In the last week or so, I gave up any efforts of trying to be a "fun mom" who plans engaging and educational activities for her children. Instead, I became a survivalist, counting down the days and hours until preschool and kindergarten time would arrive. Some of you are probably rolling your eyes at me and thinking I am a horrible person to wish for Back to School to roll around. The plain honest truth is, I am pretty much the last mother left in the blogosphere whose kids have not gone back to school yet. It's hard to be the only one!
The church where Natalie attended preschool also offers a great 1/2 day kindergarten program, which is what we signed her up for this year. Michaela Byrd will be in preschool there for the first time, two days a week. The girls were a little apprehensive yesterday morning (kindergarten is a big deal and so is going to preschool for the first time!), but excitement seems to have won out, if you can't tell from the pictures....The girls had a fabulous day at school and came home with all sorts of fun tales.
My friend Christy and I dropped our kids off and then went for coffee at Panera so we could do some planning for an upcoming MOPS event. The car seemed eerily quiet until we realized that there were no kids in the backseat fighting or asking for crackers. We paused our conversation long enough to squeal with glee.
In a few days, I will tire of the drop offs and the pick ups and the fights over school clothes and getting in the car on time. But for now, I am savoring a few quiet moments to myself, a chance to catch up with my friend, and the hopeful possibility of getting some housework done!
Congratulations! I LOVE having the kids in school too. I don't know how the homeschool moms do it. My youngest started preschool last week and even though it's only an hour and a half twice a week, I'm getting so much accomplished! Yesterday in that hour and a half I was able to go to the bank, cancel a gym membership that I never used, do some Christmas shopping for the kids, get gas in our van, and take a shower in peace. Yay for back to school!
ReplyDeleteHow exciting! The first days are gloriously quiet aren't they?!!! The girls look adorable. I love seeing the little ones with backpacks bigger than they are! Enjoy your first week of freedom.
ReplyDeleteAwww tha girls look so cute! I can't believe how big they're getting too :-) Here's to a relatively stress week for you you & hopes that the house magically stays clean! :-)
ReplyDeleteyour girls are so adorable. i love their first day outfits. oh, and the pose your daughter is doing in the last pic is too cute!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE back to school! I thoroughly enjoy my career as a nurse educator. I allows me summers off to be with my daughter, but when August rolls around, I'm ready to go back to the land of intellectual conversation! E loves MDO too, so I don't feel bad at all sending her back two days a week.
ReplyDeleteLove your girls' outfits for their first day. So cute!
Beth
Congrats on the girls going to school and you getting a little mommy break.
ReplyDeleteI adore the dresses the girls are wearing, the look so sweet. I wore dresses for my first two years in school when I was a child. My mother refused to put me in pants. Know it takes a pretty big event to get me in a dress. lol. Hope you enjoy your mommy time.
Seriously how cute are your girls! I love their outfits and the bows...oh the bows are killing me! The one with crayons on it is adorable! I went to Panera by myself the other day and had to laugh at all the moms there getting coffee. They had obviously dropped their kiddos off and preschool and were killing time until pickup:)
ReplyDeleteTHanks for sharing your day!Your girls are adorable & the packed lunch...o you are good! I to did my first day back yesterday (PK) with my son ~ can't believe how time fly's by! Have a great day & hope you get some housework done!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you- I LOVE preschool. We had a rather sluggish August so I was in on the countdown. Glad your girls did so well. I have no clue what we will do next year for kindergarten. They have a half day program at Lacey's very sweet preschool as well. She also has a summer birthday which factors in. I'm trying not to stress about it too much now but we have to decide by January. Crazy!
ReplyDeleteThe girls look super cute by the way. :)
Your girls are soo cute Amanda! My little one started kindergarten on the 1st, and unfortunately I look after a couple other little ones a few days a week so the only day I get "alone" time is Friday morning. I can't wait until my daughter is in 1st grade and school all day. I am SOOOO looking forward to getting a job and interacting with adults. = ) Enjoy your time. And don't waste it all doing housework!
ReplyDelete~ Catie
Hoo-ray!!! I know just how you feel. Hope you enjoy your time to get things done. Your daughters are darling, by the way. I don't think they are suffering from the last week of not having a mom plan all sorts of fun, educational activities :).
ReplyDeleteHope springs eternal! :)
ReplyDeleteIt does seem that you had to wait a long time for back-to-school--but how wonderful that you can have both Natalie and Michaela Byrd in the same place! I'd forgotten that Natalie was doing a 1/2 day kindergarten this year until I saw that on Facebook--it just doesn't seem like she could be old enough for Kindergarten! Of course, it doesn't seem like Lee could be old enough for high school, either, but there you go.
I LOVE Natalie's dress-perfect for the first day of school! Both girls look beautiful (but then they always do!).
SO cute! Today was True's first day of preschool, so it was nice to be down to just Wrenn and Elias for a few hours :) I hope they had a fab day!
ReplyDeleteYay! Enjoy the quiet! I still can't believe you dress them up so pretty for school...aren't you afraid of paints and markers and stuff?
ReplyDeleteYour two girls are the cutest and I'm not just saying that to be nice. They are adorable ! I'm glad that you got a little bit of free time with your friend and that your girls had a good first day.
ReplyDeleteThey are precious!
ReplyDeleteThe girls look precious in their back to school outfits! Enjoy that time alone! I've been working so much that I haven't had time to enjoy it yet.
ReplyDeleteAmanda- enjoy your quiet time, and don't feel bad, even one little bit! Your cutie patootie girls are having a great time and learning lots!
ReplyDeleteI was seriously stoked when school started! The last 2 weeks before school started I had stopped being entertaining! The kids eyes and brains were fried from computer games, video games and tv. I have no shame. It kept me sane!!
ReplyDeletePraise the Lord for back to school. We have been back for a few weeks and I think we are all happier, better people for the diversion from life at home. Enjoy your time!
ReplyDeleteThen you can enjoy your girls!
Cute back to school photos!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE panera!! I hope you have a good school year!
Came here via Craftermind...The kitty vest is KILLING me! I wish my goddaughter was younger so I could make one for her...There's no way I can convince 7th grader to wear one...
ReplyDeleteThe picture of the two of them with the backpacks is killing me. They are so cute. Enjoy some me time, friends. You deserve it.
ReplyDeletethey.are.adorable!! Great shots, Amanda! Enjoy some quiet time :)
ReplyDeleteAwwww such little cuties!!!! Love the kitty vest....so sweet!
ReplyDeleteI like that you went to Panera for coffee instead of Starbucks. There are so many great places that have yummy coffee but I always fall to good ole Starbucks! I really like Corner Bakery and Cafe Brazil as well!!!! I need to remember to hit them up next time I want a cup of jo!
Anyhoo hope you've been doing well. I've been reading along but my browser wouldn't let me comment. I thought it was something with blogger but after a month of not being able to comment I told my hubby about it and he fixed it!!! He's sooo smart! I've missed being about to comment on all my favorite blogs!!!!