We survived the first day of school today! So many stories, but first, jump back to yesterday. We decided to visit Discovery World to celebrate the end of summer. It's so fun to go there because even looking at the same exhibits, it's a new experience every time. The volunteer divers were in one of the large fish tanks, scrubbing and cleaning. An official-loking gentleman stopped to chat when he saw the girls watching. He explained that the divers were sending lots of algae into the water and showed us that the Paddlefish was swimming with its mouth open, gathering all that yummy algae.

Have you ever tried to explain what a pay phone is? Or a phone booth? You should try it - it's pretty interesting!

After 2 injuries in the museum (non life threatening, but dramatic nonetheless) I thought we might benefit from going outside. We made it as far as this cool sculpture area before the whining was overwhelming and we went home for lunch and rest time.
HA! Apparently I was the only one who missed the memo that there would be not a single nap enjoyed. sigh. Instead the big girls got freshly painted toes and I baked cookies for back-to-school lunches.

Because of the no nap afternoon, all 3 girls were bathed and in bed by 730. I left to go exercise and returned about 845. I found the lights on, but no Chris. I looked all over until I found him in Maggie's bed. Clearly they had been too chatty and he went up to enforce bedtime. He fell asleep too! (possibly before the girls, but I'll never know for sure!)

This morning everyone was up just before 7. Daddy got plenty of back to school hugs before he left for his first day with students.
Then I managed to contain the excitement until 0825. Then, I gave up and went outside for pictures. I took as many as I could to kill time, but we made it to the bus stop by 0840 - a full 15 minutes before the scheduled bus.





Luckily the bus was on time, and off they went! Abby and I jumped into our car and followed the bus to school. Then it was a long wait for the bus to release the kids - always a lot of confusion on the first day.
Maggie jumped off the bus and ran inside, barely stopping for this picture.
The Kindergarten class takes a little bit of time to collect everyone, allow parents to take pictures and say good bye. Katherine knows about 7 little girls going into Kindergarten - so she had no qualms about leaving me. In fact, I had to laugh at a picture I saw from one of the other moms. As the class lined up and walked into school, the single file line stretched 4 girls wide as they held hands and walked in together!
When Abby and I pulled into the garage, it looked so empty in the back seat! She asked on the way home if the girls were coming home from school yet. I thought it would be a long day.
But we went to the library where she enjoyed playing with trains and choosing her own books. And then off to the grocery store before coming home for lunch and naps. Pretty exciting.
Abby took a delightful nap and I enjoyed a quiet afternoon. I pretended to be a Food Network Star - I harvested basil from the deck, and made pesto sauce for a chicken pesto pizza. (It was awesome)

Soon enough it was 4pm and time to meet the bus.
Katherine says she was running to Abby, but I know she was running to me! She and Maggie were bubbling over with excitement about their days. I don't think either could think of a bad thing from the whole day.

Really the only sad part of the day was katherine crying in her bed. She actually doesn't go back until Tuesday now. (The class of 24 is split into 3 groups, each going to school for a day to give the teachers time to assess skills, get to know the kids, allow the kids to be familiar with school in a smaller group setting) Tomorrow she'll be home with me. She cried from her bed "But I just want to go to school every day!" I promised her that she had 175 more days to go and she accepted that answer and promptly fell asleep.

I'd say it was a pretty fantastic first day of school!