Will's First Day of Preschool (Year 2)

Will's first day of preschool was on Wednesday, September 8th and it went very well, despite the rainy, cold, dreary weather. I expected as much since this was not a new transition for him. It's the same school, same teachers, same classroom, mostly the same kids and pretty much the same routine. So we were all just looking forward to him getting into another great school year.

Preschool Year 2!

After we wrote good luck cards to friends last week, Will told me "When you make me a good luck card, you should draw a brachiosaurus on it". Not that he's being specific or anything. ;-) So I did. I got out our dinosaur sandwich cutter and traced it on another blank cardstock card and added a good luck message, which I read to him when he opened it. He was SOOOO pleased. :)

He insisted on sticking the card in his backpack to take to school and then he showed "Mrs. Skees" when we arrived. He calls my mom "Mrs. Skees" almost all the time for school related things. He always hears the other kids at the babysitters call her that when she arrives to pick up or drop off Will or Charli, so it's kind of effortless for him to interchange "Nana" and "Mrs. Skees" when appropriate.

"It's my first day!" he kept telling me.

What is it with boys? It's like, at a certain age, they forget how to smile when asked to for pictures. This isn't bad, but it's also not his real smile. He just couldn't figure out how to stand still and smile normal for me. Haha!

I love the back shot to see how different he looks wearing a backpack each year.

Craig wasn't feeling well this morning, so he didn't join us for first day drop off as we'd originally planned. In fact, he didn't end up going to work that day. But he did wish Will good luck and give him hugs and smooches before we left.

I think this is my current favorite sib pic to date, even though it's not Will's best smile. Sophie looks so grown up to me! She was also very jealous that Will was going to school today and she wasn't. She kept telling me she wanted to go to school too!

Our big boy. Love. him. to. pieces!

Haha. This one's just funny. I guess Sophie has a fake smile too sometimes.

Purplicious! The fleece doesn't exactly coordinate but it was chilly outside this day! And I told you she has a lot of purple in her wardrobe this cold weather season. :)

Possibly Sophie's best picture to date. Gosh, she's cute. How did we make such cute kids? Oh ya, because they both look like their daddy.

How much longer will I be able/allowed to hold him like this? He still likes it for now. Hope that doesn't end soon...

Love you, buddy!

Daddy loves you too!

Okay these next two aren't great, but I like to take pics outside the school and walking into the building like my mom used to. Too bad the weather didn't cooperate.

Washing hands before going into the classroom.

Mrs. Skees

Mrs. Cuthbertson

The students break into groups occasionally during class time for different activities: Frog Friends and Bear Buddies. Will is in the Frog Friends group. And this is one of his best buddies from last year, Austin. One of his other best pals, Luke, did not return this year and Will is pretty bummed about that. But Austin and Jacob are still there and those are the ones we hear about most often. Unfortunately, because of the location of the preschool, they are accommodating to several school districts in the area and neither Austin nor Jacob will go on to the same Kindergarten as Will next year. :( So we are trying to set up some play dates with other kids we know that will be in his same grade and school district next year.

Will's new lunch box is tucked safely in his backpack to eat when class is over and while my mom cleans up for the day. You can expect a whole lunch post to come very soon! And then mom takes Will back to the babysitters for us and he gets his usual nap. Soooo grateful to not have transportation issues with two working parents. My working mommy guilt is already high enough.

Looking forward to another great school year! They're kicking off the year with a "Sunny Days" theme and I've already seen/heard about several cute activities and snacks. Oh, P.S. - snacks already seem to have improved since I helped write a blurb about the importance of good nutrition for the newsletter that parents receive. Yaaay!!! And I'm going to be talking to the M,W,F class about healthy eating when I come for Will's first helper day on September 26th. I've got take home handouts for parents too. Can't wait!