It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Remember that commercial for back to school that featured the Christmas song "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" and the Dad was skipping his cart down the aisle?  Well that's how I feel this year and pretty much every year.  I never cried on their first day's of school.  I did get teary eyed when Ethan scrambled out of the car in Kindergarten and ran to the door as fast as he could.  I took it that he was well adjusted and loved school but I guess it could have been interpreted another way :).  With the second kid and I'm sure the third and fourth going to school is old news.  We know all about the expectations there are for Kindergartners and such.  So let me share with you how it was this year.

First a disclaimer:  I love my children, I enjoy spending time with them, hanging out, enjoying each others company, snuggling and they really do bring joy to my life.  I miss them when they aren't here and I think about them a lot when they are in school.  I'm only jumping for joy during nap time when the house is super quiet and they can't see me revel in the sheer excitement of time by myself.

Do you remember thinking about what teacher you wanted for the next year?  There was always that one that you and usually everyone else wanted.  Well Ethan got his want this year.  He adores her.  I adore that he adores.  He was a little down on school last year but this year he couldn't be more ready to get out the door.  He even said he loved it!  Ethan is one of those kids that always gets really good grades but will get bored if he isn't being engaged or if he is having to do remedial work.  Basically he's a boy version of my elementary self, except he is way cooler than I ever was.  Ellie is so excited about doing tons and tons of math that her nerdiness is oozing out of every pore.  She is the elementary version of Dale and my Mom (the love of turtle necks is really overwhelming) rolled into one.  This year she was actually up and dressed before Ethan got up.  Really that is a miracle in and of itself.  So here is hoping she can keep that up and we don't have any rushes out the door this year.  The bus comes on our street this year, so the little kids and I can watch them from the window if we want.  Or we can walk them to their stop and go to the park.

And now it is so, so, so quiet in this house compared to summertime and cleaner too.  After Labor Day we will have all of our activities condensed and I won't feel like I have to run around as much.  Although we will have something pretty much every weekend after this one until forever.

Happy First Full Week of School my lovely kiddos!  Mom and Dad are so proud of you!

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