A Few of My Favorite Things: First Grade

Miss Claire

Favorite Color: Red

Least Favorite Color: Pink

Favorite Food: Spaghetti with butter

Least Favorite Food: Chicken

What do you want to be when you grow-up: Vet

Favorite Book: Pete the Cat

Favorite Game: Find the Gingerbread Man

Favorite Restaurant: Old Chicago

Favorite Animal: Dog

Favorite TV Show: Pokemon

Favorite thing to do: Go to the pound

Favorite thing about Dad: That he’s funny

Favorite thing about Mom: That she’s nice to me

Favorite thing about Grace: When she says sorry

Favorite thing about Claire: That she likes stuffed animals

Favorite thing about Henry: He’s cute

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Miss Grace

Favorite Color: Pink

Least Favorite Color: Black, brown, gray, white, orange

Favorite Food: Donuts

Least Favorite Food: Green beans

What do you want to be when you grow-up: Farmer

Favorite Book: Barbie

Favorite Game: Crazy Eight

Favorite Restaurant: Varsity Donuts

Favorite Animal: Horse

Favorite TV Show: Barbie

Favorite thing to do: Swimming 

Favorite thing about Dad: He makes us laugh

Favorite thing about Mom: She’s nice to me and I have mommy time with her 

Favorite thing about Claire: She stays in the same room as me

Favorite thing about Grace: I love to be pretty

Favorite thing about Henry: He’s so cute and makes people laugh

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First Day of First Grade

Today I sent my FIRST GRADERS off to school. No tears (from any of us), a couple of extra hugs and off they went. 

They both said they had great first days. A few after-school comments:

Grace: My teacher is AWESOME!

Claire: There was a fly in the class today. We had two choices. Kill it or name it. We chose name it. 

Grace: Mom, first grade is SO easy. 

Claire: I’m so hungry! We don’t even get snack in first grade. NO. SNACK.

Ready-ish

It’s inching closer, even right now. By the time you’re done reading, it’ll be even closer.  

And I’m not ready. Except I am ready. But I’m not ready. 

I had a rough spring. At the end of April, my spirit was a hot mess. I was exhausted all the time, short-tempered, depressed. The lack of sleep night after night, the grumpy baby during the day — it was taking its toll. 

But then summer came. And my girls were home. And everything was different. 

Life with Henry was also getting better, so I don’t want to discount that variable, but having them here during the day made me feel whole again. 

Things were certainly more stressful with two more kids who never, ever stopped bickering. I still lost my temper here and there, but my heart was happy. 

It made me realize how much I missed them this year. With Henry and work keeping me busy, I wasn’t fully aware of just how much until they were back home every day. 

I loved watching them navigate school and friends and mistakes and triumphs. I was proud and nervous and excited all at once. But it turns out, I was also sad. 

School starts in four days. 

My house will be cleaner. The bickering will cease. But the days will most certainly feel emptier. 

So, I’m ready. But I’m not.