Here she goes.... {Sunday Snapshot}

I have been on the verge of tears all day today.  Tomorrow my sweet little Katie Ru starts kindergarten.  I find myself choking back tears and unable to explain where all the time has gone.  When Kate first came home from China and for 3 years after that she was my shadow. She clung to me. She rarely left my side.  She NEVER played independently.  And honestly, it kinda drove me CRAZY!  I used to say (half jokingly) that my happiest day would be the day Kate started kindergarten becasue I would finally get some peace.

However, in the last year or so, she has changed and grown so much.  She is still my little buddy and she still shadows me sometimes.  However, she has grown some beautiful wings.  She has gone to camps this summer and she has developed the skill of playing independently. She makes friends easily and she trusts others.  That one took a while.  She has a fabulous attention span and she cooperates so well with others.  She never argues with her little girlfriends and is so good at sharing and taking turns.  Most of all, we have fun together.  So much fun.  I am going to miss her.

I am a little sad that she will be gone all day everyday.  But most of my emotion is about being so very proud of who she has become.  She is a delightful, joyful, funny, artistic, outgoing, respectful, loving, generous and intelligent little girl.  And I am so excited to see what she does in kindergarten.  My last baby is flying the coop:)  

Today, we got a little rain (which we have not had in forever and we are in a drought).  Kate begged to puddle jump. She put on a bathing suit, rain coat and boots.  Dave snapped a few photos and while I know it is totally out of focus...this photo seems perfect for this post.

Kate, keep jumping in the puddles, taking chances and getting wet.  You are going to do great things.