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...

Animal Report

Today was the day Arran gave his animal report at school. He had chosen a blue jay to be his animal and a lot of work had gone into it. It was actually not what I had expected. This is a kind of rite of passage at Cherry Valley and quite a big deal. The children all go out to the playing fields and the rest of the school come and ask the individual children about their animal. They all remember when they had to do their report and the animal they were.

The idea is that no one is put on the spot, although I think it was a little exhausting. One thing is for sure though, after telling all the facts he had learned, to so many people, they will probably forever be embedded in his little brain  He was very cute.

On a completely different note, James has been reading the Narnia books to the kids for their bedtime story and they are very into them. Last week they finished The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and they are now on to Prince Caspian. A lot of their play time is revolving around battles and being turned to stone and this was this afternoon's adventure...

They set up their very own sleigh!

Open House

Tonight we all went to Open House at Arran's school. He was excited to show us how hard he has been working and the girls are always excited to visit school. I think that has turned up a notch for Bryttain now that she knows that in a couple of months it will be her turn. We started in The Lodge with some music time, then headed over to his classroom.

Recently they have been studying the rainforest and the classroom looked great with so much of their work on display. It amazes me how much they get through, there are projects coming home on a daily basis and yet there we were at the school with a boatload of stuff we had not yet seen. It really was quite impressive.

We started at his seat where he pulled out pieces of paper with various activities on them, to guide us through our time. First port of call was a family activity, drawing a picture of our favorite animal and placing it on a chart for it's corresponding habitat. Asia was so cute and focused, she drew a phenomenal (for a three year old) cat and wrote CAT. Daddy and Bryttain chose a horse and Arran a cheetah...I took photos!

 He showed us his completed animal report and recited many of the facts that he had learned in the process.

He donned his owl costume and gave the official tour of the room. He took his responsibility very seriously. I love that in the background you can see the principal (headmistress) hugging another child. The kids really do know and love this woman and she is the main reason I first became interested in this wonderful school.

The girls joined in the fun. Arran showed us terrariums they had made and we recorded some of our observations. He explained the different levels of the rainforest to Bryttain.

There was so much to see.

Arran with Ms. Lewis, his kindergarten and 1st grade teacher.

What a great first two years of school and I find it hard to believe it is coming to an end. The reticent little boy, so nervous on that first day has blossomed into this confident boy, so full of life. Ms. Lewis told him, in front of us, that he is smart and nice and that she just loves to spend time with him. I could not have been more proud and I think he felt pretty good hearing that too.