The big day was drawing near. It had been six long days since her big brother and sister started school, and the preschool open house had finally arrived.

The day before, while filling out paperwork for her enrollment (the preschool is in the same school building as the elementary classes, is for four-year olds, and isn’t required), I realized that hers was the only birth certificate AND social security card that I didn’t have in the file box.

We haven’t traveled out of the country since the kids had been born, and this would be the first time that Essie was enrolled in a class, so I’m pretty sure that the only time I would’ve taken them out were for her tongue surgery or her children’s hospital tests and procedures. Both of which were at least a year and a half ago.

Regardless, I didn’t have them, and needed them so the school could make copies to keep on file. I began a cleaning/organizing/shredding spree that lasted approximately 18 hours. I never found either of them (and am sure they’re gallivanting together, somewhere). Thankfully, my husband called to say that he’d be leaving week early, and I sweet-talked him into stopping at the vital statistics office. (it didn’t take much convincing, actually…he’s a good man)

So, with new birth certificate copy in hand (and plans to get to the SS office this week), we dropped off the other three with grandpa and loaded up a VERY excited little four-year old and headed to the school.

When we got there, just like with the first two preschool experiences, the classroom was full of kids and parents. FULL. It was crowded and warm and completely overwhelming to my girl, who is full of personality at home but clams up around kids (and grown ups) she doesn’t know.

Most of the parents were ushered to another room for information, questions, and for volunteer sign-ups. My husband (and a few others) hung back with our crying girl for a while, until she calmed down for the teacher. He went back to her, though, when the teacher came to talk to the parents, and found that she had found a little friend with whom to stand and play silently. Isn’t that what we all need?

The preschool classes don’t start until (early) next Monday morning, but as soon as we left, she was excited again. Of course.

The first day, if the fact that open house went exactly the same for her big sister is any indication, the first morning will be rough. I’ll probably have to hang around for a little while after drop-off, but I think, after she gets used to it and actually starts talking to the other kids, she’ll have a lot of fun. *fingers crossed*

Sarah at The Sunday Spill and I want to see your funny, your yummy, your heartfelt, your favorite phone photos of the week. All you need is a blog post containing at least one photo from any phone camera. Link up below!