First Part of the First Day of First Grade

The kids were up at 6 something, as were we.  We managed to get everything done, calmly, orderly--school uniforms on, yummy warm oatmeal breakfast, big blue school backpacks filled with snack, lunch, crayon box, summer homework, and bus form--and they got extra time to play.  They're scared they won't ever play again.  "Mom," Bud asked, "will we be home for dinner?"  I think he thought "full day" meant dawn to dusk.  Poor dear, no wonder he's been a little sad about going to school; both of them, actually.  

As usual, I made a special first day of school poster, which we used for the traditional school photos.  We also opened our schultüte, which are "school cones" that we fill with little gifts.  This year, there were personalized penguin and bunny name labels as well as a coupon book to be used on such things as extra DS time, an outing for ice cream, or 15 minutes all alone with a parent.  

We were outside, in the drizzly rain, with more than enough time for the big, long, yellow bus, with all the older kids on it.  And then it was here and they got on, so small in their front row seats that you could barely see them.  Of course, being twins, they sat in separate seats!  Across from each other.  

Of course, that wasn't the end of the morning.  We had asked them if they wanted to ride the bus or have us walk them in.  Yes.  Both.  So, being the parents we are, we did both, hopping in the car and driving to school, where we got there before they did and met them to walk them inside.  They didn't really need us, though.  We just tagged along, took pictures of them at their desks (desks!  They've got their own big kid, first grade desks!  Complete with little signs for their names, with lots of info such as left/right, a rule, and such on it).  Said hi to the teacher, did our family ritual goodbye "beep," and left.

And that was the end of the morning.  The first of many . . . .