School is in Session

Back to School for our schools started last Wednesday. All three kids are now officially in public schools: my oldest in 6th grade (middle school!), my son in 3rd grade and my youngest in Kindergarten.

My husband and I have made living in this school system a priority, even when it may not have made a great deal of sense for us, monetarily. I cannot express adequately how happy I am that we clung to that. In particular, our experience at my children's current elementary school has been phenomenal.

This is my old elementary school, at least for my final three years at the elementary level. For that reason, I have my own sentimental fondness for it. But the current teaching and administrative staff is excellent to the degree that they are even noteworthy within the school system which itself has an terrific reputation. I am not giving lip service when I say that I never worry about which teacher assignment my kids get because there is not a mediocre choice in the bunch. Even the "specials" teachers are amazing, without exception.

My son's teacher has four sons herself. As one of my friends said, "She will not only tolerate his ramblings about animals and cars and whatnot, she will probably look forward to it." My son has been particularly blessed with perfect matches in teachers with the exception of a rough first traditional Kindergarten year.

My youngest's teacher turned everything around for my son when he went to all-day Kindergarten. She is dynamic and clever and yet extremely laid back. I have never witnessed anything but supreme calm from her, even at the most hectic moments. And I have accompanied her on a zoo field trip and been in the classroom for holiday parties! My daughter is already raving about how much fun she is having in Kindergarten.

My middle-schooler (ugh, still not ready to say that) reports good things about all of her teachers - she likes all of them so far. I look forward to meeting them at Back to School night.

Ah, the year is rolling. And all of us along with it!

Late Birthday Post

I am so overdue to post. I warned all of you that I wasn't ready for Fall!

This past Monday, September 3rd was my son's 9th Birthday. I can't believe my little boy is only a year away from double digits. He is such a big guy in body and for some time in words as well. Anyone who spends time with our family has been on the receiving end of one of my son's "isms" at least once.

But I have a hard time picturing him as much more than 4 or 5. I'm sure Poppy will enjoy that as he is fond of telling me that I baby him too much. I'm sure I probably do. It seems to be a family trait.

He is asserting his independence in many ways. He has become much more responsible with his things (although he is overdue for a room cleaning right now). He is walking home from school by himself every day. And just yesterday he and I argued because he doesn't want me to walk he and Natalie his little sister up to school every morning. He is trying to convince me to simply drop them off and let him walk her to the Kindergarten line. As responsible as I know he would be about that, it is simply not going to happen - sorry son! I enjoy our mornings too much to give them up just yet.

Even though I am late with this post, the birthday is ongoing. We are fond of "neverending birthdays" around here. We had dinner and cake for him last Sunday. We brought a cake to a Labor Day party on Monday and sang to him. Today we are going to Build-a-Bear Workshop and out to dinner and tomorrow we will have yet more cake and singing at Nana's. Truly neverending!

So, raise a toast or sing a little Happy Birthday to our handsome young man!