First Day of School 2022!

After a glorious summer, the kids all turned in their swimsuits and flip flops for backpacks and sneakers and headed off to school today.  Lia had to be dropped off at her school almost an hour early at 6:30 to help welcome the new students as part of being a member of the POWER team (student leadership).  It was so nice to see her head off to school happy and confident in comparison to the girl who left last year nervous and barely knowing anyone at all.  As always, Ella was so excited to go to school that she could barely contain herself and Logan wanted absolutely nothing to do with any part of it.  I walked Ella and Logan to their entrance of school and they both barely looked back at me.  It is so nice to know that my children have always been blessed to attend a wonderful elementary school full of wonderful teachers and wonderful friends.  I let Emmett play on the playground for a few minutes before I told him that it was time to go home.  Luckily, he has his preschool open house tomorrow and officially begins class next Tuesday.

After school, Lia walked home and had about 20 minutes to tell me about the day, eat a snack, and change into workout clothes before her carpool picked her up to take her to the high school where she now will practice every day from 3 to 5 p.m. (with the exception of meet days).  Logan's and Ella's bus arrived 20 minutes late which was a total stress for me since Ella is supposed to leave on Mondays and Wednesdays for gymnastics at 4:05 and her bus didn't come until 4:15!  I had to race her home and help get her ready in three minutes as her carpool ride arrived right after we pulled into our garage.  After I got Ella on her way, I was so pleasantly surprised to talk to a happy Logan who was smiling from ear to ear about his new teacher who is the "coolest teacher ever."  Although Logan has always done really well in school, it just isn't his favorite place to be.  He would spend every day at home curled up in a blanket reading a book, so it was such a surprise to hear these words come out of his mouth.  He was so excited about his new teacher, Mrs. Lindner, and all of the cool rewards and incentives she has in place.  In addition, even though his three closest friends are now in the Quest class, Logan said that about a third of his 4th grade class is in his current class, so he automatically felt at home from the very beginning which is such a help for him.  After Ella came home at 8:30 p.m. (after being gone for almost 12 hours straight), she happily told me about her day and how much she loves her new teacher, Mrs. Bower, and how excited she is about her new class.  Although her two closest friends also switched to the Quest class this year, she has one friend from last year and has already made another one.  So, she doesn't even seemed phased by the fact that her best buddies are no longer in her class.  So, overall, the first day of school went super well for all three of my older children which is such a blessing and relief to me as I know that this isn't always the case every year.  I am so grateful that they are all in a comfortable spot and can learn, grow, and progress this year with friends at their side!

Lia's smiling for me with the porch light on (due to how early it was) on her first day of 9th grade.

A tan Logan posing for me on his first day of 5th grade.

Ella bursting with excitement on her first day of 3rd grade.  

I cannot believe grown up Ella looks these days!  She is no longer my little girl.  Sniff.

Ella, Logan, and Emmett taking one last picture on the porch before driving to school.

Logan and Ella quickly posing with Emmett before heading into the side gate of their school at 9:05.

Ella found her two closest friends, Elise and Madelyn. on the way into school.  They stopped for a quick picture for me before walking through the doors.

Logan and Ella getting off at their bus stop after their first day of school was over.