Give Me An S.C.H.O.O.L!!!!

I'm sure this has been mentioned a time or two ... but I am not a big fan of school.  Well, that came out wrong.  I LOVE school.  I just don't like change.  And living a super scheduled life is something that has little interest for me.  I like lazy mornings.  Breakfast at 9.  Playing in our pjs until noon and keeping showering optional.  So school ... real school ... came as a bit of a shock to my system.  

And as much as I have requested that time stop and we pause for a bit (everyone is growing up WAY too fast) ... it continues at warp speed.  And we have a kindergartner at our house.  A full blown -  leaves the house everyday with a backpack, school supplies, a homework folder and snack - kindergarten student.

 

 The first day of school ... he wants his pic to be in front of this green door every year and he assures me that by the time he goes to college, he will reach the very top.

 

 At school ... on one of the HOTTEST and most humid days of the year!

The rest of the crew ... and AEB in an apple jumper that I had bought when I was pregnant with Gracie. I saved very few things but just couldn't get rid of the apple jump and it was perfect for J's first day.

J. How and Mrs. Errington ... who just happens to be from Pittsburgh and had to sign in her marriage license that she will cheer on the Steelers.  I guess she's a perfect fit for the Steeler loving section of our fam!

The monogrammed backpack.  Makes me happy each time I see it. 

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And now we're into week FOUR of school.  How is that possible?  I can't say it has been all roses and sunshine ... but our How is doing a fantastic job.  He is a math genius (almost done with kindergarten curriculum already) and is just soaking everything in!  

And our Eli.  Mr. Preschooler.  Er ... Mr. "Can't I Just Stay Home with You."  He has been telling me he's not going to school since Joshua started preschool two years ago.  Not his thing.  He wants to shop and hang out with me.  So starting school was a bit less HAPPY for our E.  The night before school, he came up with EVERY excuse in the book why he couldn't go to school.  By the end of the conversation, I was torn between laughter and tears. 

Me:  "You can have a small treat if you have a great day."

E:  "I want jelly beans.  But not small.  Lots of them.  I'll need a lot."

Me:  "Ok.  If you have an excellent day, we will get lots of jelly beans."

E:  "Well.  I'm prwobably not even going to have an excellent day."

And it went on like that ... back and forth for the longest twenty minutes of my life.  He had an answer for everything. 

So ... when we got a text the next morning that some of our friends were hitting the The Coffee Shop for a before school treat, we were in.  How can a day go wrong when it starts with a chocolate muffin?

  

 The crew.  My children may have missed getting their hair combed but who's looking.  And by the time I got Joshua to school, his shirt was also covered in chocolate and he had toothpaste stuck in his hair.  Awesome. 

Our Eli Bennett at preschool.  

E and his buds ... Alex and Jordan.

Oh yes.  The wedding has been planned.  They're soul mates.

E and Miss Chrissy. 

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Week two ... and Eli has been having a great time.  His eyes still water up when I leave ... and you'd really think that I'm taking off for DAYS instead of two hours ... but I return to a boy who is all smiles and has lots to report.  

As for Audrey and I ... she is in training to become a better shopping buddy.  She needs a LOT of help.  But I think on the job training ... to such places as Anthropologie, the antique stores, Last Chance are just what she needs!!