I'm still adjusting to it, but we are indeed back.
Back to School.
Back on a schedule.
Back to busy, busy days.
So it's about time I posted about the days that forced us back...
back on a schedule,
back to busy,
Back to School!
*****
NOAH
We celebrated Back to School by hosting a swim party for Noah's 2nd grade classmates.
On the eve of Back to School, we made fortune cookies to give to Noah's teacher.
I put a special "Smartie Pants" note in Noah's lunchbox to {hopefully} make him smile on his first day back.
I started a Back to School Breakfast tradition last year by making a pancake in the number of the new grade. My pancake cutting skills need a little work, but Noah was happy to have his requested Back to School Breakfast of choice: pancake, bacon, and eggs!
And then on a gorgeous August morning, Noah strapped on his new KU backpack and confidently walked the familiar hallway to his 2nd grade classroom at St. Catherine of Siena.
He greeted his new teacher, gave her his gift, and promptly took his seat at his table, where he was delighted to discover he was seated next to his "BFF", Tanner.
His "back to school" experience was smooth and predictable. He has had a great first month of school; especially in comparison to the beginning of 1st grade. He seems so much happier and more confident this year which makes my mama heart feel happier and more confident too!
*****
EMILY
A few weeks later, Emily returned to Little Lambs preschool for her Pre-K year.
I was caught a bit off guard with my emotions as she returned to school this year. I realized that this will be my last year having her at home with me. Next year, she will go to Kindergarten and unlike Noah, she does not have the option of going half days. She will go to school. All day. Every day. And even though that reality is still a year away, as I curled her hair for her first day of Pre-K, I felt the emotion I thought I should have had, but didn't, on Noah's 1st day of Kindergarten.
She, on the other hand, was thrilled to be returning to school. After all, school to her means wearing "fancy dresses" and "playing with my friends." Dressed in her new "fancy dress" made especially for her first day (it will be her last first day of school that she gets to wear something other than a uniform (tear), so it needed to be special!), she, too, made the familiar walk up the sidewalk to her sweet Little Lambs Preschool.
We didn't have a lot of time for making teacher gifts, but on the morning of her 1st day, I was able to grab an extra large calculator I picked up at the Dollar Store over the summer and printed a printable gift tag.
It was simple, but Emily was proud to have something to give to her new teacher, Miss Lori. 3 years ago, Noah had Miss Lori too. She was wonderful. And Emily couldn't WAIT to get her chance to be a part to of Miss Lori's class. And now she is. Yet another reminder to me that time moves much too quickly.
She excitedly took her seat in the circle and was ready to begin another year of learning playing with her friends!
*****
And those were the days that marked the beginning of getting us BACK...
Back to schedules
Back to early bed times
Back to dance classes and lessons
Back to homework
Back to meal planning
Back to busy days and busy evenings
Back to driving and more driving and more driving
Back to reality
Back to School!
