First Day of School

For the first time I didn't see my kids off to their first day of school. It was a work day for me and I start work before the family even wakes up, so Ken got the job.

Last night the kids each set out what they wanted to wear for the first day. Jaclyn was the fashion consultant for Carmen and Chloe - Steven didn't ask for any sisterly advice. After everyone had gone to sleep (or so I thought) it occurred to me that I wouldn't be home in the morning to take the traditional off to school pictures, so I snuck into the kids' rooms to take pictures of the outfits.

Chloe chose the kitty t-shirt, and Jaclyn coordinated it with the plaid shorts. I hadn't noticed the lipsmackers chapstick when I tucked Chloe in, so I think it was an add-on after I left the room. I'm sure she had pretty, shiny lips for her first day of grade one.

Jaclyn's fashion advice for Carmen was that army green and purple look good together. Carmen headed to third grade with a nice affirmation on her shirt.

I love the socks sticking out of Steven's shorts.

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When I went into Jaclyn's room to photograph her outfit she rolled over and looked at me, so I just quickly closed the door, but I did see that her clothes were folded in a neat pile rather than spread out like the younger kids. As it turned out Ken made an effort to take pictures in the morning, but he had trouble with the flash and only Jaclyn's picture turned out.

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I phoned Ken at noon to ask him how the morning went and which teacher each of the kids got this year, but he knows the faces of the teachers better than the names and he couldn't tell me. I had to wait and get the low down from the kids over our traditional first-day-of-school after school snack: apples and carmel sauce.

Jaclyn got RGLHM's favorite math teacher for homeroom. How cool is it to go to school where your aunt went to school as a child and some of the same teachers are still there? Steven has 5/7 of his best school friends in his 6th grade class and he's actually in a classroom, which I know sounds like an unusual thing to mention. We're currently building a brand new campus for our school, and the portables from the old school (which we are still in) have already been moved to the new school, but the new school isn't ready yet, so the other 6th grade class is out in the open space adjacent to the kitchen. Brutal. Carmen doesn't have any of her best school friends in her own class which turns out to be okay because she got a surprise that one of her preschool friends from long ago has transferred to our school and is Carmen's room - so lucky! Chloe came home from first grade full of enthusiasm and spent an hour doing *homework*.

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Here's my homework: a stack of papers & agendas to look over and 7 forms to sign and return to school tomorrow.

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