First Day of School

Today my BIG six-year-old went off to her first day of first grade. Why does it feel like kindergarten was practice and now we are in the "real deal" for school?! It was definitely harder to say goodbye to her last year. After all, I had spent the last five years staying home with her and having her there almost 24/7 so of course that transition was hard. This time around she was the same old Calli as always: walked into her classroom without looking back and I had to ask her for a hug and a goodbye. Okay Mom!! You can leave now, you're embarrassing me!! - Her true thoughts I'm sure!!
Her teacher seems very nice this year. I got to go to her school last Thursday for the meet-the-teacher orientation. Her teacher is Mrs. Berger and she is older and has been teaching for a long time and teaching specifically first grade for ten years.  I think Calli will do well this year, but I am a little worried she might get bored. I guess a lot of kids come into the first grade not knowing how to read or knowing just a little bit and Calli has been reading chapter books this whole summer. I'm pretty sure she already meets the requirements to go on to second grade, but what can ya do?

Drop off this morning was an absolute nightmare. We walked to school last year, eliminating any time spent sitting in traffic. I forgot that everyone and their mother and their aunt and their second cousin twice removed likes to see their kids off to school on the first day. And indoor schools are so very VERY inconvienant. Calli's classroom is in the very front of the school, closest to the road. It was a new addition they built a few years ago when the school started to get overcrowded. I guess it became the first grade wing. It has a door leading in to it, but do you think that is open in the morning? No because that would make too much sense. Instead the kids have to walk through the front of the school building and Calli will have to add an additional five minutes to get to her classroom on time after just walking through the front doors. It is ridiculous!! I am also going to have to walk her for the first few days at least to make sure she knows where she is going. There are all kinds of crazy twists and turns and she's not familiar with it yet. Again, would it be terribly hard to open up that door and let us in through there...her classroom is mere steps from that door. Indoor schools...not a fan!!

So now it is drawing close to picking her up. Instead of being released at 2:30pm as she was in kindergarten she will get out at 2:45pm. I am wondering what traffic will be like. It was pretty easy last year because I left early and the cars weren't backed up yet. Now I will be getting there right in the thick of the mess. We will probably be figuring out a meeting place in a few weeks so I don't have to deal with all of it. But for now I'll walk into the school to get her.

I am anxious to hear about her day. My morning was spent in a scattered state of mind. I wasn't expecting quite that much commotion at school drop off so that threw me off. I took the little ones to the gym right after and then we played in the park for awhile after. We came home and ate lunch immediately (I completely forgot to feed myself breakfast!!) and then it was time for Jameson's nap and a shower for me. I finally got a few minutes to sit down, but then here I am blogging about it!

I made the mistake of taking Calli (and Serena and Jameson) to McDonalds for ice cream after her first day of kindergarten so now the little miss thinks that it is a tradition. She has been asking if we are going to go so what can I say except yes :). Here's looking forward to a great year...did I mention I signed up to be Room Mom?!

Winding down

Well we have successfully made it through another summer.  Although, I'm pretty sure the weather Gods are laughing at me as they rub their evil hands together and plot two more months of hot hot HOT temperatures.  I guess what I mean is that we have survived summer vacation from school.  Officially it was my first one and Calli will be going into first grade in just about two weeks.  It does not shock me that we haven't heard a word from her school about a back-to-school night or meeting the teachers, etc.  I guess bad/last minute communication is just how they roll.  I am really hoping that Calli gets a great first grade teacher.  I will admit, I had my reservations about sending her to kindergarten here, especially since it's not mandatory, but it worked out better than I could have imagined because she had a great teacher.  She has spent her summer reading many books, faster than I can check them out of the library.  I have felt like she needs to be more challenged by her reading lately so I went ahead and bought her a couple of my favorite childhood chapter books: Laura and the Big House (by Laura Ingalls Wilder) and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  I am trying to teach her now that books can be enjoyed over a period of time and don't necessarily need to be devoured in one sitting.  These books are longer with more words on the pages and less pictures, so she is reading a chapter or two at a time.  She says she is enjoying the book and I'm glad for that.  Book worms are the best!!

Calli going back to school is very bittersweet and probably more bitter than sweet at this point.  Putting Jameson in a toddler bed at the beginning of this summer was the best decision ever.  The kids have been sleeping later than they ever have.  They usually get up around 7am and all go downstairs together to start painting or reading or (eek!) playing with my phone on the counter.  Meanwhile I get to enjoy an extra thirty minutes of sleep or lounge time.  It's so nice to wake up slowly instead of forcing myself out of bed to be somewhere.  Which is what the case will be starting August 22nd.  Have I mentioned what a terrible idea I think it is that elementary schools start at 7:45am?!!  Gone will be the days of lazy mornings, which I appreciate all the much more being pregnant.  So yes, back to school time is bitter indeed.

Soon it'll be just my littles and me again.  It is easier to find things to do for their ages, rather than having to find things that entertain a six-year-old and a two-year-old (Serena can really go either way).  And it won't be long before there's a new brother or sister to play with.  Sixteen weeks to go, I'm counting down.  I can't wait to meet this new little family member that will make us complete.  I am clueless as to whether I am carrying a boy or a girl; I don't believe in "instinct".  I've got a 50/50 chance of it being either and there are positives to both.  All I want is for him/her to be 100% healthy.  I'm not sure what to expect this time around to be honest.  Jameson's first few days in the hospital were nothing like I expected.  I know my odds of having that happen again are slim, but I guess you never know.  Since he was my latest baby I have to compare the labor/delivery to, I can barely remember how it goes when the baby stays with you instead of being in the NICU.

Farewell summer.  If you could take your weather with you that would be FABULOUS too.  I have no intention of wearing flip flops in October...I'm sure you have other God forsaken plans.  I'm over sweating and sunburns.  I'd like to take a nice jog (or ya know, just walk from my car to the store) outside without keeling over and dying.  Most of all I'd like to put on a pair of pants and maybe a jacket...drink some hot coffee and snuggle up with a blanket.  I'm pretty sure we deserve the coldest winter EVER so if you could make that happen, it would be awesome!!