Back to School

Well it's been a week now, and everyone is happy in school. I am still lukewarm. The days are quieter, but my heart walks out the door with the kids. I love spending better quality time with the little ones, but I can't stop wondering what my big kids are doing and if they're happy and safe. My time is fragmented by drop-offs and pick-up for not just school, but all the activities that start up now too... ballet, Activity Days, gymnastics, and soon soccer. I guess we will get used to it again. 

Ella and Maddie are still in Fidus House and wore their shirts the first day.

The scooter brigade continues, although now many of them are riding bikes. We have had to really work on crossing the road and staying together to make sure they are all safe.

The school throws a party on the first day! There was music, bubbles, and everyone was in their house colors and met on the front lawn.

Ella has Mrs. Laudie and thinks she is funny, even if a little strict. She is with her best friend Cambry, and lots of other cute girls--Juliet, Kate, Emma, etc. She is loving it so far!

Maddie is in Mr. Braden's class, which gave her the biggest grin when she found out! She is with Nathan, Sophia, and lots of other kids she knows. She thinks she'll never be with Maycee, but of course they get to play all the time!

 

When the girls got home I had some cookies made so we could talk about their day. They spent most of it in their house groups going over school rules. Ella says she and Juliet keep getting told they look like twins (the kind of do!) and Maddie has a boy in her class that speaks only Spanish so Mr. Braden taught them to say "Hola, como estas," and "¿Cómo te llamas?"

With that spanish talk going on, and a need to eat up some homemade salsa, we had a Fiesta to celebrate the first day of school! A few of our neighbors helped us out with the sombreros.

The next day the girls were able to wear their new clothes, so we took another first day of school picture.

A week later Ty got to have Back to School night to meet his new teacher, Mrs. Gasser! He liked her and was happy to find out he knows tons of friends--Ty W., Benson, Ryker, and lots of kids from his preschool class last year. It was fun to find his table and take a look around his room.

Monday rolled around and it was finally his turn! It's so hard to let these little kids go to kindergarten... part of my heart goes to Mrs. Gasser's class every day. But he was ready and mostly excited... only a little bit nervous!
 

 

Despite my nervousness, Ty gets to ride with the gang in the mornings. The first day we walked with him, and now Maddie and Ella make sure to surround him and help him get there and lock up his bike. It's hard to let him go, but he's been doing great!

These little buddies are the cutest!

When we got to the school there was another party just for the kindergartners! I was super dense and didn't realize the principal was walking each one up the "red carpet" and under the balloon arch, so I just walked Ty to his teacher. But he loved the bubbles and music!

I didn't shed any tears, but my other mommy friends did! I'm so glad we're in this together!

We missed Ty, but it was admittedly really sweet to focus my attention on the littles. Ty came home saying his favorite thing was recess, and he couldn't wait for it to be tomorrow so he could go back! He says Mrs. Gasser is funny and he loves her.

Now he knows right were to go to line up in the courtyard ( I followed in the car the second day).

And then it was finally Jakey's turn!!! We are doing a mommy preschool swap with some cute neighbors friends, and I took the first week. I had them bring something for show and tell and of course Jake wanted a Rescue Bot.  

These boys were so much fun! We started out sharing our "All About Me" pages of family and favorites, and then shared our show and tell's (all cars) out of the treasure chest.

We traced and learned about our hands and feet and everything they do for us.

Jake wanted to share his favorite snack of chip and hummus, although only one other wanted to try hummus. ;) And we had M&M's to talk about our favorite colors.

We ended the day talking about what we want to be when we grow up. I broke out Jake's Halloween costume and let him put it on, and tried to find all the other dress-ups we have to show occupations: fireman, artist, doctor, Daddy, soccer player, etc. It was so fun for them and I think we're going to have a great year!