The Happy Apple "Gala"

As I so often do - or rather, not often enough - here I am about to post everything all at once. I won't waste the precious moments of quiet I have during naptime today to get into all the activities that have kept me occupied elsewhere. Instead I'll get right to the point.

Madeline "graduated" from preschool at her beloved Happy Apple, after 1.5 years there, on May 14th. The program was a Western Theme, and she was pretty proud of herself in her red cowgirl hat, three-sizes-too-big boots, and fringed denim.

The American Idol finale (which you'd better believe I watched! Helloooo, Jordin Sparks practically lives next door!) couldn't have received more rave reviews from its audience than these preschoolers. The three crouching teachers faithfully sang and recited all the lines, with the appropriate hand motions, while the kids all waved, strutted, giggled, and mugged for the obsessive filming that was taking place in the parents' gallery. They did manage to get in a few words per song or so.

In the end, after the singing and pizza-eating, Madeline said a final good bye to her wonderful teachers, her favorite swing, the black-haired pig named Jasper, and all her little friends.

She is looking forward to Pre-K five days/week next year, but wishes she could bring that swing with her. As she explained to Papa "Chocolate" and I as we drove past her new school, "It has running water and lots of friends, so, it's going to be a great school." I'm glad she hasn't set her expectations so high that we can't reach them...