student of the month

Last Friday morning The Chuthakieo family bundled up and headed to school early to honor one of our own. In front of the whole school at the monthly assembly our little Ellybean accepted the Student of the Month award for her Kindergarten class, in her pajamas wearing reindeer antenna. The pride was oozing out of me, literally I was a snotty emotional mess. She was so poised, so proud and so perfect I wanted to bottle the moment and save the feeling forever. After what seemed like a million hugs and kisses we said our goodbyes and walked home happier than we could imagine and with a very strong sense of community. We love her teachers and her school so much and we love her being there. What transpired later that day was unthinkable and I, like so many of us, am still unable to come to grips. The juxtaposition of the scene at our  elementary school that morning to the one of Sandy Hook on the news all day was surreal to say the least. Even as I looked through these pictures again, I started to lose it. I kept imagining a proud parent going through a similar routine in Connecticut that morning, not knowing what the unfair future held. This hit way too close to home for us, for the country, for the world. This blog has brought me so much joy and a huge part of that has been about my kids. I love having this digital scrapbook of them and their little lives. Even as I write this I’m unsure if I should have. Maybe I should have just kept it light, kept it sweet. Maybe. But if this is my time capsule of sorts, how could I not comment on such a day and take the opportunity to send my condolences to all involved. You are in our hearts, we will never forget. And to Elle and Coco, we love you and are so thankful for you every day.