First Grade Program or How I Cried During the Hukilau

Several weeks back, we had the opportunity to attend Jackson's first grade program. Oh my...what an evening!!!

The program was about different cultures they were learning about. Each class dressed up in the traditional (more of less) clothes of the country they were singing about. Jackson's class was responsible for Ireland and so they all dressed up like leprechauns and sang a song called "The Irish Jig." He wore a little green derby hat and his teacher rigged up suspenders made from sequin green ribbon. It was adorable!!! They all got up and did their Irish Jig while the other classes joined them in singing the song. He did such a great job!! He was particularly excited about his class singing this song because, as he said, he is part leprechaun.

Other songs they sang included "It's A Small World" (a family favorite), an Italian song, a song about Greece, a square dance song for the good ol' US of A, and "So Long, Farewell" from The Sound of Music" (Ah....Julie Andrews.) They also sang :"The Hukilau" to represent Hawaii. I don't know why, but watching Jack sing that song and doing the actions did a little something to me and I may have shed a tear or 5.

He looked so grown up sitting up there on the stage. Jack is a crazy combination of being shy and loving to be in the spotlight at the same time. The only reason I get that is because I am the same. He has been practicing these songs so hard and he did so well. We were so proud of him watching him up there singing so loud! He knew all the words and it was obvious he had put in lots of time to put on a wonderful show.

It was another reminder of how wonderful this life is. We get these moments of joy that will stay with us forever. Jackson is such a huge blessing packed into a little body. We love him so much!!