First Day Of School - 2nd Grade

I just got back from taking Kendle to school a little bit ago. The school zone was a complete zoo, you have to have major defensive driving skills to navigate around all of the crosswalks, bike riders, mom's pushing strollers, dad's holding camera's, and those pushy drivers who think they can just zip in and out and steal spots from people. I took Morgan's stroller along in the off chance Kendle would want us to walk with her and hang out for a bit. No such luck. She was very insistent that I could just drop her off and in her typical independent fashion took off down the sidewalk without a glimpse back and a bounce in her step. Maybe she thought she was doing me a favor by not having to lug the stroller and Morgan around the crazy throng of people. In any case, we sat and watched her walk for a while and make it safely across the war zone to the playground.


She kept telling me last night that she did not feel prepared for school and I couldn't figure out why. We had her lunch mostly packed, backpack ready, school outfit picked out, she showered before bed, alarm clock set - what was left to do? Riley gave her a father's blessing before bed and I think that helped. She just gets very anxious and worried about stuff like this (gets that from me) and she has a hard time being calm about it. We set her alarm for 6:45 which I thought was still a tad early, and wouldn't you know it she was up by 6:30 anyways. She was all ready and waiting to go by 7:45. That is Kendle for you.


I'm so excited for her to have another great year at school. I think 2nd grade will be fun for her. There are a lot of children in her class that she doesn't know, so she will be making lots of new friends. She does really good with the school routine and staying busy. She's doing piano lessons and soccer as well, so all of that combined should keep her occupied. My mother always thought piano was a good outlet for me to vent some of my frustrations as I played and practiced (sometimes much louder than others), and sports are good for that too. I think they give children a place to run off extra energy, get tired, have fun, and get some of those frustrations from life out as well.


I managed to take a few quick pictures before we headed off to school. It's tradition to do it. Morgan wanted to be in a few of them as he ate his banana. Kendle was appalled, but I told her it was ok I'd take some of just her by herself too.










































Here's to a happy school year!

It's Tradition

Since pre-school, I have taken a picture on the first day of school of Kendle with her little backpack on ready to head out the door. I'm sure as she gets older this will become more annoying to her, but right now she enjoys the photo ops. It's a tradition in the making.

Yesterday we attended her open house to get better acquainted with her new teacher (who seems fabulous) and look around the classroom a bit. Riley went to school with her and her husband and she seems so friendly and her class was decorated really cute. Kendle loved the reading nook and the big map of the United States on the wall. We found her desk with her name tag on it and put her school supplies away inside of it. She was thrilled.

This morning we woke up really early and had lots of extra time before school started. I am not a morning person at all, but I know if I got up that half-hour earlier everyday during the school year it would make a huge difference. We didn't know what do with ourselves, we read some Scriptures, Kendle wrote in her journal, I checked my email and then FINALLY (according to Kendle) it was time to go.

The school parking lot, actually the 1 mile radius around the school, was a complete zoo. People are cut throat and ruthless when it comes to dropping their kids off in the morning. There wasn't a parking spot to be found, so I pulled up to the front drop off zone and let her out and away she went in all of her first day of school glory. Not even a look back or a wave I tell you. I watched her for a minute or two, she put her backpack by her classroom door, found some friends, and couldn't have cared less that her worry wart of a mom was sitting in the car waiting to make sure she was alright before heading back into the throng of aggressive drivers. I'm glad she's so independent, but sheesh not even a wave.

One of our other first day of school traditions is to have a special dinner. So tonight it is Kendle's choice. What did she pick? French toast. So we will be having french toast, eggs, and hash browns for dinner. She was so excited to see on our weekly menu on the fridge that I had written "Kendle's Choice" for Wednesday night's meal. I love that little things like that make her happy.

So do you have any first day of school traditions. If so, what are they?