The first! The first! The First...

Day of School!!!

I love this day.

And not because I'm just really happy that I can finally run errands all by myself

(although, if it happens to be an ancillary benefit, who am I to object?)

but because I love all the newness of the day.

It's like one big fresh start.

Ahhh. :)

In fact, Ben started to laugh at me this morning, as to how I prepared for the first day of school.

Like how last night I made one final Target run,

filled out 3 Back To School packets,

filled 2 book bags,

laid all the backpacks/school supplies bags in a row, 

checked my camera and battery,

woke up waaaay earlier than my typical "summer" morning,

actually blow dried my hair, ;)

ironed clothes,

flat ironed the girls' hair,

made lunches

(which I apparently completely forgot how to do, 

as my house looked as if I simply threw all the supplies over my shoulder after use) 

and then double checked everything.

But, what made me, dare I say, "giddy", 

is the fact that I couldn't have hand picked better teachers for my kids, even if I had tried.

And the kids all have great friends...

that they couldn't wait to see.

Blessed, I tell you.

We feel surely blessed. :)

So after we packed up, we made the final trek to the school.

Obligatory "First Day of School w/ the School Sign" Pic. ;)

This year, we could walk the kids to their classrooms.

Since Gwen took off about one nano second after we passed through the school gates,

and Ty wasn't to be picked up by his teacher for another 15 minutes,

we started with Kennedy. ;)

Kennedy and Kyndal.

Two peas in a pod.

Both waiting for me to put the camera away. ;)

But Kennedy was a good sport and stopped for pictures...

and more pictures...                           and more pictures...

but eventually hit her limit. ;)

As we had a little "I'll give you B Robbins if you tell me all about your day snack" after school today,

Kennedy declared that she had the best teacher...

and the best day.

Yeah, 2nd grade pretty much rocks. ;)

And while Ben waited with Kennedy and Ty,

I quickly ran over to the "Big Kids Side" and documented Gwen's first day.

We are apparently sending Gwen to boarding school. ;)

Here's our girl with a few of her girlfriends.

great friends + great teacher = one happy girl

(and even happier parents ;)

Now, we've been realizing how much Gwen's growing up, but we had a good dose of reminder today.

When talking about her first day, Gwen was ecstatic over her teacher and in regards to her class said,

"You can tell that some of the kids have grown up over the summer".

Oh reeeally?

Or how about when one of the moms at Ty's soccer practice asked me tonight if Gwen babysits.

I had to tell her, "Well, she's only 9..." ;)

But down deep, she's still our baby girl who we fell in love with 9 years ago.

With just a bit more finesse... and hair. ;)

Then came Tito's turn.

Oooh my.

As a newbie Kinder (to Stoneridge), you must take pics with both parents.

Even if they are blurry. ;)

And you must endure your well meaning mother, yelling,

"Ty, turn around.  Let me take one more pic".

Even if you are supposed to be in charge of the back of the line...

or are perhaps a little too cool for school. ;)

Now, during Tito's Panda Express version of the "let's talk" snack,

I learned that Kindergarten must make you ravenous,

as Ty quickly consumed every.single.calorie the 2 item has to offer.

It also teaches you new vocabulary,

like when Ty told me to "Chillax" after I asked him my hundredth question about his First Day.

(but to be fair, we know he didn't learn that at school ;)

Which I must say, he quickly rescinded,

when he saw I was about to say, "Ch-watch your attitude bud". ;)

But what I did learn from Ty's First Day, was that 

"No one really likes the first day.  You just do stuff.  But later on you start to like it".

The cornerstone of academic legacy.

We can't wait to see what Day 2 has to offer. ;)

♥♥♥