First Day of School! (repeated three times, "Nemo" style)

So, we made it! I'm the proud mother of both a second grader and a newly minted kindergartener, and I am SO impressed by our elementary school, staff and teachers. The first day of school was nothing short of a well-oiled machine! The principal was out front greeting new students and parents, and a veritable army of parent volunteers stood about with clipboards and class lists waiting to pounce on each child as they entered. Parents stayed outside not because they were told to, but because it was obvious they just weren't needed to pat the kids' heads, fix their backpacks or escort them to classes. I had worried my notoriously shy kindergartener would have some signs of separation anxiety, but honestly neither she nor I had the time. As soon as we neared the door the kids were sucked into the vortex and shuttled off, and I waved from the concrete outside. I wouldn't have it any other way, and both came home thrilled with their new classes, teachers and friends. It was all in all a rousing success! Izzie's favorite part of Kindergarten is when they play. Apparently they do that at the end of day day every day. She was a little disappointed in P.E. the first day but said it's because all they did was make them sit and listen to the rules, so I think that will pick up for her. Erick has two friends from church in his class already, and has also asked to have a boy named "James" over to play sometime. He sits at the same desk formation as Erick and is pretty nice. Erick's apprehensive about learning cursive this year, and is really jealous Izzie can do girl scouts already but he has to wait another year to start cub scouts. I can't wait to have an inside source at our house for those cookies! Audrey did struggle a little that first week as she and I worked to figure out what to do with those empty days (as if!), but we're gearing up for a new season of playgroups, library time and outings with just her, Matt and me and I'm glad for the company. She'll go to preschool next year so this is valuable time for us. And Matt, as always, is as good as gold. He had a hard time the first day of school because I had to wake him from his nap to pick up Izzie, but seriously he adjusted that quickly and now takes his naps at times that work out so much better. I couldn't ask for more from that kid, he's so incredibly easy going. Lucky us!