School Days!

So much has happened since my last (Christmas) post.  I always had trouble keeping up with posts, but it has never been this long.  Maybe one day, I will go back and post at least pictures of 2014, but for now, we are moving on to the start of the school year - and what a big start of the year it was!  Colten started kindergarten and Ryan began preschool! 

Ryan had his school open house first to get us all in the mood for school, or at least thinking about it again.  Colten even was excited to put a book-bag back on and Ryan insisted on filling his with all of his school supplies that we needed to drop off!

The following week, Colten had his orientation; we were able to check out the school and his classroom and meet his teacher! 

 

He was so excited and I hoped that would carry over to the start of the year...And it did!  I expected his nerves to take control but they never did!  He could not wait to go and always talked about how he would be right next to me since his school is on the same campus as the high school where I teach.  I think that knowing I was close by really helped but I also believe more than anything that CCW really prepared him for this next step.  Luckily I was able to leave my class for a few minutes and meet Colten before he headed for his first day.  He was so excited to take photos and couldn't wait for the teachers to open the doors.  When it was his turn, Grandma, Ryan, and I walked him to the doorway where a teacher asked for his room number and teacher's name.  He confidently gave her the information and they ushered him down the hall.  He stopped momentarily, turned back, blew me a kiss and was on his way.  I was so very proud of him.  He walked in so self-assured without an ounce of fear or apprehension.  I cried as he walked down the hall, not because I was sad but rather because he seemed so grown-up.  No longer was he that boy who clung to my legs on his first day of preschool, crying because he didn't want me to go.  Rather now he was ready and confident in himself that he was ready.  I couldn't have asked for more.

 

 

 

When I picked him up after school, he was so excited and had had the best day!  His exact words: "it was awesome!"  When I asked him about his favorite part of the day, he said, "all of it was my favorite."  And he went on to say that he hopes when Ryan is older he will get to go there too because he loves it and he knows Ryan will too. 

We always celebrate the first day of school with a special treat!

For the first few days, my mom took Colten to school but then Daddy was going to start dropping him off in before care before he went to work.  Once again, I was worried:  would he be ok?  he never had to do anything like daycare before - how would he adjust?  But I should have known better.  He handled it like a champ and just told me, "I got to play legos before school today."  What a blessing Colten has been.  I am so very proud of him and boy he is becoming.


Ryan started preschool a week later so I was able to take the day off and take him to school.  He, too, was so excited to go.  Luckily, he already knew the place and most of the teachers well since he always went with Grandma to take and pick up Colten.  When it was time to get dressed and take pictures before school, Ryan could barely contain his exictment.  In fact, in most of the photos, his mouth is wide open because he was screaming "CHEESE!" 

 

 

 

 

 

 
I figured that I wouldn't have any trouble with Ryan crying, but I was more concerned about whether or not he would behave once he was there.  Ryan is not the greatest sharer and sometimes can get really aggressive so I was really worried about how he would interact with the other kids.  In fact, during his open house, he and another boy were arguing over a firetruck and Ryan still talked about it when we were heading to school that morning.  Students get stamps if they listen and behave while at school, and I am fully prepared for many days without stamps for Ryan but I also have to remember that he is starting school a full year before Colten did.  And much to my delight, when I went back to pick him up, Miss Karen was very happy with Ryan!  She said he had a great day - that he looked like he was going to cry once but she gave him a hug and he was on his way.  I was so proud of him!!!  As we were walking out, he said, "I had so much fun at school!"  And he looked like it!  He was exhausted.  But we headed to his favorite restaruant - 'the milkshake place' or Steak and Shake.  Grandma had a police car for him too! 

And we ended the day with a cake celebration!

 

 I just wish I could say that his happiness continued, but when Grandma dropped him off on Friday, Ryan and plenty of other kids were crying and clinging.  The teachers said that that often happens, and I know it will get better but it still makes me sad.  He has a blast when he is there, but he doesn't want to go anymore.  I can't wait for him to make friends and find the comfort there that Colten did.  Regardless, I am so very proud of Ryan too!  He is a little man now and I am excited to watch him blossom and learn!
Happy 2014-2015 School Year!