First Day of School 2013

The first day of school came too quickly this year. It was just a few days after our return home from St. George and I felt like we were getting robbed of the laziness of summer. I knew it would mean not taking four kids shopping everywhere, and I was looking forward to that, but it also meant just me and Marianne at home. Don't get me wrong, having three kids in school sounded like a terrific thing, but I was just worried as to how we'd fill our time and if I would get anything done at all without other kids around to entertain Marianne. So I greeted the start of school with some trepidation...and then caught a stomach flu and greeted it clutching my stomach in bed with a bowl nearby, just in case...The first day of school sucked. For me. I was especially mad at feeling so crappy and wanted a redo. Luckily the first day of kindergarten was two days later and I was able to feel a little better and really enjoy sending Beau off.
I will tell you that taking Bekah and Jacob to school their first days was wonderful: I didn't shed a tear, in fact I might have cheered. But as my little Beau climbed on that big bus with his two older siblings at his side protecting and guiding him, my heart did a little painful lurch. I missed him the second he left. He had a great time and practically bounded off the bus and into my arms at the end of the day. But it made me realize that I'm officially on "the other side" of parenting with more kids at school than at home and late nights because of soccer and homework, not colic and baby feedings. It's bittersweet.
Anyway, school has been great. And my time with Marianne has been wonderful - she doesn't complain if I go to two or three stores in a row (Beau hated shopping), doesn't complain when I have to fold laundry (she tries on all the clothes before I fold them), and takes a terrific nap nearly every afternoon. Now I have time to paint and work on other projects (or nap), and my day feels much more balanced.
So here are some pictures of the first day of school for each of the kids:
Bekah is in fourth grade this year. FOURTH! I remember fourth grade - we had just moved back to Sierra Vista from Germany and I was so worried about making friends. I wound up with "the mean teacher" who I actually loved, who gave us sugar daddies when we were quiet. I can't believe Bekah is that same age...Her teacher is Mrs. Weeks and she seems to enjoy her so far.

Jacob is in second grade. I had Mrs. Skaza in second grade and loved her because she taught us how to make fried rice. Jacob has Ms. Grady, the same teacher Bekah had for second grade. I already know that I love Ms. Grady - she is incredibly energetic and helps the kids engage in and enjoy learning.

Beau, as you know, is in Kindergarten. His teacher is Ms. Rozzell, the same teacher Jacob had for kinder. I already know that I love Ms. Rozzell, as well. I am so grateful she is teaching Beau! He has loved playing at recess, doing projects, making friends, and buying school lunch. (Bekah and Jacob are terrified of school lunch, but Beau wants to buy all the time. I'm having to limit him to one time per week just to save my budget.)

And here is Buggy pretending to be Beau. She's wearing Beau's back-to-school-outfit. I told you she liked trying on their clothes...

One other fun thing about this year is that I have worked it out to volunteer at the school one day a week. I asked the art teacher if I could volunteer in her classroom and thankfully she said she'd love to have me! I have two ulterior motives here - one, I volunteer on the day Beau has art, and two, I'm hoping to see if I would enjoy being an art teacher myself. (It's on my short list of "what to do when all the kids are in school.") I've gone once so far and I can tell already that it's going to be a rewarding experience.