first day of Preschool

Judd's first day of Preschool.  (W had to put on her backpack,too.)

Grandma was visiting and got to make the drop off with us. 

Don't ask J to smile for a picture.....that is the face you'll get.

Our little man is in preschool!  And loving it.  Today he brought home a bat on a stick he had made.....its been the most popular toy at our house since.  It is a pretty neat school, I think.  Every week each child gets a special classroom job.  My favorite is the "journal" job.  The journal child has the job of sitting down with the teacher and explaining exactly what they did that day in their own words.  The teacher writes down exactly what they say and puts the journal where all the parents can see it at pickup time.  Its always a good read.  Judd's teacher sends home a weekly summary of what they are learning and has all kinds of small and large motor activities planned.

I went back and forth on whether this was the right time to start J in a real school. Its only twice a week for 2 1/2 hours and nothing too vigorous.  But I had a little voice in the back of my mind whispering all kinds of little anxious questions.  Is he too young?  Should I just try to do a joy school?  Is homeschooling the better option? (I honestly look up to the parents who homeschool.  I think its awesome but just don't know if I'm personally ready for the job.   There is a little guilt there, though....does anyone else feel the same?)  I went back and forth, even up to the morning I dropped my little man off.  When I got to that point I just couldn't bear to tell my guy that he couldn't go to school after all (he was beyond excited).  So I went home and made cookies (I want our family to have the first day of school tradition of milk and cookies waiting at home :)) We went and picked him up and over cookies he told us he loved his day and his teacher and that he had a special job in his class (he was the plant waterer).    He wasn't unsure or shy, he was so confident and happy.  And that did it for me.

And truly, this school has been a blessing for us.  Judd thinks school is awesome.  He makes all kinds of fun art projects that he brings home (where do I hang all these things.....).  They have taken him (in a real school bus, nonetheless!!) to a pumpkin patch and the fire station.  Wren and I made the trip to the pumpkin patch with him and had a great time.  And you know,  I have loved having a little "mommy school" time with Wren at home.  Its our little one and one time.   Plus we do do little shopping time without an excited/loud 4-year-old.

So, whew, motherhood for me has so many "I hope I'm doing the right thing" moments but I think in this case we did ok.  Anyway, Judd looks so cute in his backpack.