Pre-K Graduation (and mama has lost her mind!)

ok, well i guess i've officially lost my mind....after the insane weekend we just had & everything else that's been going on lately, i somehow completely forgot about gabby's pre-k graduation last night! *gasp*

well, actually....the announcement came home over a month ago & i hadn't seen any reminders since....my fault for failing to put it on the calendar right then and there (cause otherwise, i know i'll forget it!).....and then yesterday, the starter in curtis' car went out.....he was off work from his full-time job, but planning to work his 2nd job.....he had "the guys" come pick him up in the morning & then drop him off at my office in the afternoon.....he took my van, and made a trip to pick up a new starter, ran home to pick up the kids from their daycares, then back to my work to pick me up when i got off at 6pm.....if it hadn't been for all this chaos, it probably would have dawned on me at some point during the day

but instead, when i get in the car with curtis & the kids, the first thing gabby says is "don't forget, tomorrow is the program!"......i literally gasp & say, "no, TONIGHT is the program!".....i grabbed her backpack from her feet & ripped out her folder.....sure enough - they sent home a reminder - the same day as the program! oh well, i'm still not blaming them - silly mommy is a doofus!

so we hauled butt back home (20 minutes away).....gabby was supposed to b in her classroom, ready to line up 15 minutes ago & i know the graduation is starting RIGHT NOW.....i call the school - no answer.....i ask gabby if she'll b terribly upset if we miss some of the program.....her sweet response - "no, i don't really like singing in front of people anyway." OH, BE STILL MY HEART! i think she might have been just trying to make me feel better....and it kinda worked - i shed a few tears quietly, feeling like i've failed my daughter - how could i forget something like this?!.....my cell rings - it's her assistant teacher, of course wondering where we're at....i give her the run down & say we're on our way.....tell her i'll slip gabby in as soon as we get there

curtis drops gabby & i at the door & we run in.....she scoots in quietly & takes her place....i grab a program and realize she's already missed the singing *sob*.....they are giving out perfect & good attendance awards - gabby gets good attendance (she missed one day cause of that darn strep).....then they start awarding the diplomas...

after all are awarded, they show a slide - pics of all the pre-schoolers throughout the year.....gabrielle enjoyed telling us everyone's name as their pic flashed on the screen

afterwards, there's a potluck meal - of course i didn't bring our assigned sandwiches - bad, bad mommy! i'm hesitant to stay because we didn't contribute anything, but gabby is really looking forward to it & i've already totally let her down once.....what am i going to do, make her leave now?.....plus, i see there's TONS of food.....so we go - she sits/eats with her best friend, courtney (who by the way, was awarded that cool pin for being 1 of 2 students in each grade awarded the American Citizenship Award - go courtney!)....

and all is right with the world again.....she got an awesome gift bag from her teachers - it had a kitty coloring book, a tinker bell notebook, play doah, a princess jump rope, and more....the best thing in it was the little yearbook that her teachers made.....it was a binder that had pics of gabby throughout the year, as well as some of her artwork & projects.....wow, these teachers! i can't believe how much time (and probably their own money) they put into these bags!

we took a pic with Mrs. Hinkle (left) & Mrs. Sawyer (assistant teacher) and headed home....

on the way home, gabrielle sings us the songs that she missed singing at the graduation.....we all cheer for her in the car.....i cheered as loud as i possibly could! ;0)

as i was helping gabby get ready for bed, i told her how sorry i was that we missed the first part of the program & that i hope she can forgive me.....she says, "it's ok, we'll do it again next year, right?"

~lol~ i guess she's right....kindergarten graduation is right around the corner!