first day of school

it started all over again today....

we're only 2 houses in from the elementary school...and the traffic on the first day...oy. everyone and their brother (and sister, and at least one parent) all come on the first day...we're fortunate to not have to park!

and this year is a bit different....when we moved here, there were 12 'neighborhood' elementary schools. and this year, there are only 7. a great decision as far as i'm concerned (at least for the moment!) our school is now up over 600 students in kindergarten thru 5th grade...225+ or so more than last year.

it's our third school year here...hard to believe!

and this morning, i reminded molly, that next year is her turn. NEXT year.

next year, you will find me in the fetal position in bed...rocking back and forth...unsure of what to do with my time...then i'll remember that molly is only gone for a few hours...and there's still cleaning and laundry and dishes and cooking and... and... and... stuff to do...

but enough about next year....THIS year...big things...

porter - all day, every day. 1st grade. learned to tie his shoes. after one quick mom lesson. and this morning, he had them packed in his backpack (as gym shoes have to be kept at school) and he decided that he wanted to wear them...because tying his shoes was his second most favorite thing to do in the WHOLE WORLD (right behind playing Wii). it SHOCKED the girls...and then someone mentioned 'what about eating mac and cheese' - and he still chose tying shoes as #2. he is so ready for first grade....on fire with reading and math. it's awesome. here's hoping he can keep his tackling and 'extra noise' to a minimum in the classroom. (and by extra noise, i'm mostly referring to the near constant light saber and shooting sounds....)

many people have mentioned to me about how tall porter is...how much he's grown. well, of course, i can always tell by the length of his pants...and how deep the flooding would have to be for him to safely come out dry....but as a point of reference...here is LAST year's FDOS picture:

now, because of the angles of the pictures, etc, it's hard to get a completely accurate measurement of growth...but roughly....last year...his chin was level with the bottom of our mantel...now scroll back up to see where it is one year later. sheesh. what do we feed this kid (other than mac and cheese?!?)

maya, maya, maya papaya. actually nervous for 3rd grade. not sure. perhaps it's missing her bff. perhaps it's the male teacher (though lilly had a male teacher last year and loved him. and grandmom pointed out last night that any man who teaches elementary school has to have a sense of humor and she'd be just fine...) but of all the kids...i think maya was the most nervous this morning. she even stopped walking outside her classroom door and said she wasn't going in.

and lillian. started safety patrol duty this morning. rules the roost. she left earlier than the other kids to be 'on her post'...and we met her at her classroom when she was done. can i just hear a 'holy crap' for having a kid in 5th grade? she's so ready, too. great friends. great learner. great kid. i'd like her to stay that way. and, ironically enough, she mentions frequently that she doesn't want to grow up. i think i ought to video tape that...(video TAPE...hmm...what's that?!)

and just look at that post-braces smile. again, a point of reference...last year's FDOS picture...


and here's the three who were headed out the door...

and then little ms. wannabe hopped in....she starts preschool again tomorrow (3 days a week this year) right after this picture snapped, lillian ran out the door - she loves to be early to her 'job' and i have to remind her that there actually are rules about HOW early she can be...and that leaving when i told her to was really enough time. honest.


i love their summer tans. summer was good to us (despite sanford lake being disgusting for most of august....)


lillian at her post...the rest of us head out the door (maya's backpack so full of stuff for her classroom that her lunch box wouldnt' fit...sheesh.)

we capture lillian at her post....clearly looking busy. HA. (the next picture i took showed her fixing her hair and headband....lol.)

no picture with the principal this year...couldn't see/find her...but with so many extra kids around...hard to do!

i do enjoy the energy around the school on the first day. kids are nervous and excited. teachers...rejuvenated after a summer break. many changed classrooms and/or schools this year. lots of changes. they feel good.

if i'm still living in this house when my children are 'gone'...and it's the first day of school...i wonder how i'll feel. will i be grumpy about the traffic? and cars using my driveway as a turn around (even though we're on a CUL DE SAC?!) or will i have a vision...of my kids in motion...with all those feelings that only the first day of school can bring...

excitement (seeing friends, new clothes, new things)

and so much nervousness (what will my teacher be like, who is in my class, what if i don't know anyone)

and pride (in showing off new clothes and talking about summer vacation experiences)

and in the end...coming home to mom with a motor mouth.

no...i already know. i will see those kids years from now - climbing out of their cars with overstuffed backpacks and shiny new shoes - and wish that they could tell me all the answers to

"how'd it go?"
"did you make new friends?"
"how was lunch?"
"who's in your class?"
"do you have homework?"

and i will remember days like today. and i will miss them.