Howe Two: Last Week of Summer

This was the official last week of summer, and we did our best to pack some fun stuff in with some laid-back relaxing. I admit I've enjoyed non- hurried mornings where the girls often slept until 8 or 8:30 and those times where we could stay in our pajamas most of the morning, and that will definitely have to change if we are going to get to school on time. Highlights of this precious last summery week included school shoe shopping (I was thankful to be the first customer at stride rite so we had the attention of 2 sales people at once--in and out with 5 pairs in 25 minutes!), a FROZEN movie showing with our new friend Stephanie (her fiance is a 4th year med student at MU who wants to go into radiology; she is a nurse who happens to work here in Rochester and the girls love her. She is darling.), a park playdate with Ella and Chloe, swimming lessons, soccer game, and last but not least--Meet The Teacher! Adrienne will be in Mrs Leif's class two mornings a week (as Jillian was in her 3 year old year) and it was so wonderful to feel relaxed and at home as we explored the classroom with our new student. When we pulled into the parking lot, Adrienne was so excited--"Mom is this really MY school now???" She spent 3 years dropping off/picking up Jillian. Her time has arrived. Later in the afternoon, we headed to George Gibbs Elementary to find out who Jillian's teacher would be and see her classroom. I nervously looked at the class lists in the gym searching for my baby's name, and there it was amidst 20 other names we do not know, on Mrs. Dyer's class list. Mrs. Dyer seems very sweet and nice (this is her first year teaching kindergarten as a former first grade and preschool teacher), and I do love how the kindergarten classrooms at Gibbs are in their own little separate wing from the bigger kids. This is big stuff. Like a deer in the headlights, I signed Jillian up for the healthy snack program (she can choose a snack off the cart each day), and signed myself up as a member of the PTA and VIE (volunteers in education). Nothing like jumping right in. Despite our lack of kindergarten familiar faces, we did see several dear families we love in the building with their older kids welcoming us to the school. That helped this first time mom feel much better. Jillian is on cloud nine, counting the days. Thursday will be a BIG day in our family. I drop both girls off for the first time within 10 minutes of each other. Be still my heart.