Kindergarten is a thing of the Past

My little/big man is done with his first "real" year of school.  Onto bigger and better things.  He is such a love {with a bit of sass/back talk lately.  Gotta love "learning" how far to push mom moments}.

He is one of the most tender human beings I know.  With an honest laugh & sincere laugh.  I sometimes walk into a room before a funny part of a movie just to hear him laugh.  It is sweet and addicting.  I enjoy watching him grow, almost as much as I don't want him to grow.  :)  It truly is a bitter sweet thing; to watch your child grow and learn knew things.  In that moment you realize what a smart and capable little being they are becoming; and then on the flip side how much they don't "need" you in those moments.  So - not sure what I like better.  Depends on the day.  Although, I am enjoying his ability to get himself a snack or drink.  That I do like.

To date the picture below may be {yes it is} my FAVORITE picture of him.  My cheeks hurt at the end of this day, because I smiled so big and so much from looking at it.  

Is he not one of the most adorable boys alive?  I know I am his mom, but good work was done here.  ha.

This school year & Hudson - at the beginning of the year he was {and still is, we are ironing out these wrinkles} very competitive.  Almost to a fault.  He had a really hard time making friends.   He was so worried about what they were doing, tattling and winning at all games... that most boys didn't really hang out too much.  He has worked so hard at explaining his frustrations and emotions, trying to not win - or care as much.  He did what his friends wanted to do when they came over.  He played and shared well.  He learned how to play team sports, and was awesome in all.  He "graduated" from three years of speech!!  Yeaaa!! He is more of an artist now then ever.  He takes time, and is patient with his work.  He has been able to hurdle the challenge of reading.  Which was really difficult for him.  Tonight we pulled out "go, dog, go" and he read all of it without a hesitation.  That may not be a big deal for some, but for Hudson it was beautiful!  Reading was one of his scholastic challenges this year.  He compared himself, non stop, to all the avid readers in his class; and would get down on himself.  Which, would then result in frustration and not wanting to even try.  So, it may have taken all year at trying, but he has done it... and we are so very very proud of him.  Not to mention the amount of pride & confidence he has in himself.  Kindergarten was a good year for Hudson, but he is way excited for 1st grade.  For cafeteria lunches, the big play yard... seeing his older friends and mom not having to truck everyone out of the car into the school to drop and pick him up - or maybe that is what I am most excited about?!?

I can't believe he is onto 1st grade.

 {Last day of kindergarten}

Hudson and Mrs. W.  

{his kinder teacher}

The day before school was out aunt Rachael came to visit.  Hudson was so excited he could barely sleep.  He put this sign on the door the day she arrived.  He is always asking when Rachael is "coming home".  

See, he is ubber sweet.  

How grateful I am that we had last year with Rach.  They {all of us} miss her and love her to no end.  She is a little bit of home for them.  They will always hold a special place, just for her, in their hearts.  Rach is always so worried that they won't remember the time she spent with them.  And they may not remember the exact things that happened on a daily bases; and they probably won't remember all of it.  But they will remember the feeling they had with her.  The love they felt from her.  That is something you never forget; it doesn't matter how old you are.  You remember.  And so they will.