Prep for Back to School

After vacation we hit the ground running...

It was time to get ready for BACK TO SCHOOL!

We had lots of visitors and packages arrive in our mail... with all sorts of fun to go around.

Nana came to visit and send off these cuties with a special balloon and cookie bouquet and their lunch boxes! And Kk sent a fun package home with us from vacation that included a few fun goodies to get us ready for the start of a new adventure the following week! 

Nothing says fun quite like Amelia Bedelia! The new ones are pretty cute too!

On Thursday night, Caden had meet the teacher... we were SO excited to get our phone call! It turned out to be a long few days of waiting though... Most of our friends got calls Tuesday afternoon... we got ours Thursday morning...  Mommy's penmanship failed on the registration forms and his teacher called the wrong number... so when we thought we weren't getting a call it was actually going to some other lucky family who got called by mistake... Which lead to a slight panic and few phone calls to the office, a firm email to the principal from Daddy and a few tears from Mommy. Unmet expectations... aren't those always hard to swallow?! But once we figured out what happened the teacher called and apologized and I of course said DO NOT BE SILLY... I AM THE ONE WHO SHOULD BE APOLOGIZING!! I will work on my penmanship... slow down... write slow... make your 7's, 7's and your 9's, 9's. Caden ended up in a great class with two of his friends from church and with a great veteran teacher who seemed VERY enthusiastic about her return to Kindergarten!

Phew! 

So that night... we were ready!

The nervous nelly start behind us... 

We were shiny and clean...

Even threw in an extra tooth brushing for good measure...

He posed himself for pictures... naturally... 

And just when he was really working the camera our babysitter popped over from next door and ruined his mojo... he was suddenly shy, awkward and embarrassed that he had been caught in the act of being cool! :)

We didn't get any pictures of Caden at Meet The Teacher but that was okay because it was a busy night. Lots of things to do and papers to read and instructions to follow. Mommy wanted to be sure she was thorough! Kindergarten isn't just a learning curve for the students but for the parents too! Whoo!

After meet the teacher we planned on staying out late for a celebratory dinner at one of our favorite Austin spots. We were celebrating back to school for both and my birthday. It was a fun night with all of us!

Kaki didn't got to the school with us. We left her with a sitter to be sure that we could focus and we are so glad we did... BUT we couldn't let her miss out on the dinner fun. After all she would be going to school for the first time too!

Ice cream all around...

And again the next day... when Caden and Kaki decided they were ready for the grown up flavor of mint chocolate chip while we were at the store... and they decided that it might go best in a sugar cone! Okay... done! 

Before we knew it, Saturday had arrived which also happened to be my 32nd birthday! The kids had a fun time shopping with Daddy that morning while I was getting my hairs did! They picked out the perfect cupcake and the perfect gift! It was a sweet day of celebrating!

Later that afternoon we celebrated another birthday ...

With bowling...

Nuggets... they loved bowling! This was the first time Kaki had been bowling and remembers it! :) She thought it was great fun!

That night we got them all tucked into bed and before I hit the bed myself I snuck back in to check on them... and I lingered a bit and snapped a pic, because there is truly nothing sweeter than sleeping babies... even though they aren't really babies anymore at all! :)

I couldn't find Kaki at first... this is a very normal occurrence!

Uncovered her... and snapped... flash... she knew it...BUSTED!

The next morning was promotion Sunday at church... all big, grown up and ready to move onto the next class... we now officially have no nursery kiddos... all pre-k hall! :) EEK!!!

Then...

Twas the night before school and not a sound in the house, but Caden's silly Mommy and Daddy blubbering about...

Yes...

YES, we did...

Both of us...

Kindergarten is the end of an era...

But the beginning of a new adventure...

Bittersweet tears.

And we're off...