Oh yeah, she’s ready to go.

Some moms I know are going to be grappling with tears and nervous tummies (their own, not their kiddos’s) as they navigate carpool.  Other moms will barely bring the car to a rolling stop before kicking Jr. out to the curb (“Tuck your head! Tuck your head!”).   I’d like to think I’m going to fall somewhere in the middle of the two extremes.  I’m looking forward to mornings of uninterrupted time to work, but I’m going to miss the random hugs and kisses the girls pepper me with as they skitter from one room to the next dressed up in all manner of frills and scarves.  I’ll enjoy appreciate running errands where I only have to unbuckle myself and can use a basket,  but I’ll miss the running dialogue that comes with two little imaginations at the helm of the race-car shopping cart.  The begging for fruitsnacks, ice cream, popcorn, free samples from the deli department and of course, multiple trips to the bathroom?  Not gonna miss that, but I digress.

I’d like to think I’ve provided both girls with a pretty awesome summer, one that they’ve thoroughly enjoyed and memories of which will last them well into the school year.  I wouldn’t say that the first day of school snuck up on us — c’mon, we’ve been doing a countdown calendar since the last day of school — but it’s hard to believe it’s already here. My girls are growing up and I’m amazed at who they’ve become in such a short period of time.  I mean, what did I think was going happen if I loved on them, nurtured them, encouraged them, and worked on making them thoughtful, independent, young ladies with strong character?

Two little ladies ready for anything, including the first day of school.
Hold on while I pat myself on the back (kidding, kidding). (no, I’m not). (no, I’m kidding).(sort of).

PS. If you have a chance, check out my friend Libby’s thoughts on sending her little boy off to kindergarten.

I don’t know who’s more excited, me or. . .no, it’s me.

It’s totally me.

I love back to school. I always have. I love a new packet of lined paper, new workbooks.  I love a new Lisa Frank Trapper Keeper with a Sailor Moon spring-loaded pencil case and an Aladdin lunch box.  Yes, I did have all of those things, and yes, I was a high school sophomore at the time.  Ahhh, youth.

The past two weeks have been nothing but the express train to CrazyTown.  As the summer drew to a close, we were inundated with back-to-back Back to School preparation.  The girls will be going to different schools this year, which means, each school has had their own new family orientation,  new student orientation, new school/new buddy program orientation, and all matters of activities to get us all oriented acclimated.  There’s all this build-up and rah-rah leading up to the first day of school.  The girls were literally crackling with excitement and anticipation. I was steadily crossing off calendar days until THE day.

Then Irene happened.

One downed tree and 5 days without power later:  Morgan has missed her originally scheduled first day. She’s on summer vacation for another week.  If I had a little sound bite of that trumpet triplet — you know, waa, waa, waa — I’d definitely insert it here.  The silver lining here is more quality time with my first born before she is fully immersed in the rigors of first grade.  Her enthusiasm, however, is beginning to deflate like a left-over birthday balloon.   She’s gone as far as to remix the They Might Be Giants Song “I Never Go to Work” as “I Never Go to School”.  Wonderful.

Coever, however, was washed, fed and out the door for her scheduled first day, September 1st.