Back to School

What an exciting year - and a little sad.

My twins are going to kindergarten. They are so ultra prepared, but I still miss them...It was easier to let the first two go.

I made them special dresses (the smocking pattern was actually chosen for Carolyn's 1st day of school dress for Kindergarten 2 years ago...but with a 9 month old, that never came to fruition!)

But I got both done this month (one was already smocked from earlier). And I made up the pattern as I went, pulling pieces from this pattern and that pattern, and following this tutorial here, and making it all up to fit my own way in the end...(thankfully, the flaws are all hidden).

(The skirt is a circle skirt...so with shorts underneath, they twirled off to school...)

(The dresses last week)

The first day of school - story below...

Natalie - a little shy, but ready to learn

 Kaitlyn - my loud mouth smarty who's a little unsure if she wants to be separated from her twin

Seth - he's got this all under control...been there, done that.

Carolyn - who claims to hate school and hugs every teacher and friend she passes, grinning the whole way!

And Alee - who kept asking where the twins were and told me she didn't like them going to school...she packed a lunchbox too today...

The story:
I have been so nervous/worried about being able to get them all ready and there on time - especially the first day - I went to bed worried, I dreamed whatever all night, I woke up an hour early (used the bathroom and put myself back to bed, telling myself, it's ok - it's not time yet)....and then SLEPT PAST MY ALARM! I woke up an hour LATE (when I was supposed to be getting them in the van) - we FLEW through the routine, eating poptarts in the van on the way there, and I came back home to pack lunch boxes. So, I added these little tags ("laminated" with packaging tape and snapped on so I can reuse them everytime they forget something).

After school - note the twins, pretty happy, Carolyn with her nose stuck in a book, and Seth's expression says, I have enough homework to bury someone (probably him)...he got almost no free time after school today. (We were warned, but I hope he gets more efficient...I have my own opinions on homework, but I will keep them to myself in this post - and get on my soapbox later.)

Well, we've accomplished 1 day of school - only 179 to go (the twins stay home tomorrow while the other half (of their classrooms) eases into kindergarten). I'm so glad. :)