in session

Did you blink? Just like that they're starting school. Here it is--the first day.

We're within walking distance to Lee Elementary (I can make it in eight minutes without the littles in tow) so we made the journey a family affair this morning. Although Catcher is not quite adept at riding his bike, he somehow convinced his dad that this should be the mode of transportation on his first day of school. That meant Scout would go on her scooter, and it also meant that Scout would carry Catcher's backpack because the backpack would just add to the balancing issues he has on the bike.

Eventually the backpack made its way back to its rightful owner, but there was a wipeout or two along the way. When Scout went flying face-first into a prickly pear cactus, she exclaimed "That was awesome!" When Catcher skidded off the bike 50 feet from school, it almost brought him to tears (and by tears, I mean there was a meltdown on the horizon). Luckily the throngs of tiny bobbing heads moving toward the front door was distraction enough to snap Catcher out of his defeated state. We parked our wheels, stopped for a quick (but not dorky) photo and ushered the Kinder-man into school. 

Inside his classroom we found various states of child anxiety. There were scared faces and screaming younger siblings. There were tears glistening in the eyes of adoring parents and several sitting on the carpet reading books to their kinder-kids. Catcher scooted over to his spot and, disappointed with the book he found there, walked over to the shelf to choose another. Standing in the doorway, I reminded him that he forgot to give me a hug. He came back for a quick goodbye and then returned to his kinder-business. Next he'll be asking to borrow the keys to the car.

p.s. Scout isn't crying in the photo above...she's yawning. It was a big morning for everyone.