first day of school

Today marks the beginning of our third week of school.

32 packed lunches

24 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches

$81 to various causes

a billion and one papers signed and returned

2 boxes of crayons

2 boxes of markers

1 pair of scissors

1 bus warning

3 classroom warnings

8 days down

182 to go


Here's the trio on the first day. Even Nathan had to have his backpack on like his big brothers. No school for him until next year.

My big kindergartner was so excited and so brave. Ryan couldn't wait to ride the bus with Evan. I don't know why, but I was more nervous this time around. I don't know why. Evan handled the bus on his own when it was his turn for kindergarten. I kept reminding Evan to sit with Ryan and make sure he behaved and got off when he was supposed to (they are in different buildings).

Evan took his big brother duties seriously. Here they are holding hands as the bus pulled up. Isn't that cute?

Bye-bye boys! Mommy managed to wave and smile. Then when I got in the car to head to my own school, I must admit I wiped away a few tears. I can't believe my middle baby is going to school ALL day long. Where does the time go?

I'm so glad the buses run a little late the first day. I was able to meet the bus and catch the big boys jumping off the bus. I couldn't wait to hear about their days.

M: What was your favorite part of the day, Ryan?

R: Lunch and recess.

It's going to be a long year...

Week of Firsts

Well, last week was a week of firsts for all of us.
My first day back to working fulltime in four years.
Evan's first day of first grade.
He rides the bus and has a snack and lunch at school everyday!
Ryan's first day of full day preschool.
When you ask him what he did in school,
he says, "I had two nacks and lunch. I went outside to play two times. I took a nap."
Nathan's first day at the babysitter without his older brothers.
Mark's first quiet day at home in the last four years! :) hahahaha!

Everyone seems to be adjusting well to the new routine. I'm still trying to figure out when I can have time to myself [what's that?!?] but we'll work it out. I've been craving some scrapbooking time, but haven't figured out when that will happen yet.

Nathan is the only one I'm slightly worried about. We went upstairs to go to bed Thursday night and this is what we found at the top of the steps:

Nathan had carried all his stuffed animals, his pillow, and his blankets out of his crib and plopped himself at the top of the stairs to sleep. We're not sure why he didn't come downstairs, but the poor kid almost got crushed by Mark's foot! He also climbed into our bed twice last week ~ something he's rarely done before....SO, he's feeling a little out of sorts. Hopefully, it will just get easier for him as this becomes our new routine.

Summer of Firsts

Evan has experienced one "First" after another this summer. When I think about it, I really cannot believe how quickly my little man is growing up....

FIRST experience with school ~

Evan loved his kindergarten teacher, Mr. B

FIRST loose teeth and lost teeth



FIRST slip n slide experience

FIRST real roller coaster

FIRST boogie board experience

FIRST time off the low diving board

Followed shortly after on the same day,
FIRST time off the high diving board

And stay tuned....in one more week, my baby will be going to FIRST grade!

Aunt Cindi Strikes Again!

Aunt Cinci got our family the BESTEST Christmas gift this year - an annual pass to the Philadelphia Zoo. And believe it or not, we actually have had a chance to use it already! We had a day between Christmas and New Year's with temps in the 60s!!! My sister, Megan, and her family also have an annual pass, so we met up with them....

The kids had a blast. Evan had been to the Philly Zoo only once when he was 2 and this was Ryan and Nathan's first visit. Nathan LOVED the turtles...

Everyone loved the polar bears, but we wish they'd been in the water.

LOOK AT THE MONKEYS!!!!!



It was so warm [at least in the kids' perspectives] that Abby kept pulling her pants up to make shorts. Here she is as we were leaving...don't you just love the pose??? Hysterical!

And here's our motley crew [minus Mark, the photographer] as we were leaving. What a fun day - with promises of many more to come!!!!! :) Thanks, Aunt Cindi! :)

Five Firsts for Friday

OUR WEEK of FIRSTS...

1. FIRST day of kindergarten:

Evan loved his first week of kindergarten. He loved his teachers and had fun having music, art, and library. He didn't cry at all ~ but mommy & daddy shed a little tear when he climbed on that bus for the first time and didn't even look back...

2. FIRST bus ride:

3. FIRST few days of babysitting our neighbor's children:

K has already been recruited to the "No Crust Planet" super hero team...

4. FIRST banana cream pie:

5. FIRST mustache:

"Mommy, look what I drew."

Thank goodness for washable markers :)