Gone so fast

Tomorrow Ella's kindergarten days draw to a close. Two years of being nourished in a small, cosy, secure environment where everyone knows and likes everyone else, will come to an end. She's gone from being just over 3 to just over 5, maturing, growing in stature, learning to find her own way, moving ever more towards independence.

Next year will see her start school and our weeks will be spent with more hours apart than together. I feel torn at the loss of what we have now, a little fearful of losing a part of her, but also excited at all she will see, learn and be interested in and by. 2009 will see new routines for our family and I'm excited at the idea of it. Leila and I will get to know each other more, finally having one on one time, something we haven't had to now. Ella and I have a different relationship than Leila and I, most probably because of the 3 years we had with Ella alone. There will be so many new experiences ahead.

Today we shared, as Leila calls them "jimmy bread men" with the boys, and fairy wands with the girls. When we were sitting decorating them yesterday Ella said to me "Do you know the best thing about making these mum?" I thought the answer would be "eating them" but no, I should have know my eldest better, "giving them to my friends mum, that's the best part" and it really was.