The #doublesinks head to Kindergarten

The understatement of the world is saying "don't blink, it goes by so fast".  I mean, lightning speed.  Some days really drag on, but I really don't know how it all goes by so quickly.  Not long ago, were we deliriously feeding two babies in the middle of the night.

I've always dreamed about the day we sent them off to Kindergarten - watching two sweet girls with their oversized backpacks getting on big yellow school buses.  And then, COVID happened.  Very early on in the pandemic, when they were talking about school in the fall being hybrid of virtual learning and in-person instruction, I just knew that wouldn't be an option for us.  We couldn't both work full-time jobs while helping two little girls, who can't even read or use a computer, do Kindergarten on a small screen.  To us, Kindergarten is about fostering good social skills, eating lunch that you've packed, playing on the playground.  It's not learning letters from a teacher through a computer.  And knowing this, coupled with the fact that we would need TWO spots if we chose a private option, I knew we had to get on a list early.  Daniel thought I was crazy (and now he'll say in a heartbeat that I was right....).  I did some research, and knowing we aren't religious didn't want to go the religious private school route.  There is a Goddard School right down the road for us, so I called and fell in love with the owner Debbie.  She was a true gem, and assured me she would put us on the list and look out for us.  Fast forward a few months later, and the school board voted to send the entire county back 100% virtual.  I did have a mini panic attack, moreso because of the reality of the situation for all the kids, but also over the cost of private Kindergarten.  Living in a good county, I truly never imagined private school was in our future.  I actually joked about being SO RICH when we no longer had to pay for daycare when the girls started Kindergarten (*sobs into bowl of ramen noodles*).  To do our due diligence, we did go tour one person's home who was offering to help with virtual school, but we left her house and immediately confirmed our spots for the Goddard.  We knew we would be poor but happy (and I'm typing this from February, and I can confirm we are, in fact, poor but HAPPY).

The Goddard was offering two small Kindergarten classes this year.  They would have one main teacher with two teaching assistants, and the teachers would all swap back and forth.  We've always toyed with the idea of separating them, but in our world, this is ideal for separating.  They would get the exact same environment and communication from the same teachers, just be able to have their own independence and set of friends.  So after we thought about it for about a day, we decided it would be best to separate them.  Ms. Debbie assured me we would have a solid plan B if they didn't do well separated, so this momma's heart felt good with this decision.

So, alas, here we are.  Ella and Sydney are off to Kindergarten, in separate classes, in a private school, in the middle of a pandemic.

You shouldn't be surprised - outfits, shoes, bows, and memory boards ready to go.

Sweet baby A, Ella Grace.  Ella is five years old and on September 8, 2021, she will be on her way to Kindergarten at the Goddard School with teachers Ms. Evers, Ms. Williams, and Ms. Cruickshanks.  Ella's favorite food is watermelon, she loves the book The Wizard of Oz (pop-up book), and she wants to be a queen when she grows up.  Ella loves to be in charge (read: bossy/leader).  She's very, very emotional, which means she has lots of highs and also lots of lows (but we are working hard at that!).  She loves her momma, she loves swimming, and she really enjoys arts and crafts.

Sweet baby B, Sydney Ann.  Sydney is five years old and on September 8, 2021, she will be on her way to Kindergarten at the Goddard School with teachers Ms. Evers, Ms. Williams, and Ms. Cruickshanks. Sydney's favorite food is spaghetti (and meatballs), she loves to read Little Red Riding Hood, and she wants to be a pony when she grows up.  Sydney loves to play outside, she's competitive, and she's incredibly empathetic.  She loves her daddy, loves to be moving, and she's always willing to go with the flow.  

When we decided to separate them, Aunt Anna told us about a book about twins separated in Kindergarten, and I ordered it right away.

squeaky clean and reading Twindergarten before we tuck them in the night before school

everyone is getting ready for the day, including daddy

look at them with their oversized bookbags and lunch boxes

Here's a fun story about their bookbags and lunch boxes.  My mom said she'd buy them for school.  I had the girls, one at at time, in front of the computer to pick out their own stuff.  I was truly hoping they'd pick different things, but alas - they did not, even completely separate from each other.

And here they go!  Off for their first day.
And yes, I SOBBED in the car.

Thankfully I was off work that day, so I went off to run errands and spend money with retail therapy.  Daniel was going into the office every now and then (for the most part we were working from home), so he met me for a celebratory lunch+margs.  We couldn't believe our girls are in Kindergarten, and couldn't wait to hear all about Ella and Sydney's first day!

Sydney was all done!  And we were waiting for Ella!

The "after" hahah

This was the first time the girls have really been separated for very long, especially after a summer quarantined together.  Sydney came out first, and thankfully I was able to pull out my phone and record their sweet, sweet reunion.  I love the bond they share.