Nicholas' first day of KINDERGARTEN!

So, today marks Nicholas' first day of Kindergarten, and it went off without a hitch! He woke up before his alarm went off at 7:30 and was dressed right away. He ate his breakfast and was ready to leave the house before 8:00 ... his bus is schedule to stop at the corner of our street at 8:28 AM! We saw some other kids heading down around 10 after 8 so we decided to go, as well ... Brian said a prayer while the four of us stood at the front door--Nicholas didn't really feel like he needed it (our brave boy!) but mommy was definitely in need of a little strength! Our bus stop has a TON of kids this year--I think only 3 of them are Kindergarteners. When the bus came, Nicholas got on like a champ and waved at me as the bus pulled away. Like several other moms, I was crying--it almost turned into an ugly cry but I gained control before that happened. Nicholas is in Mrs. Morey's kindergarden class at Fall Creek Elementary. School starts at 9AM and I pick him up at 11:40AM. On Tuesdays and Thursdays he'll attend the K+ program through the YMCA which will supplement his day to be like the rest of the Elementary school kids and he'll ride the bus home with our neighbor, Sophie, on those days. Originally I was going to have him attend the after-school program through the Y that would allow him to stay at the school until 6PM so I can work, but I had second-thoughts about that and my neighbor Holly graciously offered to let Nicholas come over on those days so that I can work until 5 without worrying about him. Paige starts full-day preschool tomorrow and will attend that on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as well. I'm so grateful Nicholas got off to a good start today--I was SO proud of our boy. I can't believe time has come for him to be in Kindergarten ... I remember so clearly the day he was born and it doesn't seem like almost 5 1/2 years have passed. This was a huge milestone--his first day of Kindergarten! I'm sure some days will be tough but now that we've gotten the first out of the way, I'm sure we'll manage. Thanks so much for all your prayers for Nicholas--they were truly felt today!!

Nicholas' long bike ride!

I don't have any pictures to document it, but I just wanted to share that Nicholas rode his bike with me for 3.6 miles today! I was so proud of my boy--he was a real trooper! We decided to take a ride to get his housekey fixed at Ace Hardware (I had housekeys made for the kids yesterday and Nicholas' didn't work). About half way there, I realized that I had the key we needed fixed but didn't have my actual housekey! UGH! Being the master keymaker that I am, I thought maybe they could fix the problem without having the key, so Nicholas and I made the decision to keep going. Once we got there, the key guy told me that what I thought was the problem wasn't the problem (so much for my career in keymaking!) and that he'd need the original housekey to try to fix it. We turned around and headed home--no complaints from Nicholas ... or his sister, who was enjoying her ride in the carrier I was pulling behind my bike! About half way home, Nicholas started tell me that he wasn't going to be able to do this anymore ... his legs hurt ... his helmet was "killing" him ... he was hot. Normally, I'm not so much the exercise-encourager but I just slowed down and told him he could make it and to keep going. We stopped a few times for drink breaks but he made it without anymore complaints! He was excited that he had exercised and was ready to "sit down for a while" to relax. After he and Paige had their quiet time, I jokingly said that we were going to ride our bikes back to get the key fixed, thinking he'd disagree, but he was ALL over it! He said he wanted more exercise! Who is this kid? Surely not mine! :) Anyway, I'm sorry not to have any pictures of our big trip, but maybe I'll take some of them on our next bike ride so you have pictures to go along with the story. Oh, and we did get his key fixed ... he and Paige spent a good 1/2 hour locking themselves out of the house and letting themselves back in ... they're so easily amused ... on second thought, they MUST be my kids!!