The girls started school today. Natalie’s been asking to start for the last two weeks so she was giddy with glee that today was the day.
She woke up early, dressed in the outfit she picked out last night, did her own hair, made her own lunch and asked over and over when the bus was coming.
“Mom, can you get me the flavor stuff?” (oregano)
Natalie Bean – Second Grade – 2011
Mom, you’re the funniest person I know!
Is that the bus?
Ready to go to the bus stop.
Waiting for the bus.
Natalie’s the only girl at the stop!
She hesitated for just a second… I said, “You can do this.” And she did. Just like that. Almost so fast that I didn’t get her picture.
She jumped on a bus for the first time, with a group of kids she didn’t know, going to a school she’s never attended.
Ainsley is in afternoon kindergarten. She had to wait alllll morning until after lunch. I begged her at 9 a.m. not to ask me over and over for the next five hours when we could go to school.
Ainsley Ruth – Kindergarten – 2011
Striking a pose…
Seriously, so cute.
In front of the school doors with our neighbor, Jeff, who’s in her class. I prayed Ainsley would know someone in her class before the first day of school. She met Jeff the second day we were here and met Sophie yesterday… she lives down the street from us and also in Ainsley’s class. Thank you, Lord!
Natalie’s grade gave her a buddy to show her around the first week of school. Ainsley told me today she has two buddies, Jeff and Sophie. That’s more friends than she had last year at preschool… I’m not kidding.
Ryan wanted in on the action.
Ainsley was even quicker than Natalie. You can barely see her as she rushed in the door as soon as her teacher opened it. She was sooo ready for kindergarten.
And coming home… together… on the big bus. Natalie off in a jiffy and Ains tagging behind.
So happy…
Looking at the gift Ainsley’s teacher gave her for the first day.
The debrief:
Natalie’s highlight: Getting to go to school
lowlight: Riding the bus to school…. she told me this afternoon that she was afraid it was the wrong bus (why in the world would we stick her on the wrong bus!!) and it was taking her to the wrong school. She wasn’t comfortable until the school pulled into the right parking lot.
She asked while she was getting ready this morning, “What if no one likes me?” I asked her if she could think of one person who didn’t like her. She couldn’t. I also reminded her about her assigned buddy and that she’d have an instant friend. That we might meet someone in life that doesn’t like us, but that’s okay. We don’t have to be everyone’s best friend. I assured her she would meet tons of people who would like her. She seemed satisfied.
Ainsley’s highlight: Buying chocolate milk at the cafeteria
lowlight: having to stay home in the morning instead of going to all-day school.
Ainsley didn’t act nervous AT ALL. You’d think she was a major extrovert instead of a little girl who cried almost every day at preschool drop off. And every Sunday at church drop off. She can’t wait to go to school tomorrow.
Ryan and I didn’t have that much time without Ains. Her normal school hours will start at 12:45, but today they made it a shortened Kindergarten day and it didn’t start until 1:55 pm. Ryan napped for about 45 minutes and then we played for a half hour before going to the bus stop to meet the girls. Although he loved his alone time with mom, he was excited when the girls got home.
(c) 2016 Leighann Marquiss
Comments (5)
Wait. Natalie’s middle name is Bean?
I can’t believe how long Ain’s hair has gotten. My own 4 year old starts half day Kindergarten too… snifff sniff
so cute!!! Love all the pictures.
love that kindergarten is half day there, too! most are full day now…
ryan is SO cute! and BIG!!!
So proud of them. I am going to need some moral support when I send Savannah off next week. Lets let the girls ichat so they can tell Savannah all about it.
Miss you