Jenna is a first grader. I have been struck lately with how grown up she is..well actually, her and Zac..and Trev, and how it happens quickly that they mature and cope with new experiences in life. I am feeling proud of them.
Jenna had a great fist day. She said the food was good, that they had 3 recesses and they didn't even have to read! They "met each other and explored and colored", is what she said. She is riding the bus here and loves it so far. She is really growing up. I would have used my fancy Nikon camera with a super-awesome lens to capture these special moments, but I don't have one. I don't even have my Kodak easy share because I have officially misplaced it. I was so mad at myself as I took pictures of Jenna through my mostly lame cell phone camera.
The first day, Zac and I walked Jenna to her bus stop at the end of the block and waited for the bus to come. Jenna was very excited. There were several other kids at the stop, a lot of whom she recognized from church. When the bus pulled up, she gave me a hug and went on her merry way into the bus. A wake of emotion blew over me but just to be interupted by a very sad looking boy that hung his head and shoulders only how he does. I looked at Zac and knew he was sad that he wouldn't have Jenna to play and fight with. The other moms thought he was sad because he couldn't ride the bus, but no. He was gonna miss his big sister. I hugged him and we walked home kinda quiet, both thinking I guess.
On day 2, Jenna woke up on her own and let the dog out that sleeps by her bed now. We got her clothes ready and had some breakfast. We packed her lunch because I got her a water bottle, and she thought that meant that she should pack her lunch. Anyway, she dressed and explained how she would like her hair. All set, with a relatively heavy back pack bc I sent some teacher-requests in her bag, she was on her way again. The bus comes at 7:28, so I thought since there were 3 or 4 kids at the bus stop that I would go ahead and send her up the street. I can see the stop from the front of our house which is so nice. She is jogging, and I told her she could take her time if she wants because she has a few minutes. She gets half way there and the bus pulls up! By now she is running and then Zac and I start running too (vicariously I guess). Anyway the bus starts to pull off, I assume not seeing her, and we are cheering from afar "keep running Jenna!" She never looks back and keep trucking with her backpack bouncing on her back with each step. The bus pulls to a stop and waits for her. She crosses our street and hops on.
It was very exciting for Zac and me. We cheered and carried on when she got on.
Zac had kindergarten testing this week. It was fun to watch him answer questions while I sat by listening to him. When we got back in the van he said, "I wonder if Jenna had the same test before. I wonder if she took a deep breath and walked on in, too." I knew that he was a bit nervous and intimidated at first, but I didn't know that he took a deep breath and pushed through the door being brave. That was cute.
Trev is finally, at 18 months, talking quite a bit. He has a little vocab and is learning and exploring new things all the time. Lately when I say something, I can tell that things are clicking and the cogs are turning. He is my little blonde baby boy that I still adore.
Not really sad thoughts that my kids are getting bigger. I feel proud of them, if that is even the right word. I do love them. I wanna go squeeze them now. If only catching the bus, deep breaths and conquering animal sounds were the toughest feats to tackle, they'd be set!
