School!

Yesterday was the first day of school! My boys have been excited for this day for as long as I can remember, mainly Spencer. Last year Spencer went to school with Jared for one day and ever since then he's asked when he gets to go to school. I've always told him after Miles' birthday and the day came yesterday! We laid out our clothes the night before. Spencer has shirts picked out for the next three weeks. Jared it went more like this:

Me: Do you want to wear pants or shorts.

Jared: Shorts

M: Which one (out of two navy pair)

J: picks one

M: What color of shirt do you want to wear, white or light blue?

J: Light blue

Uniforms are great for decision making but unfortunately not very exciting... but I like it. When I walked in to the school all the kids looked the same and they were on the same level. I couldn't tell if someone bought their clothes at Nordstrom or Target. Love the equality!

It started nice and early, 5:20 when Miles woke up. My alarm was set for 5:30 so I

got up, put him in bed with Chris and went out a little earlier for my run, I'm slow to get ready to run in the mornings so it's good I had an extra ten minutes. I got back around 7:00 and kept going the rest of the day.

I had to run around back to get something out of the car so Chris took the pictures...

Jared was dressed when I walked in and ready to go. Chris was working so I hurried and fed them, dressed Spencer (Miles went in his pjs), brushed teeth and hair, and then I showered got ready in under 10 mins and walked out the door. Chris came with us and we got there right as the bell rang. They have the kindergarten kids play in the gym before school, we can drop him off as early as 7:30 and the bell rings at 7:55. I stayed and watched him wander around and play then I took care of his book fees, gym uniform fees, and lunch money and when I came back they were heading out of the gym. I teared up. He was gone and I didn't say good-bye.

Chris called me and told me to meet them in the hallway. Oh good! (Jared's teacher Mrs. Lowe is on the left with the red belt.)

We went in to his classroom with him and helped him find his chair and unload his supplies. He told his teacher that he had reminded me to get the paper towels and I forgot to grab them. And she answered him exactly how I told him she would. He was excited and ready to go. We said our good-byes and we were off.

Chris called me and told me to meet them in the hallway. Oh good! We went in to his classroom with him and helped him find his chair and unload his supplies. He told his teacher that he had reminded me to get the paper towels and I forgot to grab them. And she answered him exactly how I told him she would. He was excited and ready to go. We said our good-byes and we were off.

I dressed Miles at home and then we left to take Spencer to his school which starts at 9:10. It usually goes til 11:40 but today they had half the class come for the first hour and the last hour to help them transition.

Spencer was a champ! He's observed Jared going to pre-school for two years so he knew what to do. He didn't want to put his jacket and bag away because he picture was not yet up but we convinced him it was okay to pick any cubby today. Chris and I decided Spencer is a big boy. Not huge, but big. He was the tallest kid in there at the moment and he was a younger one. When they were told to go to the carpet to read he went right over and sat down obediently. I walked over and gave him a kiss and he was totally cool with it. He did not like me taking his picture. Every picture you see is me catching him off guard.

Spencer putting his name on the chart with Ms Barrera, his teacher, helping him.

Look at all those girls!!!

After dropping off Spencer I took Chris to work, ran to Staples to get something Jared needed and then went back to pick up Spencer. When I asked him what he did he said we read stories. I asked him if he had fun and he said yes. I asked him about kids in his class and he couldn't remember any names but when I asked him if so and so was there from Jared's class last year he'd reply yes or no.

We quickly ran home to pick up a few things and then went to Miles' 2 year doc appointment. More to come on that on his two year blog post. Came home Miles took a short nap (woke up after 30 mins), Spencer did a worksheet, and then we went to pick up Jared.

When Jared saw me he ran up to me and excitedly said, "Mom I learned some Chinese today!" When I asked him what he learned he said he couldn't remember:) I asked him about his lunch, he opted to have school lunch today to see what it was like. The first thing he said was, "There was broccoli and I ate all of it!" He's been struggling eating his broccoli at home for the last long while. He described the rest of his lunch as orange slices, chicken sticks with bread on the outside and milk. We played on the playground for awhile and he'd occassionaly go ask his teacher a question and come tell. When we walked home Jared and Spencer held hands. So sweet. Jared asked him what he did to which Spencer answered. Then Jared asked him if he had to go to the thinking chair, where you go sit and just do nothing as Jared put it.

Today I went to drop Jared off with Chris again. I think tomorrow I'll let Chris take him alone. It's a lot of work getting everyone ready, fed, and out the door before 7:45. Jared opted for cold lunch so he could use his new lunch bag. After school he right away told me how to say hello and good-bye in Chinese (Tues, Wed, and Fri he has Chinese).

Once we got home Spencer was anxious to go to "his school". Finally we left and when we got there Spencer said, "This is my school, huh mom, not Jared's." He seems so big! When he lined up and walked into his classroom he didn't even say by. I had to peek my head in the classroom to say by and steal a kiss. I also noticed this morning that his class has A LOT of girls. I'm guessing there is around 20 students and there are 4, maybe 5, boys! I hope the boys get along because they sure don't have any options. After school he was stoked and pretty much shouted, "We got to play on the playground!!!" He also informed me he played on the computer and sand table.

Miles did fine today without his brothers. I did a few errands and then came home and we read and he colored. I need to find my groove with this new schedule. About every two hours I'm dropping off or picking up making it hard to get the kids in a groove and myself. My home is in a little more disarray and Miles is going to be needing more attention so I don't think having two kids in school is a time saver for me by any means but I love it because they do! But even more, I love getting us all back together. I love that the boys love each other and play together so well. I dread the day when one of them is "too cool" for their other sibling and doesn't want to "hang out" or play with them. I hope that never happens.