First Day of School

Yesterday was the First Day of School.  It wasn't the sunny warm day we hoped for.  Boy was I glad we picked up a new raincoat when we were finishing our school shopping a few weeks ago, she needed that AND the sweater Gigi and Poppa thought to add to the collection of school uniforms they gifted us with.  The morning went great, no meltdowns [well there was mine - but that doesn't count] and everyone was ready on time.  We took pictures with Kristen and Daddy and they were off to Miss Carol's so Daddy could make it back to watch the first day of school without distraction or interruption.

Gigi and Poppa arrived and there were more photo ops.

Then we loaded up and headed to Jeanne's house.  Brooke gets on and off the bus there since Kindergarten in Norwich is only half day.  I was worried about her actually having to get on the bus and head off without us.  I mean talking about it and actually doing it are two completely different things.  With the rain, we were forced to wait inside and Brooke was losing interest.  She wanted to stay and play with the Preschoolers and Matilda, the kitten.  

We got her to wait at the door and watch for the bus.  She saw it coming down the road and yelled "The bus is here", opened the front door and was off down the sidewalk with her new friend, Zachary, in tow.

She climbed up the steps to the bus, told the driver her name and headed for the back.  The driver, Sharon, quickly reminded her she was in Kindergarten and needed to sit in the first 2 rows. 

She never looked back and the bus drove away.

What if ...

In less than 2 hours, Brooke is getting on the bus and heading to Kindergarten.  UGH! There has been a lot of excitement in our house for this big day - it was supposed to be last Wednesday but thanks to Hurricane Irene, here we are.  The wind howling and maybe some thunder woke me about 3 am ... as I laid there trying to fall back to sleep ... I remembered I hadn't pinned Brooke's bus pass to her backpack.  Then I thought --- does she know what to do when she gets on the bus - will she quickly pick a seat and slide in? What if no one sits with her? What IF someone sits with her? What if there are no empty seats and she has to sit with someone she doesn't know yet - will she sit? When she gets to school - how will she know who Mrs. Bosse (her teacher) is? where her rooom is? how will she know where to put her coat? I did eventually dose back off .... but man it has been a long night.  Now the grown-ups in the house are showered and dressed and the girls are about to get up and start their days .... here we go !!!

Brooke is so excited to for school and to celebrate her birthday with her new friends at Ms. Jeanne's house this afternoon. She is ready and will be fine.  Her parents on the other hand, well that remains to be seen. 

I'm still trying to figure out where the last 5 years went ?????