Kindergarten is AWESOME.

So sayeth Cutie Pie, who had his Kindergarten orientation this morning. We'd been looking forward to it for a couple of weeks now, and I really thought I was well-equipped emotionally to handle just the orientation. I always sniffle and well up on the first day of school, but Kindergarten orientation? Nah, right?

WRONG! I burst into tears the minute they led the kids out of the cafeteria to go sit in the classrooms and meet their new teachers and friends. I went over to a friend of mine, who has a daughter in Heartbreaker's class and twins that will be starting Kindergarten in the Fall as well, and said, "I really didn't expect to cry today." She gave me an encouraging nudge and told me it was okay. My baby's going to Kindergarten. Wow.

The orientation itself went smoothly. I got there early to help set up, which I think also helped Cutie Pie feel more comfortable. Unlike his brother, who walked into that school cold, he's had almost four years to be familiar with it; he's roamed the hallways with me, he knows most of the teachers, and quite frankly, his brother is Mr. Congeniality over there, so he's blazed a very welcoming path for him. He helped me set up the cookies and juice in the classrooms, and got to meet several of the teachers early on. The principal even shook his hand.

When it was time for me to start showing the incoming parents where to come in, he decided he was going to sit in one of the teacher's classrooms! When I told him he had to come with me, the teacher came out and offered to take him in until the parents were settled in, Heaven bless her.

So the parents were all funneled in, and it was great to see so many familiar faces! The first time around, I didn't know anyone. Having been a part of the school for a few years, and having Alex in a Pre-K program in our neighborhood, I saw a lot of faces I knew - hey, it's a transition for me, too. We said goodbye to the kids for a little bit, I had my mini-meltdown, and we took off for the tour of the school. I think I've gotten the tour down pat, so it only took about 15 minutes.

Of course, I stopped by Heartbreaker's class to show the parents some of our fantastic teachers and the creative things they do with their class - his classroom is currently featuring a fantastic Under the Sea layout, with a blue sheet of thin plastic, or vinyl, acting as a canopy for the class and exotic fish hanging down - I have to try and get a picture of it; it's simply amazing - so I got some face time in with Heartbreaker, who, I'm happy to see, is still happy to see me wandering the halls from time to time.

We got our little kidlings back, answered some questions, and I gave my Parents' Association schpiel. We had some interested parties, so here's hoping for some new volunteers to keep us moving forward.

Dropped Cutie Pie off at school, just in time for snack - how's that for timing? And wended my weary way back to work.

Man, Fall is going to tear me apart this year...