When Rix is Away...

Rix started kindergarten last week and he loves it! He comes home every day with a smile on his face and a story to tell me about what he learned or who he played with or what he ate for breakfast (he loves eating breakfast at school!). All summer he has asked when he was going back to school. In August he told me he wasn't excited about school anymore because it was too far away (he isn't the most patient child!). Then when we did our "hurrah" he got excited again, and I had to count the days down on the calander. He goes to Park Lodge, the same school he went to preschool at last year, so he's a "pro" of all things Park Lodge, or so he thinks. The first day we dropped him off he was like "Mom, you don't have to go with me. I know where to go!" Like he was all embarrassed!! I was showered, dressed, and even did my makeup! And he didn't want me to be there! But I told him that I needed to go with him so I could meet his teacher and say goodbye and take pictures. He tolerated me there, but after waiting in the gym for all the teachers to come, and seeing all those kids, he got a little snuggly with me. Olivia (his cousin) is in his same class, so Carissa and I swap weeks of taking the kids to school and picking them up. So on the second day of school Rix made sure to let me know he didn't need to me show him where to go. Mr. Independent!!! But Rix is excited about school and I love that he loves it. He also loves that he gets to see Nana every day (she is the secretary at their school). Olivia and Rix are pretty spoiled at school - if they ever need help or need something, they know where to go! Bur there were no tears shed when he went into his class, mostly because he has been to preschool for two years now and I'm used to him being gone. But also because Carissa and I had all the other kids with us, and it's hard to be sentimental with Bryce wandering away and Cole tugging at my pant legs. And, it's REALLY hard to be sentimental that early in the morning! (I'm still getting used to that!) But I thought that having Rix gone for those few hours would make life a little easier - isn't having two kids easier than having three kids? But while Rix is away, we don't play! Trust me! With Rix gone, Bryce feels the need to use his extra energy on bugging the heck out of Cole, who in turn feels the need to scream all morning and periodically hit Bryce out of irritation. Rix, I've realized, is our peacekeeper, who plays with Bryce and Cole and gives them something to do. Without Rix, the other two don't know what to do or what to play with or how to play, and therefore just bug each other! I look forward to Rix coming home from school!

School starts at 8 a.m. sharp. However, all summer my kids have slept in until 8:30 a.m. or later. I didn't see the point of "practicing" getting up early during the weeks before school starts. I say let them sleep if they are sleeping! I've never been a fan of waking a sleeping child! But the first day of school was a little rough. Rix would NOT get up! I thought "Isn't this something teenagers do?" But he eventually got up when I reminded him he was going to be late for his first day of school!

Bryce had a hard time getting up too!

Rix and Olivia on the first day of school.

Rix and Mommy

The kids waiting in the gym. At Park Lodge, if you get to school before 7:55 a.m. you have to wait in the gym for your teacher to come get you. We got there a little early and the teachers were a little late, so the kids got a little crazy. Rix and Olivia were just bored.

Rix and Olivia had to find their names on their cubbies.

Rix and Olivia sitting on the carpet. We are working on making Olivia more lady-like :)