...a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils...

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Back to school already?


the older ones barely tolerated the traditional "first-day-of-school" photo shoot


my baby--already in 2nd grade--mugging it up


new shoes...


new clothes...


new backpacks...what's not to love?


I see trouble coming...


best friends


my youngest and his fiancee (engaged since kindergarten)


Q's first day of first grade (I think her mom was more nervous than she was)


Lorien and her crew

Comments

Millie said…
I'm completely jealous of your obviously dry-looking area and the fact that the kids can walk to school. :) Hope the first day was great.
22/8/06 8:27 AM
wendysue said…
I love this! I can tell you're just a LITTLE excited about school starting up again (minus the money thing right) that you did a whole photo essay!

And how cute are your kiddos? CUTE!!

And I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils too. . .I can hardly wait until next Monday for my kids!!
22/8/06 8:43 AM
Sister Pottymouth said…
What a great mom you are! I didn't take even one photo. My kids were too anxious to get out the door to have allowed time for pictures.

I like the cheezy grin on Z's face and the almost-not-there smile on L's. High school boys are so cool.
22/8/06 8:47 AM
QueenScarlett said…
You have adorable kids. Handsome boys - beautiful girl. What great memories...
22/8/06 12:21 PM
Lyle said…
Can I say that I am so glad that I am not in grade school anymore. While it is exciting for parents and most kids, I was not one of most kids.
22/8/06 4:16 PM
dalene said…
I do realize how lucky we are that our kids can walk to school, although I don't feel so lucky about the dry part. I'm a transplant from the Pacific northwest and I am usually feeling quite parched this time of year.

Lyle--funny thing. My daughter kept insisting she was certainly NOT excited for school to start.

She was up and ready by 7:10.

(They don't usually leave unti 8:20.)
22/8/06 6:08 PM
Elizabeth-W said…
Love the big boys! You're doing something right that they allowed you to snap the photo. Next Monday is my first first grader, too. I'm as anxious now as I was when she went to Kindergarten!
22/8/06 9:48 PM
C. Jane Kendrick said…
It looks so fun and I wish I lived in your hood.
23/8/06 7:27 AM
dalene said…
Sending them off to school is so hard--especially in the beginning. It starts to dawn on you that from then on your babies will spend more of their waking hours at school--with their teachers and their peers--than with you. I know it's all part of growing up, but it's not easy.

c jane: I wish you lived in our hood too (bring ~j with you when you come). I also wish my kids could be in your classes. (I think you might've loved my daughter's essay about how having a pet snake would help her become a responsible citizen.)

To tell the truth, I wish I could be in your class.
23/8/06 8:26 AM
LuckyRedHen said…
1 Constructive Complaint...

Backpacks should be worn as high to the middle back as possible, not low slung like a gang members pants. BAAAAAAD on the lower back for it to hang so low.
23/8/06 2:56 PM
Melody said…
I have many fond memories (my home positioned as it is on the very busy keds-walking-to-and-from-school route) of these darlings passing by as I water the flowers or eat breakfast on the front porch. ..imagine John Lennon singing now ... "beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful boy(s)" Beautiful girl too. And while I'm at it: beautiful mom.

Just so you know: I will never abandon dark chocolate anywhere at any time. And you looked especially beautiful in your wedding gown this morning.

Love ya' girlfriend!
24/8/06 8:48 PM
Melody said…
oops, I mean KIDS-walking-to-and-from school...
24/8/06 9:04 PM
dalene said…
Oh, funny thing Mel. I had the three little kids posed for a photo in front of your perfect impatiens when all of a sudden your sprinklers sputtered to life! Giggling, we instantly scattered, not wanting to get any of the new shoes, backpacks or clothes (not to mention the camera) wet. But it would've been a lovely image. Now it's just relegated to my imperfect memory.
25/8/06 6:28 AM
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