Our 1st Day!

Riding the school bus again this year!

My 1st year @ Ada Vista

Kai & Senora Andino

Dear Kai,

Today I woke you up bright and early. Normally you don't like mornings and you certainly don't like being woken up early. (Just like your Mama) But today was different. I quietly open your door at 7:15, letting you sleep til the very last minute that I had to wake you up. I walk over to your bed to find you in the same exact position I put you to bed in last night. I gently rub your head and whisper "Guess what Kai...it's your first day of Kindergarten" You JUMP right up with a smile on your face and said "Yeah, Mom, I already knew that!" You race out of your bed to your closet where you can barely open your eyes with the bright lights to get dressed, but somehow manage to throw your clothes on faster than I've ever seen you get dressed. Smile on face, hair in knots, you could not wait to start your day. We take a few pictures and rush you to school....all of your siblings in tow. Daddy drove separate and met us there. We barely made it on time (ok, we were a few minutes late) but it was ok since everyone was waiting in line to find their lockers. You found yours and trotted into the classroom as if you'd spent the past year there. You quickly find a puzzle, sit down and start playing. There were a few kids crying and reaching for their Mommy as they left. You, on the otherhand said, see ya afterschool Mom! Oh, how I love your independence. It makes it so much easier on Mommy. Today, I will pick you up at school, but the remainder of the year, you will ride the bus. You love the bus, but I do get the occassional "it's boring" comment from you. Kai, I want you to know I will be praying for you everyday while you are at school. I pray that you will be a light for Jesus and share that love passionately. I will miss you so much every Tues/Thur/Fri, but I'm so happy for you to start this new phase of life. We hope you have a great year at Ada Vista Kai, be kind to your teacher, Senora Andino & remember, no talking Spanish behind your Mom's back! I love you!

My sign says it all!

Standing next to my hook (ie:locker)

Dear Aria,

Today I woke you up bright and early too. But, don't worry, I woke your brother up first(-: You were sound asleep as I crack open the door to see your angelic face. You always look so peaceful when you sleep. I walk over to you quietly and whisper your name. You barely crack open an eye and say "Is it time for school?" I tell you yes and you say " I just want to fweep for a few more minutes". You had me laughing. Mommy can certainly relate. I say a few more "fun" things and you're jumping out of bed. We throw your dress on and I bring you downstairs to straighten your hair(-: Only on special days do we curl or straighten. You are SO excited that you can't stop talking. You go on and on about who you might meet, the animals you will see, the horse you may ride, and many more random things. You always do this when you are really excited. As I'm fixing your hair, you look at me and say "Mom, I'm finally going to farm school". Oh Aria, I'll never forget the 1st time I took Kai to Canterbury Creek. You could barely talk and out of your mouth came "Mommy, I go to scoo too" I heard that every day for the next two years. No wonder you were so excited for this day. You have been anticipating it for 2 years! We bring your brother to school first and you thought you could just stay there for awhile, but we told you it was your day for your school too. You raced out of the school, singing and chatting. Your school days/hrs will be Tues/Thurs 8:30-11:30, but today was an orientation/get aquainted day so it started at 10. So we drove home first to feed your baby brother, who was last on the list this am and didn't get breakfast. Even though I continually told you that we were leaving soon for your school, you thought I forgot to take you. 9:45 rolls around, we take a few more pictures and head out for Canterbury Creek. Again, you talk all the way there. We get there and you are disappointed that I get out of the car with you. In a sassy tone you say "Mom, you can't come with me to school. I'm going by myself!" Not today honey....Thursday you'll go by yourself. I get a deep sigh from you. You stroll in and I think felt a little overwhelmed by the amount of people. It's a small schoolhouse and everyone's Mommy's,Daddy's and siblings were there. So what do you do? You pull up your dress and mosey around with your head down. We find your hook for your "Monkey" backpack (which you had to take today too) and meet all the teachers. You immediately were put at ease. I think you recognized some of them from camp this summer and we finally found an open spot where you didn't have to stare at adult's legs. We find a seat and hear all about the school year as you and your new friends make your way out to the playground. We leave, you chat some more and we came home to a girl bouncing off the walls, who cannot wait to go back on Thursday "all by herself". You are so ready for this day Aria. I admire how brave you are at such a young age. You jump right into things with such an open mind.  How can I miss you when I know you're doing what you love? You sure made this transition easier on your Mommy. Instead of concentrating on holding back the tears, you stole my attention by your eagerness and happiness to start school. I will pray for you daily Aria. I know God is molding you into the little girl he wants you to be. Thank you for giving Him an open heart, you won't regret it. And yes, I will miss my only little girl terribly- even if it is only for 6 hrs a week! And your baby brother Becket, he'll be asking for you the minute he's alone in that backseat. I love you Missy Kate!

Our new backpacks...Kai with his cool "sports" one (Mommy convinced him this was a "real sports backpack" to get him to wear a cool one!) and Aria with her Paul Frank "Monkey" backpack

It's official- two of my babies in school!

Whew! It was a busy morning, but SO.MUCH.FUN. To top off the day, we will celebrate this day at a neighbor friends for some "school bus" cake! Happy 1st day Kiddos!