Day 2

The second day of school was just as successful and much easier and less traumatic than the first. Arran was happy for me to walk him to his classroom and leave, then the girls and I headed over to Bryttain's for Read and Greet time. I love that this is how the day is started, for the first two years, with parents and children reading together for 20 minutes.

Read and Greet time. Yes, thank you for noticing the toll that the new early morning routine is taking on me. I know I look far from my best...and the girls would much rather be reading than looking in a camera. Has to be done though :)

Once we had left school, I raced down to San Anselmo to pick up my camera, which I had taken in for cleaning. We arrived a little before 9::30am, only to discover that the store would not be open until 10am. Oh well, it was the perfect excuse for Asia and I to have a little date as we waited. She chose hot chocolate and a little mini-cupcake, while I opted for tea with my cupcake. We sat and chatted together and she drew some flowers on napkins and her paper plate. It was a sweet time.

I am looking forward to all the time the two of us are going to spend together and am a little sad that I was not able to have that same time with Bryttain. We will see how quickly she tires of me though.

School!

Today was Bryttain's first day of school and Arran's first day as a second-grader. It was a big day! Bryttain was very excited and totally ready to start this new world. Of course, having watched Arran for the past two years and feeling like she already knew his teacher and half of her new classmates (it is a K/1 class) all made her feel completely comfortable. She picked out her outfit the night before and told me how she would like her hair done. As far as she was concerned, this was a good day.

Asia and I took Bryttain to her classroom where the children were settling in with a few projects. I sat with her as she did some puzzles and some drawings.

Things were a little harder for Arran. He had been with the same teacher for two years, in the same classroom and had really blossomed. In many ways it seemed harder for him than his very first day of school. He cried walking from the car to school and I was very grateful (again) for the flexibility that James has, with being self-employed, it was definitely a two parent day.

It was a strange day for me, I felt hollow, is the best way I can describe it. To think that in another couple of years all three of my children will be in school, is bizarre. They have been my life for the last seven (plus) years, but they really are growing up!

I ran a few errands with Asia and before we knew it, it was time to pick up Bryttain. Wednesday is always a short day, with Bryttain finishing at 12pm (instead of 11:45am) and Arran at 12:45pm (instead of 2:30pm).

She had a great day. She told me it was "So much fun", she didn't want to go home and was asking to go back tomorrow. I couldn't have been more proud of her, or have asked for more. It would have been pointless to race home for lunch, only to race back again to get Arran, so I brought a packed lunch for us and we sat in the park down by the school for half an hour, me and my girls.

 She called daddy to tell him all about her day.

Then we got Arran. I was so happy and relieved that not only had he survived his day but he was looking happy again. Both girls gave him huge hugs. Love those amazing kiddos!

Of course we could be having to do something very similar in another month or so...

School Valentine's Celebration

Arran greeted me with a card and a present.

Monday is Valentine's Day, but as there won't be school Arran's class celebrated and had their little party today. The girls and I got to go and help him check out his loot and he gave me my beautiful valentine's gift he had made.

He made a necklace and a keychain and said I could choose which one I wanted. I graciously took the keychain as I doubt James would wear the necklace too often. These hearts are a Cherry Valley tradition and parents wearing them on Valentine's Day can recognize other parents.

The girls are always so excited to go and spend time at his school and Bryttain is very aware that in a few short months she will be in that classroom with some of the same children. That is one of the nice things about it being a K/1 class, she already has some familiarity, not just with the classroom but also with some of her future classmates.

Arran very sweetly promised to share some of his candy with his sisters once he got home and in the meantime Ms. Lewis brought round heart-shaped rice krispy cakes. Then we said our goodbyes and went home for lunch, returning to pick him up a little while later.

Pumpkin Pie Social

This week is Thanksgiving. There will be no school, for the whole week this year, which is very lovely; no rushed mornings, no messed up nap times for the girls and of course, extra time with Arran. As a warm up for the celebrations and festivities we had a Pumpkin Pie social at Arran's school on Thursday. Children from his class and the class next door sang us songs and each child got to tell us what they were thankful for (Arran was thankful that the celebration was not canceled and got a little chuckle from everyone). Then we all ate pumpkin pie, which the children had made themselves, Arran served us himself and was so grown up.

The girls always enjoy going to school, but Asia, for some reason, seemed to be having a hard time. I only took about six photos but when I stood up to move across the table to get a shot of her with her sister, she just fell apart. I seriously was about four feet from her, these are tables for little children after all, but I may as well have left the building. Fortunately it only lasted a few moments, once I was back in reach and able to give her a cuddle and a kiss all was right with the world again.

All three kids ate all....the cream and left the pumpkin pie, but I could have predicted that.

Open House

It is hard for me to believe that Arran is finishing up his first year at school. Kindergarten is almost over and it has flown by unbelievably fast. When I think back to his first day and how nervous he was and how hard it was for him to let me leave, and then I think of the big boy he is today, it is astounding. He has grown and changed so much, he is more confident and self-assured, he is reading like a pro, he is taller and minus a couple of teeth and there is his long hair, of his choosing. He is such a little boy, full of energy he loves to be silly but he still has his sensitive caring side.

Last week they had an Open House and so off we went to check out some of his recent work. Somehow in the craziness of trying to get the family out of the house in time to get there for the start and leave enough time before James had to leave for music practice, I managed to forget to bring a camera!!!!!!!! Oh well - thank goodness for camera phones, FAR from perfect, but better than nothing for sure. Mental not to self, a camera should be attached to one's body at all times so as not to miss perfect picture moments, or just those moments that you know you will always treasure.

He is so proud of all of his hard work, as are we and he loved being our little paleontologist guide (hence the costume). Bryttain cried when we had to leave, she cannot wait for it to be her turn.