Oliver's 1st day of School!

Jake & Oliver

On Monday, Sept 12th, Oliver had his 1st day of the "3's class" at the same little preschool Berk attended. After dropping her off and picking her up for 2 years he was ready to go all by himself. All I can say is boy, what a difference between the 1st born and 2nd born. After I put her on the bus crying hysterically with her hands on the window pleading with me to take her off and then going inside to cry hysterically myself as the picture of my child's 5 year old eyes full of tears will stay with me for the rest of the day until she comes home (chipper and happy when the bus drops her off, acting like it was a great day, by the way). So I took Oliver to school not quite knowing how he would react. Would he see sister's reaction at having to ride the bus to school and decide to act the same way or will he remember how badly he wanted to go last year as I had to coerce him into getting in the car after dropping her off at preschool?

He informed me that he might be nervous and might "cry just a wittle bit" so I expected a few sniffles and then he'd remember just how long he waited to go himself. His friend Jake is in his class (Jake is Justin's little brother. Justin is one of Berk's best friends. She informed me she is going to marry him and practically gave her dad a heart attack over the summer when she walked him out to his car holding his hand while wearing her pink bikini after they had a swim/play date. They went through the last 2 years of preschool together and we go to the park all the time so they are all good buddies.) So after he and Jake compared back packs and hung all their gear up on the hooks, Oliver started playing with play-doh and said "Aren't you gonna leave now Mom?" I said "Oh, am I being dismissed?" I hadn't even taken his picture by his wall yet and asked if I could do that real quick and he said "Yeah, I want you to stay just a couple more minutes and then you can go." So, after completing my task he kissed me, hugged me and said "Bye Mom" and never once looked back.

It turns out, his teacher has a son who knows his oldest cousin Malacai. She saw Oliver's last name and asked if he knew Malacai. Oliver said "Yes, he's my cousin." She asked him "Do you know what school he goes to? Oliver said "He's in big kid Kindergarten." So, needless to say, his first week of school was much different than Berk's. Berk started out great, but after she discovered how loud the bus was and how long the day was, she decided she wasn't too fond of all day Kindergarten or of riding the bus. He, on the other hand, wants to go to her new school since she has a better play ground and a better bathroom and can't wait to ride the bus. In fact, the only problem with his new school is that it doesn't have bus service. Go figure!!!

Berk's 1st day of Kindergarten!!!

How did we go from this...

to this?????

(I cropped this one kind of funny because the street numbers were in the background and I didn't want to post those so that's why Gracie is a little bit cut off)

I just put my baby on the bus. And so here I sit with tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat, not quite sure what to do with myself. I have a 4 year old and a 17 month old that also seem a little bit lost. It is really quiet this morning without her. She is Oliver's best friend and Finley's best friend and play mate.

Yesterday was especially hard knowing that it was her last day home. I had a rough day and could't keep myself together a few times. Last night during bed time stories I could barely get the stories read without crying. I feel like I just brought my first baby home...how can she be going to school for 6+ hours every day??? This morning before I woke her up I took a few moments and just looked at her tiny little body all snuggly, warm, peaceful and innocent in her bed and savored it. My little girl is growing up and there's nothing I can do about it.

This morning while we were finishing up breakfast Uncle Jer and the dogs came in. Jer wrote a little poem and handed it to me to read. I started to read the first sentence and quickly realized I wasn't going to get through it. He ended up reading it to us. Here it is:

For us nine it was the summer to remember

Oliver & I took our first swim and later we saw the first steps of Fin!

It was hot dogs, macaroni & cheese and father who drove the boat as fast as you please

The sand, the sun and games galore, I remember it to be the year that Oliver turned 4

Mother took us to pools for lessons and filled us with love during each of those sessions

And Jake, Sterling & Ridley were spirited and fun

We spent many happy days out in the sun!

Uncle, Oliver & I saw "CARS" at the mall

We slept at the Ritz and all had a ball!

It's the first day of school; new clothes & a pack

The nine of us here together a time to remember, forever and ever.

Ok, so, now you know why there was no way I was going to get through that. Seeing her off today just made me realize how incredibly precious these years are and have been with my kids. Oliver has already asked a few times "When is Berk coming home?" I keep looking at the clock too, counting down the hours & minutes till that bus comes pulling up, bringing our girl back home to us.