i survived...

ya know, it wasn't so bad.

yes, hazel picked this outfit out from top to bottom at the store and instantly dubbed it her first day of school outfit. the kid's got style...

not unlike her sister, who also got a "first day of school" outfit, even though today she went to the same place she always goes.

i think molly teared up a bit when we walked away.

see? see that big smile on my face?

talk about smiles!

i was actually surprised at how well i was doing. i had actually said good-bye to hazel without crying. and then, a teacher who taught there when i taught there saw me and came in the room and said, "hazel can't be in kindergarten! it seems like just yesterday you were pregnant with her!) and then, i lost it. i started to bawl and the woman promptly shoved me out the room before hazel could see me.

and the day was a bit sad and strange, but i think what will will be sadder and stranger will be when it's weeks on end and it becomes normal... but she absolutely loved it. her words were "i had the best day ever" when i picked her up. that makes me very happy.