First Day of School - and the Bad Kind of Bubbles

Well, it's happened - I have two little girls in school!

Our tradition has always been to have a big breakfast and priesthood blessings and then have some pictures and then head to school. This year, however, Jarett had to go to school at 7:30 and so we decided to have our breakfast and blessings the night before. It was wonderful. The girls received incredible blessings and it was extremely wonderful. We had a great breakfast and put the kids to bed. This morning was a more typical school morning. Just up and go. Kaia was so excited to go to school that she woke up at about 6:30. We all walked Kaia to school and saw that she had a new teacher - Mme Henry. For those of you who know my frustrations with Kaia's teacher last year, you'll be relieved to know that this teacher seems fabulous. It's a small class of 17 and the teacher just really seems to know how to handle this age group and make everyone feel special (while still pushing them to do their best). Kaia was so excited to stay all day (no seperation anxiety here, that's for sure). She actually was upset that I got her to come home for lunch today. Tomorrow the packed lunches start and my big girl is going to be gone from 8:30-3:30 every day. Yikes! Anyway, thankfully some friends had a camera at the class because I forgot to bring mine (it was a crazy morning). Here's Kaia in her big Grade 1 desk....doesn't she look so grown up?


Now, after lunch, Kienna got to have her turn going to school and meeting her teacher for and a few of her classmates. They have only 4 kindergarten kids come in at a time to meet up with their teacher so they get to feel comfortable before all of them come in. This is SUCH a great approach for someone like Kienna. I've been really nervous for her to start kindergarten because she's SO shy with new situations. She has a really hard time getting out of her comfort zone and meeting new people because Kaia is usually there to do it for her. She got there and Mme Khan was warm and welcoming - and knew who she was from the last name and the same mom accompanying from Kaia coming the year before. Kienna had SO much fun. She was so excited to have her own nametag and her name was on a coathook and EVERYTHING. She was so cute. She barely remembered to put her shoes on (even after around 20 times reminding her). She was just so distracted by all the fun things. When she was done, she ran out to tell me that she got to paint 3 PICTURES!! She had so much fun and I'm so glad that the nerves are behind her and that she's going to do alright. Here she is in front of her class and with her "coathook name". I can't believe she's getting so big....my little sweetheart.

You can see how nervous she is in this pic. She warmed up soon though...

Saryn was desperately wanting to go to school too. She went in and sat at a desk when Kaia went in the morning. When it was Kienna's turn, she went and sat on the carpet and was ready to roll. She was so sad when I told her we had to leave, but she would get her turn in just 2 more years... apparently that seems faster to me than to her.

Oh, on a side note, Jaymeson was officially diagnosed with Asthma yesterday - he has a bad case of the wheezes and eczema and he's throwing up frequently. He seems to have caught the 3 curses of our family - sigh. Anyway.....back to today.

Overall, the girls LOVED their first day of school and are super excited for a fun year.

Jarett, on the other hand, had a rather rough start to his school year. As Kaia had jumped into bed with us at 6:30, Jarett moaned and rolled over to find out that his back had gone out and he couldn't move without severe pain. After a lot of massaging, Ibuprofen and showering, he felt like he'd be able to make it to school. Classes went well, but as soon as he got home, he collapsed on the couch. After about an hour of never getting comfortable, he was able to get himself upstairs and he's stayed in bed ever since. I do have to say, if it wasn't for the pain, the day wouldn't have been that bad. He's got dinner served to him in bed and the girls keep coming in to entertain him. Kienna even brought him some water because she thought he'd like it.

Saryn fell asleep at the dinner table, I carried her upstairs. Jaymeson was soon to follow. The older two girls played for a long time and both collapsed asleep once it was time for bed (except for dealing with what feels like a Sauna in their bedroom). Once watered down, they were asleep in 2 seconds flat. Because Jarett is 'out of service', I've been running left, right and center trying to get dinner, bedtime and unpacking all under control. I apparently forgot that I was doing dishes while putting the kids to bed. I had thought before that nothing with bubbles could be upsetting.....I was wrong. Check it out.....

Anyway, it's been a long but very good day. I feel excited about this year and I'm sure things will work out great! We're down to our last year in law school and I can FINALLY see the light at the end of the tunnel. He's done his MBA and it's just under 8 months, he'll finish his last final and then we'll be done with University forever (please - oh, please!!) Can't believe all that is going on. Sigh. Can't wait - BRING IT ON!!