✏ Back-2-School ✏

So, today was the big day....school started!  Ethan, though a little anxious & nervous, was ready!  Last night we had Open House at his new school and he was so excited to meet his 1st grade teacher, Mrs. Shivers!  We were able to take all of his school supplies, so that today wasn't a nightmare for him and I must say, that was awesome!  Can I say, right now, that I really am impressed with Indian Valley Schools....wow, I tell ya, it was so different walking in there last night and seeing a clean school, a air conditioned school, and one that just seemed to have it together!!!  When we got to Ethan's class, it was so nice to see that they weren't jam packed like sardines, either.  I had a great feeling leaving there that this year will be different!

When we got home, the boys played outside with Lynnsey (who came to watch Colin for us) and I went in to get ready for our Back-2-School celebration......yes, I am that parent that celebrates EVERYTHING!!! I mean why not?  Why not make life fun for them, so I went to work and got everything ready!  We had a few visitors and after everyone was gone, we had dinner, and then Ethan finally came inside to see his surprise!  I like to do practical things, kill 2 birds w/ 1 stone, so to speak....so his surprise consisted of his favorites for his lunches, a bucket filled with bath necessities, a new lunch box, a new Pete the Cat book, The Night Before 1st Grade book, and a Magic Confetti Poem! I knew he'd be nervous today, so I found the poem online and then critiqued it to fit him!  He loved everything about it and before he went to bed, we read his new books, I read the poem, he said his prayers and off to bed he went!  I tossed and turned all night, but the house was quiet and I couldn't help but go down memory lane!  Where has the time gone?  I can't believe he's a 1st grader!!!

Much to my surprise this morning, Ethan didn't need an alarm, he was up looking for me at 6:30!  Right away, I could tell he was scared and then the tears came!  So, I tried to talk to him, but that wasn't working so I said you know what....we need to pray and that's exactly what we did!  We prayed for strength, courage, and bravery for all the new things that were ahead of him....then it was like magic, the tears were gone and he was ready!  God is good and I knew things were going to be just fine!!!  We got out the door about 7:15, headed to the high school, and then went over the day!  Then we heard a beep and there they were, his cousins!  The lifesavers I prayed for a few minutes before and it was actually then, that I saw the nervousness completely gone!  Ethan, left with them and headed to their bus line!  I loved watching them there together, it warmed my heart, and then it happened bus #23 arrived!!!  That knot in my stomach was back, but I knew I had to keep the smile going and so I just started snapping pictures of him.....his smile is enough to melt me!  He got to sit with Jamisyn and as I waved my goodbye, Colin and I headed back home to wait for them to head over the bridge off to Port!  Colin was so excited and kept saying "Ethie" and then the final bus was #23 and then I hear "there he is" and sure enough, there was my big boy, smiling, waving, and blowing me kisses.....that's when it happened, I LOST IT!!!!  Yep, I cried and cried....I'm not that mother that loves sending my kids anywhere, and back to school kills me!!!  However, I know it's for his own good and I truly feel this is going to be a great year!!!

At 10:15, I got the sweetest phone call and it was Theresa.....the driver of bus #23 and she was calling to tell me that "Ethan, is such a sweet boy" and that he had a wonderful morning, wasn't shy, and even gave her a great big hug before he got off the bus!  Who does that???  I was so surprised and thankful to know that she cared enough to call me to tell me the news, because then I felt calm and off I went to enjoy the rest of the morning with my other little buddy =)

To finish off this post, I had to share a few more pictures.....He had a great 1st day, but was so excited to see me :)

and ofcourse, we had to have his favorites for his after school snack!!!!!

I think this is going to be a great year!!!!!!