ECFE Graduation 2011

This past Monday was Leyton's final ECFE (Early Childhood Family Education) class. It has been such a great class for both of us, and I am really going to miss it. I know he will, too. :( We have had the best teachers and the most fun in this class, and we looked forward to every Monday morning with Teacher Lisa! The first hour each week was spent in the classroom with the children, interacting and playing together and the second hour was a "separating" hour, where the kids stayed in the classroom with the teachers while the moms headed down the hall to the parenting room for some great discussion on a weekly topic. I have many friends from my past ECFE classes and always enjoy the group immensely, but I have really loved this group of moms and kiddos. We have had some wonderful, supportive discussions about everything from potty training to sibling rivalry to husbands' vasectomies! I have loved having a panel of women that I can turn to about any concern I might have, and they have been great at helping me realize that we all have the same issues. We have celebrated amazing joys together and comforted one another through some really horrible times as well. I truly feel lucky to be able to be a part of such a life-changing program, and I am so thankful that the state of MN sees the value in such a program and makes it mandatory for every school district to offer these classes. What a gift we have been given!

back row: teacher pam, olivia, samantha, lily, leyton, and teacher lisa

middle row: marlow, ella, keira, danny, and luke

front row: asher, mazlow, william, blake and mckenna

On Monday, Teacher Lisa held a little "graduation" ceremony for the kiddos, and it was adorable! We helped our little ones make their own graduation caps, and then they walked across a tiny stage and received their diplomas. Teacher Lisa also created a video montage of all the kids in the class with pictures from the beginning of the year all the way to the end. Needless to say, it was a tearjerker. Hard to see your little babies growing up!

Here are some of the photos from the video...

And here are some from graduation day! Now it's on to Berry Patch for this little man! :)

mommy's little graduate!

the sensory table--leyton's favorite spot in the classroom!

aren't they all just too adorable?

showing off his diploma! he's so proud! (mommy is, too!)