Kindergarten and 2nd Grade!

Here we are...The night before the big day! As a parent you plan and plan and shop and plan some more and then the day is here. Our loving, strong, smart, sensitive, funny, and care-free Elle starts kindergarten!! Being an elementary teacher I always knew this was a big day for parents. I would see them cry and console each other in the hallway but I never really understood the nerves and knots in your gut as you send your child off BY THEMSELVES into the world. It's a lot and here is the thing...It wasn't any easier the 2nd time around. We felt more confident in the process and we now have trusting relationships that we have built with the school but the knots were still there. 

Elle is more than ready to walk these steps into her next journey. We just pray that she always remembers how much she is loved. We love you sweet, Ellie, and we are so proud of you! Above, we are reading her "Watch Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!" book.

We love you, Elle! 

We are SO proud of our loving, kind, hard-working, goal-setting, strive to be the best 2nd grader! Luke is such a big guy and he wears the role so well of being big brother of our crew. We are all excitement for him and as he is now going back for his 3rd year! Fun Fact: Luke has his same teacher, Mrs. Slater, as he had in kindergarten!! She was asked to teach the split class this year AND Luke has his best buddy, Gibson, with him in his class. The boys are so excited. We love you Luke, you are so loved. 

Luke looks so big and now Ellie is looking so big too!!

Down to the bus stop (end of our driveway) we go!

This was my small gift from above. Each year I have just prayed that I was able to be there for both of my kiddos on their first day of school. For Luke, we were blessed to receive the gift for me to stay home two years and of course, that meant I was there for Luke. Last June, my prayers were becoming more desperate as I wasn't for sure how my fall would all work out, but my prayer stayed the same. Please let me just be in the position to get my Ellie on the bus on her 1st day of school....Now as a third grade teacher this was going to be tricky because that would mean it would be the first day for my 3rd graders as well and they can't show up to a sub on their first day! Welp, my prayer was answered. Oxford (my district), was one of the few districts in the state of MI to ask and be granted a school calendar that would begin before Labor Day AND this meant my first teaching day was no longer my own kiddo's first day! So, with one week of teaching down, I was able to snag a guest teacher for the morning. #soblessed #startprayingforDrew

Our kiddos cheer squad! You guys got this!

 These two...I mean c'mon! They are just so sweet. They can drive each other, and us, crazy just as good as the best of them but their love for each other is so pure. Luke looks after her and just adores her. He loves to pet her hair because, "It is so soft!" And to Ellie, her brother is just the coolest. She loves to follow him and all of his little buddies around. 

 Luke reassuring her it's all good right before the bus comes.

 AND the bus is right around the corner!!

And just like that. All of the years, weeks, months, and days thinking and dreaming about her first day of kindergarten and an instant it happens and off she goes.

Their school invites parents to come, greet their children off the bus, and walk them to their class on the 1st day of school. As soon as the bus picked them up, Ben and I grabbed the cameras and jumped in our car to greet them. Here they are holding hands off the bus and Luke leading Elle to class. They were chit chatting the entire time! We got some waves and smiles. :) You can see me in the back and Ben's shadow in front of them. We are totally THOSE parents!

Hold handing continues...

AND still holding in the hallway. AHHHHHH! My heart could burst.

Elle with her kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Z!

Settling in...

Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you, sweet girl.

Heading out...Off to see Luke in his class!

This should be no surprise, these two. Mrs. Slater was so nice to seat them next to each other! Lukey and Gibby are the best.

Our beloved Mrs. Slater. Ellie was hoping so bad she would get her as a kindergarten teacher just like Luke. We see Mrs. Slater and her family at Kensington and she is a favorite in this family. When Luke got Mrs. Slater again and Elle got Teacher B (not yet hired) she was in tears. A good lesson for all of us.

I realized after leaving Luke's room that I forgot my coffee cup in Elle's class. So, I had to quickly stop back. When I was grabbing my cup, they invited all of us parents to the cafeteria for a breakfast put on by the PTO. Elle popped up from her table and said, "Mom, I want some breakfast." Great. Here was the talk, you have to stay honey and Mom and Dad will see you after school. She just looked at me but then went and sat back down. Reality was starting to hit but she stayed and sat back down just like a big kindergartner should.

Welp, we got outta there and out to breakfast at our favorite downtown spot, The Rochester Brunch House. We did it! Two kiddos off to school and our baby in preschool.

At the end of the day, Grandpa and Grandma Cooley were right there to get the kiddos off the bus. All smiles!!