Esther's 1st day of Montessori

Watch the excitement build...

School bag on arm...

Come on, Mama and Papa. I'm ready to go!

Oh, yes. Our little, sweet girl started Montessori school yesterday. For those who aren't familiar with the Montessori philosophy, here is the short and sweet of it (copied from a website). "Children direct their own learning, choosing among the sections of a well structured and stocked classroom, including Practical Life (fine and gross motor skills), Sensorial (senses and brain), Language, Mathematics, Geography, Science, and Art." They also have a lot of outside time, focusing on using nature to learn. As you will see, Esther just loved it!

Esther is going to Morningstar Montessori Toddler House, which is out of a good friend of ours' home. Esther and I have had many playdates with Marci and her daughter, which made this an easy transition for her. She will be going three days a week, from 9-1. This will allow Ben to get in some shadow hours with PAs and for me to work more, and also gives Esther the social outlet that I think all kids need. So, the first day of school...

Esther woke up yesterday morning and immediately said, "School...Marci...Harper...Go" (we obviously have been building it up a bit). We ate breakfast and did our normal routine with her repeating the above phrase continuously. You saw her waiting for us on the porch with her school bag. She could not wait....

We arrived at Morningstar and E ran off immediately to see the fish, then grabbed some fruit to 'cut' at the table.

She then sorted strawberries and sorted rocks. She is on a big sorting and pouring kick.

She is proclaiming that she is making muffins.

I had to go to work, so Ben picked her up. She got a wonderful report, being the only child who did not cry. They said she was good about putting her projects away when finished (we were very surprised) and participated in all the activities. We were so proud! She just crawled on my lap to look at the pictures and said that she wants "more school". No tears, but a heavy sigh on how quickly she is growing up.

I leave you with a few of Esther's quotes from yesterday. We've started a notebook of them b/c we think they're hilarious. She usually says a word and pauses, like she's waiting for us to comprehend her brilliance.

"Birthday...CAke...Bicycle" She has thought it is her birthday for about 2 weeks now. She wants a bicycle and car - so she tells us.
"Babies...tushy...hold it" She was referring to baby tomatoes (cherry), but the rest of it is a mystery. Ben and I were both in tears from laughing so hard. The funny thing is she is so serious in her comments. We wonder what she is thinking.
"OATMEAL...Find it...I find it" At the grocery store with Ben. They obviously found the oatmeal. Ben said that the whole store heard that they had found it. She eats oatmeal once, sometimes twice a day. She was excited that we were restocked.
And one from this morning, "Orange...Green...Birthday...Chicken...Cook it...Go...hotdog...cook it...ketchup" Really not sure where she was going with this one. And, she doesn't eat meat (by her own choice), so this was really out of left field.

It for now...