Brantley's First Year of Preschool

It's been just over a week now since Brantley finished out his first year of preschool.  It was a successful first year and I wanted to jot down a few notes before I forget some of the little details.


 
// Brantley adored his teachers - Mrs. Brewster and Mrs. Schapper.  And he really wanted to please them.  He was never overly interested in learning how to write his name until we told him Mrs. Brewster had suggested it.  From that point forward, he would come to us and ask if he could practice writing his name.

// There was a show & tell rotation throughout the year.  Brantley had a turn three or four times.  Among his show & tell items: his Donald Duck hat from "Mickey Mouse's House", the batting practice baseball Daddy caught at a Royal's game, and lastly, his "Jesus book."  We helped him come up with the first two items (earlier in the year), but the "Jesus book" (kids' Bible stories) was all his idea and he was dead-set on taking it.

// The show & tell person was also the leader in class that day.  Brantley was the very last leader on the final day of preschool and he was so excited about that!

// Shortly after he started in September, Brantley told us he had a new girlfriend - Natalie.  By the end of the year, he had moved onto Lilly and Olivia instead (but not our neighbors with the same names).

// Though he seemed to love preschool itself, he didn't always love telling us about it.  From what I've heard, this is normal for a 3-year old, especially one on the younger end.  However, he got a little more willing to summarize his day towards the end of the year.

// Brantley attended preschool with two of his daycare buddies - Jace and Drew.  Although it was his first year in school, I was never nervous for him, as I knew he'd always be in good, familiar company.

// According to Brantley, his favorite part of preschool was snack time.  Go figure.



I am so thankful for our daycare provider, Ms. Stephanie, who took care of both drop off and pick up from preschool twice every week.  She also took these photos on his last day.  I'm not sure why, but I totally teared up when I saw them.  As a teacher myself, I am just so thankful Brantley had such a positive experience in his first year of school and I think these pictures really show how much he loved his teachers (and vice versa).




After their last day, Ms. Stephanie took the three boys out for a special lunch.  Again, I am just so thankful for our second mommy who treats our kids like her own and arranges to do such a special thing.  I don't know many daycare providers who would do this!!


And since they never made it to the blog, here are some pictures from Brantley's spring music program.






And a photo from Muffins with Mom.


And finally, a comparison photo from his first and last days of 3-year old preschool.

I know he's already excited to begin again in the fall and I hope we have as good as an experience next year as we did this year!

14 comments:

  1. Sounds like a great year! How thoughtful of your daycare provider to take pictures!!

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  2. Big Boy!!! Glad he had a good year and some very special teachers!

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  3. So so sweet! Today was Charli's last day and I wanted to cry! hahaha!

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  4. I love that he adored his teachers and the little story about writing his name. Isn't it so nice to know how much our kids love the people we put our trust in to care for them during the day? And adorable that he had not one but THREE girlfriends! What a ladies man you have on your hands! Love all the photos!

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  5. Very sweet! Congrats on the finished year!

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  6. What a great year! And yes, that is one amazing daycare provider!

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  7. Snack time really is the best time. I love that chalkboard that you customized! It looks so well done
    Evelina @ Fortunate House

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  8. What a great year!! Doesn't it make you feel so great as a mom when you see your child do so well with their teachers and love them so much and to know that the teachers feel the same way? I am so impressed by the fact that Ms. Stephanie took the boys out for lunch. Wow! That's really impressive. I love the comparision shots. So grown up!

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  9. OMG, this is the sweetest! He is so stinking adorable. What a cute little classroom, too! Mac's last day of school is tomorrow and I MUST REMEMBER to take a comparison photo! Thanks for the reminder!

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  10. Ok first, Brantley is just the cutest!! (love his name too btw) and that sign is too darn adorable too! He definitely changed over the year! I love that he wants to be a snowman when he grows up, LOL!! And the girlfriends, oh just wait they get more and more the older they get, ha ha! I'm glad to hear going to school with his buddies helped, my middle is off to her first year of preschool in the fall and I'm really hoping the fact that her little friend is in her class will help her!!

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  11. He’s so cute with his little sign!! Loving their teachers make a huge difference in their year! I am glad Brantley adored his. I love that you’re keeping up with all of the little details. Your daycare sounds like one big family and I love that. Adorable pictures. Especially love the one of you and him!

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  12. So sweet, he's so adorable! And what great day care providers! You're lucky to have two ladies who love and care for Brantley so much!

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  13. Oh my goodness, the pictures of him hugging his teachers...SO sweet!!! And I agree--Ms. Stephanie is a keeper!! Will she take me to Pizza Shoppe?!?

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