First Day of School 2011

I can't believe we're almost finished with the first week of school now as I type this.  Although it has been a little rough getting used to the early bedtime and early to rise routine, the boys are doing very well considering.  It's hard for me to wake up at 6:30 am too!  So far, both boys seem to be liking their teachers for kindergarten and 2nd grade.

 Getting ready to leave on the first day of school with their new dinosaur lunch boxes!

 Ethan at his new desk (first time with storage underneath!) in Mrs. Pepper's class

 Saying goodbye to each other before Caleb goes down to his class (Caleb wasn't too happy about saying goodbye to his big bro)

Caleb went right in to Mrs. Meeks' class and found his seat and started working on his coloring.  No tears at all (from him), I am so proud!

And I agreed to let them ride the bus home on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays (they only ride with kids up through 3rd grade, but I was still a little nervous).  But they did great so far!  The bus gets home earlier than I can get them home when I left work to go pick them up in carpool line.  They are still a car rider on Tuesdays and Thursdays when Mama Brisken enjoys getting to pick them up.

 Here comes the bus, as I nervously wait for them on the first day!

 Waiting for the bus driver to motion them across.

 They are home safe and sound, and said they liked riding the bus.  :(  It's hard letting go!  

Hard homework hasn't started for either of them, so that will be a whole new challenge to have TWO working on homework at the same time.  Hopefully Ethan can work a little more independently this year, so I will be free to help Caleb with his, and attend to Alaina as needed.  It actually seems like things are working a little better in the mornings with both kids having to be up and ready early for school.  They seem to feed off of each others excitement . . . at least during this first week!  Now, if only I could get them to not be TOO EXCITED and wake Alaina up at 6:30 too.  One of the downfalls of baby's bedroom being right outside the kitchen.  But we are managing!  I like for her to sleep until 8 or 8:30 like she normally does!  And boy has Alaina been missing her brothers this week during the daytime while they are at school.  Her smile when she saw them after they got home the first day says it all!

To end the first day of school, we celebrated a little by blowing up Caleb's new slide that we got for him for his birthday party that he'll be having with his friends in a couple weeks.  It was a hit!  Great end to the day!