(kate let me take a few photos this morning before school)

kate graduated from preschool today.  truth be told, i wasn't too excited about it.  i think preschool graduations are overkill - kind of like giving every kid on the soccer team a trophy just because they played.  i mean, really. 

but i surprised myself by getting teary.  the graduation (or "celebration" as they called it) wasn't really about kate or any of the other kids.  for me, it was really more about the parents and the friendships we've forged and the small parts of our lives we've shared in the hallways over the past three years.  we've welcomed new little brothers and sisters and seen other siblings grow up.  we've shared the funny things our kids have said and rolled our eyes in sympathy at the things our kids have done. it's only 10 or 15 minutes here or there in the hallway but it adds up over three years and the celebration today was an acknowledgment of that.  it was a time to pat each other on the back and let out a sigh of relief that we made it.  that it's over. and that no matter where we end up our lives will always be a part of everyone else's story of our kids' preschool years.