First Day of School Pics

We are officially in the third full week of school- it's amazing that it happens so fast! The girls are doing great, as always, and Leah is anxiously awaiting her start in preschool next week. The first day of school always makes me laugh with these two girls. It's so typical what will happen and Andrew and I always laugh that it never changes. Alexa plays off that she is nervous; we get to the school and she hardly says goodbye to you, like she's already embarrassed of us or something. Callie holds my hand down the hallway, lets me come in her classroom, help her find her desk, gives me a big hug, and tells me she loves me. This year was no different.
The girls picked out these outfits with their Grandma before she left on her mission this summer. They were so excited to wear them for the first day of school.

Alexa's class is full of kids she already knows- two of her best friends from last year, two kids on our street, and piles of kids from our ward and her Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade classes. She got the teacher she wanted and was so excited for school to start. I wasn't worried about her because I knew she felt comfortable with what was going on. This is the first year she's felt that way and I'm so glad- it was her turn to feel good about starting school. She was kept with two kids in her class from last intentionally because all three have been so advanced in their work. I've been relieved that they have each other because I know the teacher will work with them on their level and she won't get bored. I knew there were other smarty pants kids around- it just took us a little while to find them. :) They have a journal writing assignment each Friday in their class where they write a letter to their parents to let them know what they have done throughout the week. The parents are then supposed to read and sign the letter and send it back to school. And, if they want they can write back to their kids. I'm excited for the chance to read what Alexa finds interesting in her class and even more excited to write back to her each week so she knows that I'm genuinely interested in what she is doing and knows that I'm so proud of what she accomplishes. I'm hoping this journal will be something she will want to keep because of the special meaning it will have to both of us.

Callie started school with a teacher she didn't know anything about and a class with no one she knew. Her best friend moved to a different school this year and her other best friend was put in the class with the teacher Callie wanted. The funny thing is that I never worry about Callie like I do Alexa when it comes to social situations. Callie makes friends easily and has no problem approaching people. I thought maybe she would be apprehensive on the first day of school, but when I dropped her off, we went in and put her backpack away, found her desk and she sat down to color a page. I asked her if she was OK and she looked up with a big smile on her face and said, "Yep. Bye Mommy; I love you." She has been fine ever since. Ahh... my sweet girl. We have since discovered that there is a little girl on our street that is in her class and they have become good friends. Like I said, I never worry about Callie. She makes the best of every situation and is constantly making me proud of her and who she is.

Leah will start school next week. I have no idea what to expect from her. :) I signed up to help in her class on the first day of school, just as I did last year, because I know it will make her feel more comfortable. We'll see how it goes!