I smell school...

Annual back to school picture on the porch...

Kindergarten

First Grade

Second Grade

I used this in my Noblesville blog post - my grandfather always would say, "I smell school..." I'm not sure why, maybe his school smelled back in the day, I can't imagine really, he only went until 8th grade and then had to stop and work for the family. Amazing in less than two generations how that would be an appalling idea in our society. I digress...

So Jon reluctantly got up today and got ready for school. I don't know who it was harder for me or him. Not because I am sad for him to go, but that it is REALLY hard for me to get up in the morning. I am so NOT the morning person. Ryan always stays home in the morning to see the kids off to school. It's a tradition, he's pretty ridiculous, he takes pictures, sings to the kids on the bus stop, he exudes way more energy than someone should at 8 am. My neighbor just looked at Ryan and then me and laughed because my eyes were still slits, still in my pajamas (yes I am THAT mom in her jammies on the bus stop) with a mug of coffee, wishing I were still toes up in bed. I think she either thinks we're nuts or I'm a lucky gal - I'll go with the second choice. Yes, God has a sense of humor because Ryan and I are opposites when it comes to AM energy.

At 6:40 Ryan says, "aren't you going to get up to get Jon up?" my reply is that Jon doesn't get up until 7 and I pass his room to the kitchen so I'll get up at 7 and wake him up on my way down the hall. It doesn't seem unreasonable to me! I got up and we got Jon up and he and I just looked at each other with empathy, at this point he and I don't need to share words, we just know- "I feel your pain brother" is the look on our faces. I explain that when he can drink coffee, the mornings will get better. We made cinnamon rolls as a treat, hot breakfasts are a novelty during the week around here, unless your talking about a warmed up pop tart. I am a sucky, sucky mom in the morning.

We got dressed, decided to opt out of the vintage Spiderman shirt that we "had to have" because perhaps it isn't cool to wear characters in 2nd grade, we certainly don't want to step off on the wrong fashion foot today. We could hear the kids migrating to the bus stop, there are a ton of them, which is really nice and we all congregated and waited for the bus. The kids were all shiny and new, excited for their first day. I imagine that excitement will wear off as the year go on, but elementary school still has such magic, which is pretty cool in my opinion. We took pictures, yes Ryan sang, Penny was standing third in line, and I swear she would have gotten on the bus and gone to school. She'd probably find a class to go to or hang out with our principal all day. A leg clinger she is not. Both she and Drew are very excited about school starting, as am I! The bus pulled up, Carl our bus driver, who probably has been driving since before I was born, was happy to see the kids (or at least he fakes it well). The kids cheered, seriously, and us mom's well we cheered too! They all waved from the windows and off to a new school year we go!

So I am home, keeping my two littlest chickens busy and trying to see what I am going to do for the day. I am seriously contemplating going back to bed, but I already made it in an effort to foil those plans. But I can still lay on the top...

For the record, I am really excited about this school year. Jon has two teachers - two adorable young woman who have little kids who are job sharing. I think it is going to be a good year, I hope anyway. All I wanted this year is a younger teacher that was organized, it's like Christmas because we got two! Plus Jon has some of his very good friends in the class, and they are the "good example" friends that typically bring the best out in Jon. I pray that is the case! I am also involved in the PTO board and I have a great bunch of ladies that I am working with. I saw some of my mom's family this weekend and they all said, "just like your mom!" which I take as a compliment because my mom was ALWAYS involved on the board at my school and in the PTA (that's what we called it anyway). So its going to be a good, good year!

Here are a few pictures to share, I hope everyone has a great day!

C and J

The gaggle

Trying to be inconspicuous

and we're off!

Thanks! oh and btw, if you are curious - Penny is in fact completely potty trained - yes it took five days total and she is making it through the night too. I take zero credit for this accomplishment, I am merely a spectator. Please do not send your un-potty trained kids my way, Penny however is pulling together her own "how-to" video that will be available in early fall. She is also available for speaking engagements.