Back to School

Quick break in the vacation blogs (which I now have pictures for) to put up some pictures from the beginning of the school year.This year we started on Monday, July 26th. When I was a child, I probably would have died if you had told me that I only got 7 weeks of summer, but it really seems to work out here in Arizona. The kids gets lots of playing, we travel and then right before boredom and being sick of each other sets in, the kids go back while we all still like each other.

Nate started Kindergarten and he was incredibly aloof about the whole thing. He didn't talk about it or act scared or excited. At Meet the Teacher he sort of nodded at her and walked aimlessly around the room. He would ask Ellie things like, "What if I can't find the bathroom?" And he did mention he was scared everyone would forget his name, but he knew he had 2 friends already in his class, so that eased a lot of fears.

The actual first day was a different story. You could tell he was really nervous in the pictures. As my sister puts it -- he's not actually smiling, just showing his teeth. Example:
On the way to school
When we got to school he was very quiet and I left him with Dustin so I could go take Ellie over to her line.

Ellie was having fun as she saw all her old friends, like her BFF Lindsay,until I told her I needed to go back to Nate. That's when the water works began. I felt so bad leaving her, especially since she didn't really know anyone in her class, but (her other BFF) Hailey's mom let her come stand in line with them until school started.
When I got back Nate was grinning and running around playing. I guess he fell and hurt himself and came to Dustin crying, but then he saw Jackson and everything got better. He was much more confident and helped him figure out where to put his back pack and then they took off playing. They had all the parents leave the Kindergarten area a few minutes before they went in, hoping for less waterworks and it worked for us. Nate just walked right in without a tear. I even managed not to cry knowing he was so happy. It probably helped that instead of coming home we had a jam packed day (grocery store, Back to School Brunch with friends, lunch/naps, the gym).

The second day went much better, even though poor Ellie had homework starting the first day. Nate s doing great not crying or whining about going to school, but he did have to pull a stick on the third day (for touching someone in line) AND the fourth day (for not paying attention). Friday was a better day and hopefully everything will go smoothly next week.