It's Only the Beginning

Well, we're four weeks into this new world called Kindergarten and wow has it been an adventure. Here's some of the moments that stand out:

- helping Trenton into his backpack straps on the second day of school, only to have him drop one to the side and say, "Mom this is how Brandon T wears it." Ok, so the hero worship has begun.

- missing the bus because the transportation department wrote 12:21 instead of 11:21 for the pick up time. Even worse, the Pilot was gone with the car seats so Trenton missed school completely that day.

- missing the bus again the next day because I pulled up right at 11:21 and they had already left. When I called, the operator said to the mother who just dressed and fed lunch to three kids by 11:15 in the morning, "you really should be there five minutes early." Well thank you for that advice.

- packing Trenton's lunch, only to have him come home exclaiming, "Mom, do you know what they have? Lunch on a tray!"

- giving him money the next Monday to buy the special "lunch on a tray," only to have him come home with a pocketful of money and a sheepish smile. The explanation: "I forgot to pay. I just took a tray and everyone who has a tray gets food."

- getting a call from Mrs. Miller because Trenton was upset at a kid for calling him a slow wiener in the bus line and hit him. What the heck is a slow wiener anyway??

- now chanting the phrase, when you're upset use your .... "WORDS" ... not your ... "HANDS" every morning on the way to school. Even Sawyer joins in!

- having Trenton come home and tell me a girl flashed him the "L" sign and then sadly explaining, "that means loser." Mother Bear did not like that story.

- hearing a variety of unique names from Trenton as he talks about classmates and bus friends, including a girl named Jacob. "Jacob is a girl? Really?" Yes, mom. And then a couple days later, laughing as he came to the realization that Jacob was in fact a boy with really long hair.

So, I've laughed. I've stressed. I've complained to Landon. I've cried. Basically, I've been a chaotic mess. But this means, Sawyer will be that much easier, right?

Here's my adorable oldest child, headed to Kindergarten with his Ninja Turtles backpack and his charming smile. 

Saying goodbye to his brothers at the gate. 

Saying goodbye to mommy in the classroom.

Sawyer and I, back at home, missing our Trenton.

We handled ourselves perfectly that first day. On the drive to school, Sawyer said "I'm just going to miss Tretin. I really love Tretin." I said, "me too buddy." And that was that.

The second day, I had to drop him at the bus and watch it drive away with my baby. That did not go so well. Sawyer was crying. I was crying. Kellen was looking at us like we were crazy. We're in a routine now, but I still twinge a little every day when he leaves. My time with him just seems to be flying by and soon it will be girlfriends, school dances, and "stop mom you're embarrassing me!"

As if I didn't realize this on my own, every day we hear something to this effect:

I have a new friend. Emma. She just loves me. 
Today is Emma's birthday. She's so sweet. 
Emma is beautiful. I really love her. 
"What's you favorite part of school?" Hanging out with Emma. 
Austin used to be Emma's boyfriend, but now I am.

Good thing Kindergarteners don't have Facebook or I'd be spying already =)