Kindergarten!

As I sit down to write this, I still cannot really believe that I have a Kindergartener, an Elementary Schooler, a 5 year old! I recently read somewhere that "though a mother's days pass slowly, the years fly by in a blink," and this week that statement was certainly proven true to me. Even with all of the prepping and planning and talking that went into preparing for this day, I had no idea that flood of emotions that I was truly in for. It was exciting, yet nerve racking, sad and yet so, so happy. But enough about me, let's hear all about Owen's first days of school!

We had a chance to visit his classroom and meet his teachers on the Friday before school started. We headed over to the open house at Abingdon Elementary School and Owen was excited to show us around the inside of the school. He knew his way around pretty well after the four weeks he spent there at the Pre-K summer camp and we were so very thankful for that experience and how comfortable he felt in such a big building. The week before this Open House we had received his classroom assignment so we knew that we were in search of Ms Childress in room 163. Back in the Spring I had gone to a parent open house at Abingdon where I was able to meet the 4 Kindergarten teachers and see each of the classrooms and tour the school. During that open house I remember seeing one classroom that I came home and told Robert "if I was teaching, that is the way I would keep my classroom." Things were orderly and clean yet the room was warm and inviting. I was delighted this past Friday when we walked into room 163 to find that Ms Childress was the teacher in that room I had mentioned and that Owen would get to spend his first elementary school year in such a great environment. We met his teachers, Ms Childress and Ms Laux who are both very sweet and friendly, and then we explored the classroom for a bit-

Owen showing off his cubby space

 Then we got a chance to walk around the school and I was happy for Robert to get a chance to see many of the areas that I saw on my tour back in the spring. We stopped by the library and computer lab as well as the gym and playground.

 Computer lab full of Macs

So we bid farewell to summer over Labor Day weekend and Owen started his first day of school on Tuesday September 4, 2012. He was excited to go that morning and especially to use his Transformers Bumblebee backpack and lunch box. In the days before, we talked a lot about what he was most excited for and what he was most nervous about. He said he was most excited to get to meet new friends, and most scared about staying there all day and eating lunch there. Robert tried to reassure him that by the end of the year lunch would likely be his favorite time of day and he was more at ease when we told him he could help us pack up his lunch.

The school day starts at 7:55am so out the door we went at 7:40 so that we'd have enough time for a few pictures and we wouldn't have to rush on our walk over.  

(this one says "Abingdon Elementary School 2012-2013)

 

Big backpack, little boy

Walking to school. Check out daddy with all of the first day of school supplies!

The sign out front

The sign outside of his classroom

And a quick picture with Ms Childress before leaving

Owen w/his classmate in the music hall where they gathered

Robert waited outside with Peyton since the school was a mad house on the first day. Owen was confident going and sitting against the wall with his friends after a hug and kiss from me. He waved and I walked away, and then I spent the whole rest of the day thinking of him and wondering what he was doing and how he was doing. Many of the parents had gathered outside of the school where the PTA was hosting coffee so we stopped and chatted with a few neighborhood parents. Upon hearing that Owen was in Ms Childress' class, we had several parents tell us that she was their number one choice of teacher. We were so thankful to hear such positive things about her and couldn't be more happy for Owen to be starting school at Abingdon. It's weird to think that when we moved here 4 1/2 years ago we talked about how cool it would be if Owen got to go to this school. The time really flew, and now, here we are! So fun!

School lets out at 2:41, so we headed over to pick Owen up and couldn't wait to hear all about his day! The classes started coming out, and as Ms Laux gathered the kids outside, Owen spotted us-

He said goodbye to his teacher and ran over with a huge smile! He said he had a great day, and here he is saying "and guess what daddy, my favorite part was LUNCH!"

He chatted the whole way home, eager to fill us in on his busy day

When we got home, he gave sister some love- I don't know who missed who more!

YAY for Kindergarten and for Owen having such a great first day of school! This year is going to be an adventure for sure and we know its going to be so much fun!