It doesn't seem that long ago that I put Caleb on the bus as a kindergartner and now he seems like a pro in second grade. Thinking back on that first day of school 2 years ago made me look back at some pictures and so I incuded them for your viewing pleasure.
This first picture is of him in kindergarten...he has such a little baby face compared to now! He is growing up right before my eyes! I was a little sad that year because I couldn't be there to put him on the bus for the first time since that was the year I was teaching.
This next picture was first grade. My tradition is to take a picture on the first day, but that day we walked out with the camera and the bus was already at the bus stop. Needless to say, he just took off running so he wouldn't miss it. This picture was taken on the second day of school!
And last but not least this was the first day of second grade. Wow, he is not a little boy anymore! 
We made sure we were outside this year in plenty of time to make it to the bus. He seemed excited and ready for what was in store. We had met his teachers the Friday before and they were nice. He was excited because this year he has two different teachers. One for Language Arts and Reading and one for Math, Science, and Social Studies.
All the kids lined up and ready to go. I always get a little lump in my throat at this moment!
Caleb is in green about to get on the bus. There were two new kindergartners there that day. The one mom is videoing and the other was a basket case!
Elizabeth had a hard time that day as she had gotten used to Caleb being home everyday and always having a playmate. She asked every other hour how much longer it would be until Caleb got home. They have their sibling squabbles but she loves having him around. By 4:00 Elizabeth was ready to go outside and wait for him. Of course the heat was unbearable but we headed out around 4:15 because we weren't sure what time the bus would show up since it was the first day. As seems to be the first day of school tradition for us, Caleb did not get off the bus until 5:00 which made it a long hot wait. 
The box he is carrying was from his school supplies that we ordered through the school. The supplies come in a box that the kids can take home and memorabilia from the school year can be kept inside it. I think that is quite a clever and handy idea!
I asked Caleb how his first day was and he said it was good but lunch was too short! Well, if that was the only bad thing, than I am ok with that! After a long first day, Caleb had to quickly change because gymnastics was in an hour. Since I had spent the time I planned on cooking, waiting at the bus stop, we decided to jump in the car and we treated Caleb to dinner at Wendy's (his choice). So far he seems to be enjoying school. He likes his teachers and has been doing well on all the work that has been coming home. The biggest adjustment has been to his insanely busy schedule. On Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, he gets off the bus at 4:30, comes in and works on homework, if he has any, or has a little free time. By 5:00 dinner is on the table and by 5:40 he is in the car to gymnastics. He doesn't get home until 9:20, when he has another snack and gets in bed as quickly as possible. Wednesday is his night off so we focus on working on his bible study and getting him to bed by 8:00 so he can get some reading done but also get a good night sleep. That early night has been helping a lot to give him a full night's sleep in the middle of the week. Friday is another free day for him which I am trying to make an effort to do something fun as a family. Saturday between free time and any commitments we might have, we work on bible study and learning his verses for Awanas. Sunday is church, his math homework that is due Monday, and Awanas that night. It feels like a whirlwind but he handles it remarkably well. Of course we have our moments here and there but everything that he is involved in, he wants to be involved in and I am doing my best in spreading things out so he doesn't feel like he is doing it all at once.
On the other end of the spectrum, Elizabeth is not in preschool this year so our days are pretty quiet. We have our few outings to the grocery store, the gym, the library, and gymnastics for her, but other than that, we find ourselves going a little stir crazy by the end of the week. I am starting to make an effort to get together with friends and going places so that she doesn't get too bored by the end of the week. We do a little school together and she has been doing great learning sight words, and writing her letters and numbers. She is more of a homebody than Caleb so she does well. She plays so well by herself and for hours during the day she totally immerses herself into her little imaginary world. She reminds me a lot of myself when I was little. I loved playing with my dolls and barbies and kitchen.
So that is what we are up to right now. Tonight is Sunday so I am mentally gearing myself up for the week. For me, we have a Romans bible study on Tuesday nights, Heath goes to youth on Wednesdays, and I watch Caleb on Thursdays at gymnastics. But keeping Caleb on track with his homework, bible study, and getting too and from gymnastics is a job in and of itself. I will post soon with some fun pictures from the weekend!
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