First Day of 2nd Grade!

Off to 2nd grade we go!!! How can this be? Didn't we just start Kindergarten? How has it already been 2 full school years? I demand answers!!!  :)

Emma was so excited to go back to school she could barely fall asleep! When Phil's alarm went off she thought it was hers and came running in. We had to send her back to bed for a few more hours. lol! But when the time came, she put on her new outfit, I did her hair, she had breakfast, and happily zoomed out the door! Owen and I walked her down to the bus stop and waited with the other kids and parents for the bus. It was late of course! All the kids so excited to go and standing there pacing. :) It of course showed up and they all hopped on. Owen and I waved goodbye as she pulled away, her little face in the window waving back with a HUGE smile! I knew she'd have a fantastic day and come home to tell me all about it. When the time came, Owen and I walked back down to wait for the bus again. When the bus pulled up she bounced off and started telling us all about her first day, and as I knew she would, she had a great first day in Miss Parker's class! Here's to enjoying the rest of the school year Miss Emma! We love you and miss you while you are gone!

Last day of summer!

This is a little poem Emma brought home:

Twas the night before school started,
when all through the town,
The parents were cheering.
It was a riotous sound!
By eight, kids were washed
And tucked into bed...
When memories of homework
Filled them with dread.

New Pencils, new folders, new notebooks, too!
New teachers, new friends...
Their anxiety grew!
The parents just giggled when
They learned of this fright
And shouted upstairs-
"Go to bed! It's a school night!"
-Author unknown

I loved it! Says so much about the day before school starts. It marks that last day of summer and leisure and the transition to back to school schedules. For us, it was a midweek day and I tried to entertain the kids with one last hoorah! We played in the warm sun and drew with sidewalk chalk. Emma did a huge rainbow fresco! We baked homemade peanut butter cupcakes with Nutella buttercream frosting. Emma is just loving this cupcake thing! Then when Dad got home we had dinner and headed out for Emma's Back to School night to see her classroom and meet her teacher. Emma just loved that! She got to see her desk and take in her school supplies. She wasn't one of the kids sad to see Summer end. She could barely fall asleep she was so excited to go to school!

For me, its bittersweet. The end of summer brings a boredom that kids have a hard time shaking. Emma was ready to go back and be busy. But its also sad to see them go and have them gone most of the day when you have grown accustomed to seeing their sweet little faces!  As Emma stepped onto the bus, I felt sad to see her go, but I knew she would have a blast and come home to tell me all about it!

For Owen, I thought this would be the year that he wouldn't do as well. He loved having Emma home to play with and pester. :)  BUT for the 2nd year now, he surprised me and didn't miss a beat. He asked once or twice where Emma was, but played with his toys, watched his favorite shows, and followed me around as usual. He wasn't phased at all! :)  Owen and I have from now to December to have one on one time and we are going to make the most of it!

So back to school we go. The anticipation of the first day. New outfits out, new backpacks and lunch boxes on display. Emma is ready to go!