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Personal
First Day of School

FIRST Day of School!! My baby started real school this past week!! Ashlyn Grace Steller is now in kindergarten. Wow. It was tramatizing!! Well…at least it was for mommy and daddy. Daddy feels a lot older and we were both truly overwhelmed by emotions we have never felt before! Ashlyn was just fine and took everything in stride.
We got to the school as a family and waited to take her to her class. I can imagine that walking into the building for the first day was a bit awe-inspiring, with the ordered chaos of throngs of children and parents walking to their respective classes. Ashlyn had her own little Nikon paparazzi snapping away with tears in his eyes and pride in his heart. We got the typical shots of the first day (with sissy, mommy and daddy and teacher, but I snapped of few of her moments of school…the embarrassment walking down the hall with daddy shooting away and all the other kids looking on…a tentative “do I sit down at my desk now?” look of bewilderment…some little details that some folks tend to miss, but the photographer in me kicks into gear.




My favorite photo is this last one and it is a bit heart-wrenching to say the least. As we were walking out of the room, after saying our good-byes, I turned one last time and saw my big girl apprehensively looking at her peers for the very first time, wondering if she should start her coloring now, and wondering if she was following directions, wondering if she was doing the right thing, wondering if she could be brave and make it through her first minutes, first hours, first days of this new journey towards growing up.

Ashlyn, I am so proud of you, baby. God gave me a beautiful, red-haired little angel, with a sweet temperament and a quick, intelligent mind. I already know how smart you are and I just know that you will continue to love school as much as your daddy did. Baby, just know that I am always here for you whenever you need me, for anything, anytime. When you can read this yourself, I want you to test me on this. I am your number one fan. I love you, my big girl.
SIDENOTE: Half a week into it, she already loves school. After her second day, I overly-animatedly (that’s a new word, I think) asked if she had fun and what she had learned that was cool. She calmy stated that “her teacher still hadn’t taught her how to read, yet.” I stifled an uproarous laugh and replied that I was sure they would get to that later this year, then followed up with a question about recess, which she told me was a lot of fun and that they got to have two of them! It’s an all day kindergarten, so they break it up a bit, for everyone’s sanity, I imagine.



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August 25, 2008 | 6:31 am
Dustin, I love these shots! Wow! You did a great job of capturing some truly precious moments. I love your heart man!
August 25, 2008 | 7:37 am
You go dad! I am am sure she is doing amazing in her new environment! These images will bring back sweet memories for your and your wife! I also have a hunch that she will be thoroughly embarrassed by them in a few years
Wow time flies!!
August 25, 2008 | 10:30 am
How cool. Your little girl is adorable. In 2009 LS Schools will be doing all day kindergarten and it scares me to death to think of the chaos Jet will cause. I’ll have to show Jet these pictures so he gets a clue what it is like.
August 25, 2008 | 1:00 pm
OMG…I got a little *PANG* (that’s the sound it made) in my heart when I saw the last pic. Oh…your baby! However, you must be as proud as you can be. What a doll!
August 25, 2008 | 2:09 pm
Aw, so cute! Beautiful post. My boy starts first grade in a week, which is big, but kindergarten is the biggest (especially for the parents!).
August 25, 2008 | 4:21 pm
I’m glad I wasn’t the only paparazzi dad on the first day of school this year! These are some great shots and some great memories!
August 25, 2008 | 8:50 pm
Wow, such awesome pictures! My daughter started KG last week and we were told we couldn’t even go to their classroom. We could drop them off at the front door of the school and that was it. Something about being too distracting and intimidating for the kids. I cracked up at that comment about reading. She must have been doing some pre-kindergarten schooling at home or in preschool.
It’s amazing how much these kids really can learn if they get a shot.
August 26, 2008 | 8:59 am
keep lovin’ ‘em bro. they grow up quick and they (carrie included) will love the captured memories.
August 26, 2008 | 1:49 pm
dude! Choking me up! Your girls are freaking precious. Love you guys!
August 27, 2008 | 10:00 am
Ok - I’m choking up here. Didn’t I just send you off to
kindergarten the other day? Now my first grandbaby off to
school! I know she will love it and do well. May the Lord
bless you and keep you in His care, my little Sweet Pea…
Love you - Mamaw:)
August 27, 2008 | 11:29 am
Dustin your daughters are darling and all us parents know what it’s like to send them off in the big world for the first time. Enjoy all their “first moments” because before you know it you will be enjoying their wedding pictures just like I am now!! I hope they have a great photographer like we did.
August 27, 2008 | 5:38 pm
Wonderful photos of the fam. She looks like she’s ready to take on the world! Lucas just started pre-school and we’re all crazy. I can’t even imagine the real thing.
August 28, 2008 | 11:21 am
Ashlyn is so cute. I loved how you caught the emotions.
August 29, 2008 | 10:28 am
yep. Taylor started his Kindergarten last week, too. kind of scary - we’re the parents of KINDERGARTENERS!!!
yeah, now i’m old … but at least Jen is still older
August 31, 2008 | 12:10 pm
Wow! That made me want to cry and my daughter’s only 2 1/2!!! I’m already dreading “letting go”. But, it’s encouraging to see others do it and how great the kids are doing and love school!
September 2, 2008 | 9:49 pm
Is that gorgeous red head my great-niece? She is such a princess. Give her a great big hug from me. She has an adorable little sister, too. Dustin, you had better grab a great big stick to fight off all of the little boys that will be chasing the Steller sisters! Love you all.