Claire's 1st Day of School

Claire started her 2nd (and we're assuming final) year of preschool the Wednesday after Labor Day.  She could not have been more excited to get back into the swing of things.  She absolutely loves her teacher with all of her heart and making preschool even more amazing this year is the fact that her cousin Tyler is in her class.  She was so eager to get going that morning...we couldn't get in the car and get there fast enough.  However, I didn't really want to get there super early so I took her out front for the traditional back-to-school photos.  But rather than giving me full cooperation like her older brother, Claire decided to channel her inner model (or something like that) as I snapped away.

Oh well.  I may not have gotten the greatest pictures of her...but at least she was happy and every time I look at these, I get a good laugh.

Hudson's 1st Day of School

On August 22nd, Hudson started 2nd grade!  On the first days of Kindergarten and 1st grade, I followed the bus down the hill (can't not take the bus now, can we?) and then escorted him to class, making sure that he was settled in before leaving him in the teacher's hands.  He never had any issue with my leaving him there or going to school at all - just wanted a bit of a security blanket at the start of the day.

This year was different.  He expressed a little bit of nervousness about starting school again so we went down to the school a week before class was back in session to make sure he knew where his classroom was (and we happened to bump into his teacher while we were there).   That was all he needed to really be prepared.  When the big day came, he wanted me to walk him to the bus stop as always but that was it.  He wanted to go to school on his own, find his room on his own, and get settled in on his own.  My little boy isn't so little anymore and is growing up faster than I realize at times.  I was a little surprised but not saddened or worried by any means...perhaps actually relieved.  Relieved that he's not one of those kids that goes into class crying on the first day of school (or every day...we've known a couple of those), relieved that he's building up his self esteem and confidence, and relieved that  I wouldn't have to find a parking space on the craziest take-your-kid-to-school-day of the year.

Anyway...

Here's our 2nd grader, backpack fully loaded with all the school supplies I could shove in there without making him tip over backwards.  Doesn't that center picture make him look SO grown up?  He looks too big and old to be a 7 year old!

Well, that boy of mine came home completely thrilled with how his first day of 2nd grade went.  While all 4 of his closest friends were put in the class across the hall, he is glad to play with all of them during their three recesses each day and easily made new friends in his class during the first few days.  In addition to the social aspect of school, he loves his teacher, he loves having school lunch once a week, he loves learning...he just loves school!  I think it's going to be a good year - so long as his mom can survive the homework!

Oops!! One More Summer Collage: Cousins

I realized midday yesterday that I failed to put one more collage in my morning post.  Long after having done my post about my sister and her family coming in town, I discovered that I had  hadn't uploaded several pictures from my second camera...including a good number of photos of her kids and mine together at Temple Square in downtown SLC (I also failed to remember our trip to downtown when writing that original post!).  So, better late than never, here's the collage of our afternoon at Temple Square from way back in June:

During this day trip, we walked around Temple Square and then took the opportunity to go and take a tour of the Conference Center across the street. The end of the tour brought us to the incredible rooftop where there are gardens, trees, fountains, a waterfall, and a fabulous view of the temple. I'd been on the roof once years ago but hadn't seen the whole thing. I think we're all glad that we had the chance to do so...best part of the day as far as I'm concerned!