1st day of 1st grade

Avery started 1st grade just a few weeks ago.  It was so bittersweet sending her back to school.  She was so excited and ready to start back, and I was equally excited for her.  This summer was wonderful but exhausting.  We were all ready for some routine in our lives!  

Her teacher, Mrs. Grimes, sent the kids home with a letter to be opened the night before school started.  Avery was about to jump out of her skin with excited about opening the letter.  It contained some confetti to place under her pillow to help her sleep.

Opening the letter

 The next morning, Avery was awake and ready by about 7:05am.  She told me that the confetti had in fact, not worked, and she was just so excited that she couldn't hardly sleep at all!

This is the second year that I made a pancake in the shape of the grade she is starting.  You may notice that the 1 is backwards because I forgot that once you flip it, it is backwards!  My sharp mind at 7am failed to remember that I could simply turn it upside down.  Oh well!  Avery told me that she usually does her 1's backwards anyway so she loved it like that.

It was such a better feeling dropping her off this year vs. last year.  She knew several friends in her class and was so ready to get back to school.  I was way more emotionally stable this year too :).

Once we got home, Chloe wanted some one on one time with her brother.

I feel like Chloe probably gets the least of my attention sometimes so I wanted to do something fun with her before her school started.  We went to the new Artragious painting place in the village center.  She selected an owl and carefully painted it.  And by carefully painted it I mean that she painted its head about 30 times with different colors.  It is definitely a beauty!

After lunch, we braved the rain and got some ice cream.  

Somehow all of the stars aligned and both kids decided to nap at the same time!  Such a wonderful gift for the first day of school.  I woke them up with plenty of time to head to the bus stop to get Avery.  I decided to let her ride home this year since she begged all last year. 

I think the bus ride may have been the highlight of her day!

Annual cookie cake

 Avery told me that "1st grade is a blast!"  The girls snuggled a bit before dinner.  They definitely missed being around each other all day.

I think it's going to be a great year!