It has been 976 days since Rylie first stepped through the doors of the new Northfield Montessori facility in 2005.  At age 3 Rylie joined the "Discovery I" classroom where she moved to "Discovery II" and finally into the "Montessori" room.  Last week, she left for the last time after completing the Kindergarten program. I would personally like to thank all the teachers for their hard work over the years.  It's a job that not many could do and I don't think teachers are rewarded enough in our society.

This step in Rylie's life is truly a fork in the road for me and her.  See, Rylie's mom Melissa lives in Farmington and after much debate, it was decided that Rylie would attend public school in that system at this time.  I really wanted Rylie to attend school and grow up in the same community that I did.  However, she will still split equal time between Northfield and Farmington by dividing up vacations, weekends and holidays between the two families. 

The reason I say this is a fork in her road is because she now leaves a set of friends and classmates and beings what could be 13 years of schooling with another set.  As we all know, friends and environment have a significant impact on ones life.  Especially in the learning years.  I'm not saying I can tell if one will end up better than the other.  I'm just saying that it's surreal to imagine her life at one end of the journey verses the other.  Memories, friends, experiences and achievements would differ greatly. 

As it appears now, sooner than I realize, Rylie will walk across the graduation stage as a senior wearing Green and White instead of Maroon & Gold, but our family will be there for her every step of the way regardless.  I keep a journal for Rylie where I write one page to her every month.  I just finished telling her a similar story in that log.  She will receive this nice hardbound journal as a graduation present.  It will track time from an infant through high school.  Through this she will know my deepest thoughts about my true love for her, wrapped into one book. 

Congratulations Rylie.  You are a very smart and beautiful person and I am so proud.  You are everything that I ever wanted in a daughter.

Rylie getting her diploma. 

Photos from the graduation event.

Photos from her last day