...and we have a first grader!

Each year it seems to vary a bit (because they can, being a private school), but this year Calvin Christian started school after Labor Day, which is when public schools in MN start.  And we were all happy for this!  After the crazy remodel project, it just gave us another week or so to enjoy the end of summer...sleeping in, wearing pj's most of the morning, going camping and to the fair, playing and reading and doing whatever we felt like.

But there was no doubt about it that G was super excited for school to start.  She was excited to see her classmates again, meet her teacher, and just start back into the school routine.  She played school with her brothers at home, and counted the days until school started.  There were a few before school "school" activities that really got her excited too.  We went to the playground at school one morning to meet two new classmates and play with whoever could make it.  We went to the all school picnic.  And S took G to school one morning to meet with her teacher and do a reading assessment.  She is doing really well for her age - reading and writing well beyond where she should be.  That was really nice to hear and Mrs. H said she was looking forward to having G in class and would have to work to challenge her.

And before we knew it, the first day of school was here!  We literally had to pin G down the night before to get her to fall asleep, and she popped out of bed plenty in time Tuesday morning too!  Her excitement was pretty contagious, which helped Momma not be too emotional. =)

I love how Calvin starts their school year too.  Families are invited to bring their students to school and to their rooms, and then stay for a chapel.  This is really good for our family because the boys get some time at G's school then too and know where she will be at everyday.  I really enjoyed getting back into the school too, kind of orientated me, and prepared me for the year.  (I think teaching and school is in my bones because I love being in school on the first day - everyone is so excited and things are all new and ready for the year to start!)

G is very excited to be a first grader.  She is proud of the bigger responsibilities that first graders have, like individual desks and "jobs" that you have to do all week (rather than just one day).

We know G is in good hands at Calvin and are really looking forward to see how she grows and learns this year with Mrs. Hielkema.  We are also thankful for good friends that she is making at school and enjoy hearing all about her days when she gets home.

Which so far is one of our favorite times of day.  The boys (and I!) are super excited to get G from school and hear about what she did and be able to play with her when we get home.  They tell her all that we did too, and of course there are snacks (which aren't always as fancy as the tea party we had with Mrs. L and Kacie to welcome her home on the first day of school).  It will be an adjustment to have her at school every day, and I am already missing our Tuesdays and Thursdays off, but we will just make the most of our time together when she is home and hopefully it will be a great school year!