Yellow M&M's Make Me Laugh

With Parker starting kindergarten this week, it's had me thinking about my own kindergarten experience.

• I don't remember the first day, but know I wore blue cool-otts with little anchors all over them and a white t-shirt with a square collar in the same blue fabric with a little red bow in the front...sailor style. And of course white salt water sandals.

• Surprisingly, I remember kindergarten orientation better than my first day. I talked my mom into wearing matching striped jumpsuits. What a good woman my mom is.

• I met Genny at kindergarten orientation.
  

• One day Genny came home with me after school and we were very giggly...as five year old girls tend to be. My mom told us it must be something we ate. So we racked our brains to figure out what food we both had that day and concluded it was yellow M&M's that made us laugh. We believed that for quite some time.
  

• Mrs. Starbuck was my teacher and she had letter people hanging above the chalkboard to help us learn the alphabet.

Me and Devin

• Devin Henry was my very best friend. When her mom curled her hair she used rag curlers and they were the most beautiful blond curls I had ever seen.

• Joe Paino and Tim Hellerud were in my class and I'm pretty sure Joe and Devin liked each other.

Our picture was in the paper when an author came to visit.

• Rachel McBride (a local children's author and member of my ward) came to read us her book...For Sale: One Sister-CHEAP! That became my favorite book after that.
  

• I loved pedaling tricycles on a little road around the playground.

• I lost my first tooth while swinging during recess and the class sang me a song about loosing teeth.

• I can still picture the layout of the class room...the cubbies, the play kitchen, the art area, the bathroom, everything. It seemed so big to me, and now kindergarten rooms seem so small. I'm sure mine was no exception.
  

• I remember reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and how proud I was that I already knew it.

• Mrs. Starbuck did something fun for every holiday...we made pilgrim and Indian clothes for Thanksgiving and pinatas for Cinco de Mayo.
  

• I remember reading Dick and Jane books in little groups and replicating them on our own papers.

• The smell of finger paint...and the smocks and easels used when painting.
  

• And when we had important information to bring home to our parents, we got papers pinned to the back of our shirts.

I think I better stop. The more I try to recall, the more I remember. This list could get seriously long. I have a surprisingly good memory despite having three kids. I can remember the words to songs Mrs. Starbuck taught us and conversations I had with friends and outfits that were worn by everyone.

I had a superb kindergarten experience. It set me off on the right foot to really love and thrive in school. I wish the same for Parker.