Off and Running!

We have survived the first two weeks of Kindergarten and K2!  The school schedule is so different from the preschool schedule - Kate really wasn't ready.  After going to school 3 days per week for 4 hours per day the transition to Kindergarten is proving to be a challenge.  We're out the door by 7:20 every morning and Kate doesn't get home until almost 3:00 in the afternoon.  She says she likes school but the day is too long.  Which seems to be what every Kindergarten kid thinks from what I can tell.  And this mom agrees!  It seems to me Kindergarten should either start a little later or get out a little earlier for a while and let these little kids get used to big kid school!

Other than being tired from the long days and "bored" by the amount of time spent sitting on the floor Kindergarten is going fairly well so far.  I think Kate is just somewhat taken aback by the fact that Kindergarten is about more than playing and recess!  

Here are some pictures from everyone's first day of school!  That first morning was rough on everyone.  Now I can really appreciate the fact that preschool in Texas began two weeks after big kid school!  It was a little hectic having both girls start school on the same day.  Though I enjoyed my few hours of solitude - hello yoga!!

Checking out her place at the table.

Kate with her teachers.

Someone was so excited to be going in to Sissies school!

Anna Clare's 1st day of school - EVER!

Personally I think the best part about Kate being in Kindergarten is that we're close enough to walk to school!  Technically we drive - to the other side of the neighborhood.  All the moms park and walk the kids to the back entrance of the school in the morning.  Kate and her buddy Maggie think its super cool to have "Safety Patrol" (a 5th grader) escort them to their class each morning.  Because parents aren't allowed in the school after the 1st day - another big change from our preschool days!  

In the afternoons the walkers (all Spaulding Farm kids) get out of school first and come rushing across the street where the 1st of the 3 crossing guards is stationed.  The big kids take the little kids by the hands and make sure everyone gets to their ride home safely.  While the moms of the little ones walk up to the entrance of the school the moms of the older kids don't even get out of their cars in the afternoon.  Its a sweet little system the Spaulding Farm families have in place for their Oakview kids.

Day 2 of school.  Kate with 2 of her "big girl" friends.

See how many kids are walking home to Spaulding Farm?

Last but not least, here are some pictures of the tag attached to Kate's backpack.  So if she should happen to be found wandering lost in the school they know where to return her.  :-)