what a difference a year makes

the kindergartner (who I guess from now on will be called "the first grader") finished kindergarten yesterday! i can't get over how much she has changed in a year (things she likes and dislikes, her personality and what all she has learned)! she used to be such a girlie-girl (she is no longer into princesses, doesn't want to wear dresses all of the time and now loves to pick up bugs and get dirty). last year in preschool, she didn't even like to be anywhere around boys (even as friends) and she is now boy crazy. especially over one certain boy who she says she loves and is going to marry him!!! she is such a flirt (and she definitely didn't get that from me), but she also just hangs out and plays with the boys (that was me). she is so much more outgoing now and has so much attitude (which is good and bad)! and although she has always been smart (not that i'm biased or anything), she has learned so much more this year! her computer skills have gotten even better, she's learned a lot more spanish and does really well at math (the hubby says she got that from me)! she is reading everything (not always a good thing) and writes so well (one of my friends says my daughter's handwriting is better than her daughter's handwriting and she is 4 years older). i also love that she reads stories to her sister now!

i was shocked (and happy) that she didn't cry when she had to leave her friends and her teacher. the good thing is that she is coming back to the same school next year and almost all of the kids are coming back too. while she won't have her wonderful teacher again next year, she will still be able to see her in the halls and at lunch everyday. while kindergarten may not seem like much, it is very important to giving a child a strong base to a lifelong enjoyment of learning and i couldn't have asked for her to have a better kindergarten teacher. it was a really great school year (but now i am glad to have the summer off)!