I was a little more than worried.

Boo Boo La La was not looking forward to school this year much.

She told anyone who asked that she was NOT excited to go back to school this year.

I know why.

Last year.

Last year SUCKED so hard. I was emailing and calling the Superintendant, crying on shoulders, just SICK over the cluster that was my child's classroom.  I hated being so upset.

Her teacher's child got very sick. I felt soooo bad, but the principal (who thank sweet baby Jesus is moved on) didn't handle the situation very well from a staffing standpoint. They had a DIFFERENT SUB EVERY DAY FROM THE SIXTH DAY OF SCHOOL UNTIL MEA - LATE OCTOBER!

It was, to say the least, utterly ridiculous.

So, this year she was not very excited. She was dwelling on the year of teachers being taken away - or running - and that no one got in trouble for anything, except her when she would point out things were going awry.

Last year was so different.

But, she volunteered for school patrol, is doing Girls On The Run, All-District Choir and we just changed to a new gymnastics club which went super well on the first night!

Yeah.

And I got a story on the way home yesterday about her great (read solid - mid 40-ish/early 50-ish teach who is going nowhere!) is letting them chew GUM IN CLASS. As long as they DO NOT leave wrappers on the floor, blow bubbles, stick gum under tables, and throw the gum away when they go to leave the classroom.

So in honor of her moving on - I am looking back at all the FIRST DAY photos we have taken.

Pre-K Year 1

Pre-K Year 2

Kindergarten, forgot to snap a pick until we were already THERE!

First Grade

Second Grade

Third Grade

Fourth Grade!!

Fifth Grade

Here is to enjoying a happy school year Peeps!

School Days - First Day of Fourth Grade

To say she was ready is an understatement.

She picked out her clothing, put stuff in her backpack, asked me questions like, "Do you think the new principal will let us wear hats in school?"  - No, probably not. - "Shoot, I love this one I got at the fair and it matches my outfit."

It does!  Cool, but no.

"Okay, I will just have it in my backpack for later at daycare."

Off we went to iHop - had a grand time playing the box game and laughing at the kiddie menu.

What is that???

Economics Teacher: Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?
Simone: Um, he's sick. My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who saw Ferris pass out at 31 Flavors last night. I guess it's pretty serious.
Economics Teacher: Thank you, Simone.
Simone: No problem whatsoever.

But...iHop was terrible and we ended up stopping for a chocolate croissant, a car selfie and....

"My & Marriage"

A visit with the new Crossing Guard!!!










All in all a successful start to the new school year including a great note from Dad.  :)








I hope you all have a great day and can choke back the tears like I did.

And pray for the teachers, lunch ladies, staff and bus drivers.  They keep our babies safe!

The Kissing Hand - Audrey Penn

Going through the backpack with Boo Boo La La is the highlight of my day - usually. 

So I was excited for the First Day of First Grade and seeing what wonders the new backpack would hold...let's look at the new "backpack".

I opened the backpack, found the folder and inside was this piece of paper.  

I asked Boo Boo La La to explain to me what the picture was for and this is the story she told me.

Do you see that heart?  That is where the Mommy kissed the hand and then you could hold your hand by your check like this ( ) and feel your Mommy with you all day.  Do you think we should try that?  But I want to kiss your hand too.  Then you can put your hand by your cheek and think about me.  Okay?

I welled.  Tears.

Then later she showed it to T-bone and told him that he should get a "Kissing Hand" kiss too.  So he remembers her while he is at work.  "Mwah!"

She loves to say "Mwah!" with gusto.

Do your schools read such sweet tales to the children?

First Day of School

I got up early and went to the YMCA - I look up and what do I see???

Male enhancement infomercial to the left of me - Dr. Phil to the right.  Good thing I have Pandora on my phone.

I got home and showered - kind of a pit in my tummy over the fact MY BABY is going to FIRST GRADE.  I mean, didn't she just learn how to walk?

After my shower I am walking around in the semi-darkness and WHAT IS THAT???  Oh, okay its just my child standing there quietly wearing her monster ear-flap hat.  Yes, Boo Boo was standing there perfectly still and quiet in the dark wearing this hat - FREAKED me out.  However I was able to compose myself and asked her what she wanted for breakfast.  I made cinnamon toast and cut her up a banana.  She was apparently ready to head to the bus at 6:28 am, never mind that it does not pick her up until 8:55 at daycare.

After we got dressed - this is what we had.

Mom, it's my "Hello Kitty" theme day.

After I dropped her off I had to head into school.  PTO duty called - I had to fill out and hang the fundraising posters - ummm, where exactly?  School still looks like this...





Well...not exactly like this, but the construction continues - workmen everywhere and the school was about 90 degrees at 7:40am.  But everyone was there and in cheerful moods.

Making the best of things.




At 9:20 I looked at the clock and almost cried.  Baby is in First Grade officially!

But I was busy - busy - busy at work.  It was month-end and I had a lot to do.

Call on my way home and my husband needs me to drive him to work to pick up his vehicle after dinner.  Great, I need to get gas - Holiday is close to his work - that makes it simple.  

I tried to talk to Boo Boo about her first day - we got through her backpack and it sort of went downhill from there as the Boo was a tired little girl.  Lots of learnin' will do that to you.  She started focusing on the negatives, she couldn't find her room at first and her eyes got all "watery" and there is only ONE girl she knows in her class.  I told her what a big girl she was to find her way by asking and reminded her that she really likes Joshua, he is in your class - you like Joshua, right?

And you know, T-bone made spaghetti, cuz that is Boo Boo's favorite lately.  That made her happy.

All in all - a successful First Day of First Grade.

How were things for your little one?

The First Day of School

I was sad today for a few reasons.  One of them being that Jake was at his mom's and Sarah is off at college - they started school on August 23rd.

Here was the First Day of School 2009

But today I got Boo Boo to play just like last year - so I am not TOO sad -

even with the rain.