Saying Goodbye...

The last day of "school" snuck up on me.

It seemed like we had an entire summer to make it through and then - BAM - tomorrow is Ashlee's last day at the place that's been our children's home-away-from-home for almost 6 years.

I still remember touring the place.

It was brand new and hardly anyone went there yet. We could hardly get Tyler to stay, let alone play on the playground with the director's daughter - who would later become one of his classmates and friends.

We started a few months after that visit.

It was a good transition - that home to center thing - and he flourished there.

And then we moved Ashlee there, too, when she was almost 2 1/2.

It seemed to be our magical "transition to center" age.

Tyler moved onto kindergarten with 6 or 7 of his classmates.

Ashlee stayed behind.

Now she's moving onto kindergarten with 2 of her classmates, leaving far too many behind - including her best buddy Dexter.

We're sad to say good-bye. We're sad to leave the teachers. Very few remain from those early days, but we love the ones that are there now just as much.

As a good-bye, I got each of Ashlee's main teachers a subway art print with a mug full of M&Ms. I also got the front office a special print from our family.

I hope they know how much they mean to us - and how much they mean to our kids. They were definitely a hug above the rest, and we will never forget them and the love they showed our kids!