first day of school

the headline of this day?

what a difference a year makes!


jack, 2009

jack, 2008

mommy had wanted to dress jack similarly to what he wore last year. that was the first change we witnessed. this year jack had definite opinions about what he wanted to wear ... and it wasn't a blue and white button-down. he wanted to wear his "spring shirt." why it's called that, we'll never know. but it's the one with the brown collar and the lizard. mommy did convince him to wear the button down as a "jacket" in the light rain that was falling, but halfway up the "rocky path" from the street where we park to the school door, he shed the shirt.

and, of course, jack went to school in underwear today. naturally we sent a few extra pairs with him in his trusty bookbag, but it was such a step and such a big-boy thing to do.

another difference this year -- jack was ready and rarin' to go this morning. he couldn't wait to get to school! he kept saying, "come on mama, let's go!"

annie was a little sad to see him go. actually, his enthusiastic impersonation of a tractor during breakfast scared her and made her sad, but we'll say it was that she was missing her brother.



one of the first things jack said as we arrived at school and walked in was that he wanted to play with the car racing loop. mommy had seen this on tuesday's "unpacking day" and knew jack would like it. luckily his teacher, mrs. stover, inherited a second identical racing loop this year, so there are two. when told about it, jack immediately said, "one for me and one for cache, so i don't have to share with cache." cache is jack's "frenemy" from last year -- one party buddy, one part nemesis. it was no surprise that they immediately found each other ... and the racing loops!

but, in another sea change, they actually played very nicely together ... sharing and trading cars and watching each other as they sent every type of vehicle imaginable into the death-defying loop.

jack's teacher, mrs. stover brought out trains and dress up as well ... jack seemed to be in toy heaven.

so much so, that when mommy said, "okay, jackie-boy, i have to go to work now. have fun, i love you," he barely looked up from his activities to say goodbye.

oh, yes, what a difference a year makes.

but it looks like we're off to a great start to this one.