Third Grader, First Grader, Preschooler, Bug.

School started today. I was so happy to send my kids off on the bus, and they were happy to go. I will miss them a little bit, and I do hate the strict schedule of school days, but I'm ready (and so were they). To celebrate them going (and ease Beau's pain of not going), Beau and I and Marianne had a fun date to Abq Uptown where there's a small splash pad and Nestle Toll House. We had Joy and her kids tag along and had a terrific and carefree time.
But to back up a little bit...
Yesterday we had a very special back to school dinner. I had read on NieNie's blog how she has a theme every year for her kids and presents it at a special dinner...and I totally copied her, right down to the crowns and stars. I even used her theme from last year because I felt like it was so fitting for my family. The kids knew that it would be a special dinner, and they were super excited for it.
Here they are, lined up and waiting to see their new crowns. Beau is holding our theme, "By Small and Simple Things"

I made a crown for each of my kids. They might just be a jumble of paper and stickers, but glitter makes everything cooler, fyi. I also made stars for each of the kids. NieNie had special stained-glass stars made by a friend, but we stuck with wood because that's what I had. I ran out of time to paint them so I'll have the kids help me later. Then we'll write the theme on them and hang them...somewhere.


 
 
After dinner Rus gave each child a father's blessing. Even Marianne. It is always a special experience to have him give them blessings. They were each reassured of their talents and abilities, and how they can use those to overcome challenges. They were also reminded of Heavenly Father's love for them.
We talked about how if they do all the little things everyday that they are asked to do, by the end of the school year they will be doing great big amazing things.
This morning could not come early enough for the kids. They were so excited to find new shirts laid out for school. Of course Jacob got a Transformers shirt... Bekah's is a really cute black and white striped one, but she didn't wear it because...well, I vaguely remember her coming to me while I was asleep and telling me that the inside of the shirt felt funny...I think I told her I'd wash it. She wore a different shirt.
And here they all are:
JACOB THE FIRST GRADER!

BEKAH THE THIRD GRADER!
One day Bekah will ask me why I let her go to school with her hair like this. And I will tell her that she wanted it this way - actually she preferred it freshly taken out of her braids and sticking out like a triangle helmet on her head. I convinced her to let me curl it. It helped a little. But she was still so beautiful and so excited to get to school.

BEAU THE PRESCHOOLER IF I CAN FIND HIM A PRESCHOOL TO GO TO THAT DOESN'T COST A MILLION BUCKS A MONTH!
Beau the lady killer. Kiss me mama!

Ki

 My gang.

 Loaded up and headed out...have a GREAT first day, guys!

I can't believe that next year Beau will actually get on the bus with them. AACK! I'm not ready for that, good thing I have this year to get me ready. He was wearing his backpack because he wanted to be like the big kids. He even had a lunch inside which consisted of chips, a water bottle, and a granola bar. He and I and the Bug are going to have a fantastic time this year! (If I learn to play transformers more and he learns to enjoy painting and crafts more...and if the Bug stops unrolling the toilet paper and playing in the open toilet. GROSS.)