Perfecting Imperfection

I didn't cry until about 45 seconds after this picture was taken!!!  Which is kind of awesome - because that was my goal. 

Nate was so excited.  He woke up excited.  He could hardly eat his breakfast.  He couldn't wait to get out the door!  When Nunnu showed up to walk down to the bus stop with us, he was more than ready to go - which is more than I can say for me!

He held my hand while we walked to the bus stop.  He stood by me while we waited for the bus.  He held his sister's hand a little while I snapped a picture for Daddy:


He took a picture with Nunnu - who told him over and over how proud he was of him and what a grown up little guy he had become:


Then the bus turned the corner.  It was a really weird feeling . . . I've been dreading this moment for the last week or so (okay . . . maybe the last 5 years or so).  I felt my throat close up a little and my nostrils flare a bit but I was determined to NOT let Nate see me cry.  I knew I had to keep it together.  I held his hand until the bus pulled up and stopped in front of us.

I snapped a picture.  Gave him a hug and told him to give me a kiss on the cheek.  I kissed the top of his head and he turned around to start his school adventure.

He marched up the steps of the bus and introduced himself to the bus driver with no problem . . . went and took a seat without even looking back or saying goodbye.  I'm so proud of him...and I REALLY miss him.

It's going to be a long day and I can't wait to hear how his first day went!  Danika and I are making him cookies so he can have a snack when he gets back.  I'm making Mac and Cheese for dinner - with hot dogs wrapped in crescent rolls . . . some of Nate's favorite food!  Then . . . we do it all over again tomorrow - except tomorrow, I have to go to work!  It will be a crazy morning for sure!

I'm not really sure if that is a word but if it is (or if it is indeed a real ailment) I am sure that I have it.  I can't seem to concentrate these days.  I have so many great ideas and things that I want to do, on top of the things that I HAVE to do, that I am getting nothing done.  I have a list.  I try to focus on one thing at a time . . . but I keep getting distracted.  I keep running into little people who need my attention and throw me off.  I keep saying, "I will do it as soon as I . . . " and then it never happens.  

This is the last week of summer.  Next week we have Danika's orientation, Nate's orientation and I go back to work.  I'm sad to see summer go but excited about the upcoming school year.  I know it may not have sounded like it with my previous posts about Nate going to Kindergarten (I think I may be in denial right now) but I am excited about getting back to teaching.

This will be my 4th year at my current job.  I teach 3 year-olds.  Before I had kids, if you would have told me that I would have liked teaching 3 year-olds I would have laughed at you.  I mean . . . what can you teach a 3 year-old?  Seriously.  Especially a large group of 3 year-olds?   I had all of these preconceived ideas about a class of 3 year-olds.  I worried because I was sure that they wouldn't listen - I've met 3 year olds that are more stubborn than the most stubborn adults I know.  They have no attention span and they don't like to share.   I was also really worried that they would cry all the time and I wouldn't know how to make them feel better.

Of course, I was totally wrong.  I'm amazed at what 3year-olds can do.  I never expected to see a 3 year-old have an "ah-ha" moment like I saw when I taught 3rd grade.  BUT . . . they do!  They love being in school.  They love sharing stories and talking about things that they know about.  They love learning.  They may not have the attention span of a third grader but they can listen to a story and talk about it.  They can do a calendar activity and spend 15 minutes doing an activity before moving on to another one.

Every year I forget how hard it is for them the first few weeks of school.  Once they get in the routine, it is a piece of cake and we have a lot of fun!  Those first few weeks, though . . . they can be tough.  Some of them will be away from mom and dad for the first time.  Some of them will cry.  Some of them will cry a lot.  Some of them will have no problem playing and sharing.  Some of them will stay off to the side, quietly by themselves.  Some of them will get upset when we have to move from one room to another and clean up our toys.  Some of them will forget to stop playing long enough to take a potty break.  Some of them will cry.  (I know I said that before . . . but it's bound to happen more than once)

By the end of the year, though, it is amazing to see how much they change.  They don't get emotional about leaving the 3 year-old preschool class . . . but I always get a little choked up when the end of the year comes.  They change so much.  They grow so much in that one year.  They know things they didn't know.  They can do things they didn't do when they started.

I think that is one of the main reasons I love teaching 3 year-olds.  I love to see them grow.  As much as I loved the "ah-ha" moment in a 3rd grader . . . it is absolutely precious in a 3 year-old.  You can't help but smile when you see it.

So - the point?  I'm sad to see summer come to an end but I'm so excited to be meeting a new group of little ones to watch grow for the next 9 months!

Here's some pictures from our AWESOME summer:

I have been lucky enough to not have to buy a lot of clothes for my kids.  I have received hand me downs that were in EXCELLENT condition for Danika and I'm lucky enough to have a lot of stuff for the twins from friends and left over from Nate.  However, I think I'm going to need to go buy some clothes for Nate this year.  My MIL went with him yesterday to buy his school shoes:



She also bought Danika some really cute Mary Janes.  :)

So, that is one big expense taken care of - whew!  Now, what do I buy for school clothes?  I have no idea on this one and I am feeling a little overwhelmed at the moment.  How much or how many?  What exactly?  ACK!!!

My SIL told me the other day that I shouldn't stress too much about shopping before school starts because he will be wearing shorts and stuff that he wore all summer for the first month or so.  But, I don't want to miss out on good back to school shopping deals - if there are any out there and I didn't miss them already!

So ~ I'm curious (and in desperate need) to know what you all do when it comes to school shopping!

Help!