It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Did you hear the cheers of parents all over the country yesterday morning? Particularly two in New Jersey?


These two were ready. First and fourth grade, respectively. And as Erin noted, the above shot is the first time these two have not bickered in two weeks.

(More on life for the last two weeks in another post).


I realize I'm biased. But this?

Stick a fork in me. I'm done. That's it. Dead of the cuteness. (Also, J.C. Penney? I think you have a modeling contender if you care to recreate the catalog from 1982).

I am so proud of my girl who knows nothing about mini skirts or short shorts. She picked this out the night before, a gift from Grandma Jerry. You guys, it has smocking. Again. I'm done. (Sidenote: It's a little on the long side and when Lucy saw it on Ellie she pronounced it "Too big.").

Leo took the bus as he always does, but I was able to bring Ellie to school and meet her teacher (Leo's teacher actually tutored him over the summer so we're old friends by now).

And how's this for small world news (as well as Damn, I'm Old): Ellie's teacher is the older sister of one of Leo's former classmates (who also happens to have Down syndrome!). I thought that was pretty cool.

Ellie was excited to see a girl from camp in her class (who happened to be new to the school). I was so impressed by how friendly Ellie was to her. She may not have realized what she was doing, but the little girl seemed cheered by Ellie's presence and interest in her.

Ellie wasn't scared or nervous in the least (at least not that I could tell) but she still wanted me to stay with her until the very last minute, before the classes went inside. 

I hope it's a very long time before I'm waved off at the curb, before school. I'm relishing these years that they are still not ashamed to be seen with me, that they, gasp, even seem to like having me around!

Sunrise, Sunset: Back to School

Aaaaand we're back from the Great Oregon Vacation (otherwise known as Sleep is for the Weak).

And our return means one thing: School.

Leo, first day of third grade

Ye Annual First Day of School Portrait by the Front Tree. Can someone please tell me where these giant children came from?

Walking Ellie to kindergarten (OMG, OMG, Breathe--that's me I'm talking to--she was of course, cool as a cucumber). This photo, blurry as it is, really sums it up for me. It could have been taken from a merry-go-round, which, I'll admit, is sometimes how life feels, spinning and spinning, sometimes (often) a little out of control.

Time, it flies. It just keeps marching on and on and on, ready or not, like it or not.

Ellie, first day of kindergarten

I was a little unprepared for how emotional I felt this morning, when I gave Ellie a hug and a kiss and a squeeze and an "I'm so proud of you, I can't wait to hear about your day!"

After all, I've been dropping her off at "school" for more than four and a half years but this...felt different. This is an entirely new beginning. The door on Ellie's baby and toddler and preschooldom has been slammed shut forever. It's wonderful and inevitable, of course, but it stings a little. The beginning of this new life for Ellie is thrilling but yes, it does leave me humming "Sunrise, Sunset." Because really, where does the time go? I know that I will be turning around in a few years as I drop Harry and Lucy off at kindergarten, asking myself the same damn thing.

This morning I lingered for a few minutes in the school yard after Ellie and I said our goodbyes, careful that she not see me. I wasn't sure what to do. Should I stay and watch her go inside with her class? A lot of the other parents seemed to be staying. Ellie fidgeted with the straps of her supply-laden backpack and peered in the window of one of the classrooms and finally, when I realized I had done everything I needed to do, that this was Ellie's experience to have, I turned around and started toward my bus.

Deep breaths.

***

I leave you with this. A teaser of our amazing, exhilarating, exhausting and altogether wonderful trip to Oregon.

More soon.

And here's hoping your back to school season, whatever that might entail, is off to a good start.

Back in Black...and Pink Glittery Mules

We interrupt this summer vacation to bring you Back to School.
I anticipated tears and a struggle, returning to the old morning rush/nag routine. Most of all I was afraid of the actual getting on the bus, as in, Leo would not want to.

Instead I got a little boy who insisted on wearing his new Batman shirt (it's from an Underoos set and he slept in that shirt last night...ssshhh don't tell), was in love with his new shoes and who jumped right on the bus without looking back. I didn't even get a hug! But you know what? I'll take it.

And Ellie, in her new glittery pink mules (courtesy of an exceedingly successful weekend thrift store trek) began her first day back at Pre-K in style.

More soon. Lots more.

Meet the Kindergartener

Here is he is on the first day of school (yesterday), in all his waiting-for-the-bus-glory.

He was all smiles, until the bus came. He just doesn't like to get on the bus when he leaves from Mommy or Mama. Add Ellie to the mix and forget it.

But he was happy as can be when I picked him up from daycare last night (as was Ellie). Leo's teacher wrote in his communication book that he had a "great first day." He reportedly enjoyed taking a "tour of the school and meeting all the other teachers and therapists." Of course I'm not surprised to hear this as no one ever accused Leo of not being friendly.

Ellie is still having a hard time saying goodbye in the morning at the new daycare. Lots and lots of tears and "uppy Mommy," even when she's already in my arms, her little legs wrapped tightly around my waist. And for the first time ever, she doesn't have 'her Leo' in the mornings to keep her company at daycare. It didn't even occur to me that this might make a difference for her. But of course it makes perfect sense. They seem to grow more attached to each other by the day.


This is a big, long, hard, exciting week.

We'll get through it.

The Obligatory First Day of School Photos

Here's the annual First Day of School Photo in Front of the Tree Out Front.

It wasn't Ellie's first day of school, but she did start in the toddler room last week, so I'm glad I got a picture in of her around the time that she "moved up." Here she is with the cute little box that her new shoes came in (doesn't she look like she's going somewhere important?) That white stuff on her cheek is sunscreen. She likes to carry bags/purses around and say "bye-bye." Speaking of her new shoes, I am love with See Kai Run shoes and I love them even more now because they have a new line called Smaller, for babies 12-18 months. They are very soft soled but still shoe-like and ideal for new walkers. Leo's fatty feet never fit this brand (they even make cute boy shoes). Ellie seems to be liking her first "real" shoes (though I still love her new Mary Jane Robeez which I found at a steal at an outlet mall in Oregon).

And here they are, the two hooligans in a rare, still moment. They look a little guilty. Sorry for the head chop-off, Leo. You guys are just to fast for me.