First day of school

I sent TWO girls off to school this week. Cue the waterworks.

Just kidding. No one cried.

We dropped Charlotte off at her kindergarten classroom and she skipped to her desk.

Evie gave me a quick hug at her second grade classroom door and then walked confidently to her desk.

I sure love these girls and can't wait to watch them grow this school year!

First day of 1st Grade

She is pretty serious about her love of school.

Every time we drove by her school this summer (and it is right across the street, so a lot), she lamented how she missed school and when would summer be over and why couldn't she be a first grader yet.

The big day finally arrived and she could not have been more ready.

She had a new backpack, complete with mustached, bespectacled cats.

And a snazzy, pencil-clad outfit.

She also decided to skip the new school-year haircut, so no A-line this year. Just sweet pigtails (to help her mama remember that there are still a few more years until adulthood).

Hello, First Grade!

Evelyn is crazy excited to meet you.

Duplos distractions

With Evie and Josh in school, it is just me and the two snuggle-bugs. Lottie and Trent are two peas, super social and neither one wanting to be left alone. In the absence of their fearless leader, my lambkins have found a quiet companionship that suits everyone just fine, thank you. I always thought of Evie as my quiet one, but I am noticing a distinct void of chatter. We miss her jokes and rule enforcing and crazy laughter. Luckily, school ends early and we still have several hours in the day to play together with Evie. Until that time, however, we distract ourselves in any way we can. Today it was the Duplos' turn.

My little Kinder

It finally happened. I joined many of my friends this week in the Lament of the First Day of Kindergarten. It is bittersweet, because she is so ready and excited for this new adventure. But I am also filled with a thousand thoughts about my baby growing up and being out of my care for so long and what if people tease her about her glasses and missing teeth and... WAAA! I possibly hate all people who tell me to enjoy this season because before I know it she will be grown and married. Believe me, I am all too aware of how the days are long but the years are short.

Really though, I didn't even cry (well, I got teary, but no tears fell from these eyes). The 100+ degree weather took a break and rained, throwing a wrench in picture taking and our plan to walk to the school. The change of schedule distracted my brain from thinking All The Thoughts and before I knew it I was recording her walk upstairs to the classroom, waving like crazy as she kept turning around to grin at me. Then I had to deal with Lottie, who was a complete emotional wreck after saying her goodbyes.

She had a fantastic first day as a Kinder. And I was so glad to see her that I wasn't offended at all that the first thing out of her mouth was, "Did you cry? Because I didn't. I was brave and didn't miss you at all!"