Today was a big day in our house. As we were going to bed last night, I really felt like it was the last night that we "owned" our kids. From here on out, they are regular old school kids. We are at the mercy of school schedules and regulations. I just can't believe I have kids that are old enough to be in school full-time already! We open enrolled the boys into the Edgerton School District this year. Sean is attending 4K at the Edgerton Children's Center. He goes to the preschool class in the morning, then he's in 4K in the afternoon. It's a 4 day/week program. Ian is attending Kindergarten at Edgerton Commmunity Elementary School. Our morning are even more hectic than they already were, and much earlier as well. We have to be out the door by 6:55am. First we drop Emmett off at the farm, then we drive into town and drop Ian off at the elementary school. Luckily the teachers stand at the door and usher the Kindergartners into the small gym where they get breakfast and line up for class. Then we head over to ECC where I drop off Sean. Then back track 45 minutes to work for me.
I took the day off work today so I could be with them on their first days. First we dropped Emmett and Sean off at the farm (Sean was skipping morning preschool today) and took a few pictures of Ian. He was FREEZING which is ironic, because it's been so hot here the last couple weeks. I actually had to search high and low to find a short sleeve shirt that I liked for his first day since all of the stores are already selling fall/winter.
Then we headed off to school. While we were driving, I asked him if he was nervous about anything and he said he was nervous about taking the bus home. I assured him that I'd be there waiting for him today, and Lolo or Lola would be there every day. That seemed to calm his nerves. Parents of kindergartners can come in and drop the kids off in their classrooms on the first day, so we found a parking spot and went in. After last year's screaming fit at his first day of 4K, I was at least expecting a few tears. Not so much! Ian unpacked his backpack, found his name on the table, gave me a hug and a kiss and sat down and started coloring. I was so proud of him!
Then I headed back to the farm to have breakfast with Sean and Emmett. We got Sean into his school clothes and I took him outside for pictures. He was a total ham as usual.
Last year before Ian's first day of 4K, I took him out to lunch at Perkins so I had to continue the tradition with Sean and we went to Ray's Restaurant in Edgerton. He chose chicken strips with fries and white milk. I love having one-on-one time with each of the kids because they are just little characters and it really shines through. They talk to much and don't have to worry about getting your attention. After lunch we headed to school. I was pretty certain that Sean would cry. He woke up this morning and was already getting worked up about school. Once we got in, we hung up his bag and Ms. Cathe invited him into the classroom. He started to get upset so I went in with him. More kids were arriving so they all sat down on the carpet and Ms. Kim, his teacher, got the kids singing songs. I was able to leave after a few songs without any issues!
I went home and worked for a couple hours, then headed back to pick Sean up and raced back to the farm to catch Ian coming off the bus. The bus pulled up and the bus drive opened the doors. As soon as Hobbes (Raymond's black lab) saw this, he ran and jumped on the bus! I followed after him and Hobbes just made himself at home in the back of the bus. All the kids were petting him and loved it! I initially panicked because I didn't see Ian, then I saw him sound asleep in the second seat of the bus! I woke him up, called Hobbes, and we made the long trek down the driveway.
This is when we discovered Ian's only "bad" thing about his day. Apparently Charles forgot to pack a spoon for his applesauce. He asked his teacher for one, but she didn't make it back in time before lunch ended so he put the opened applesauce container back in his lunch bag, which of course spilled everywhere and leaked into his backpack. He was not happy with Charles over this! If this is the worst that could happen though, I'm considering the day a success! Below are a few more pictures I got of the boys after school.
