothing there, and pick her up, and leave the room. Creepy much??? Oh, and 10 minutes later, Jade's Barney computer which is across the room, and UNTOUCHED decides to start singing. I just looked at it and thought, "That's great. Just great".