Well we definitely took the RISE & SHINE theme to heart when alarms started going off at 4:45am this morning!
Things went off without a hitch as we easily slid back into our school morning routine. The boys were up, showered, lunches made & ready to go when we all sat down in the living room to read scriptures as a family at 5:30am.
At 5:45am they were out the door on their way to early morning seminary! Payton was excited to start high school and to be with his big brother again. So glad they have each other.
An hour later Anna was out the door for her first day of Middle School as a 6th grader!
Definitely a big year! AND even more noteworthy for the fact that after 6 years she doesn't have to wear uniforms anymore! Honestly, though, I never minded the uniforms - it made getting ready in the morning SO easy! I think she spent an hour on Sunday evening selecting this outfit. It was worth the time, though, because she is just adorable!
Waiting for carpool. This photo is quintessential Anna.
While the kids were at school I made Salted Peanut Butter Pretzel M&M's Cookies (that's a mouthful!) to welcome them home. We sat around and discussed the day and it seems that it was a success for everyone!
Anna was SO giggly on the drive home to the point of goofy hysterics, which just means that she had a really really good day. I apologized to the other boys in our carpool, but I think they know Anna well enough that they are just used to it.
Once the boys got home we had a re-do on their 1st day of school pictures, because 5:45am is just too early for being camera ready.
Payton is in 9th grade. It appears that the day went pretty smoothly, he found all of his classes, but he wasn't able to find his friends at lunchtime (try again tomorrow). He was a little disappointed that he is in French rather than Japanese. French was his first choice but then he changed his mind over the summer, and with a student body of 3200+ it can be pretty tough to change your schedule. So we just had a pep talk and assured him that he would do great in French and it will be just fine. The good news of the day was discovering that he DID get his first choice for elective - Video Production. Woot!
I told him to make a serious face. What a handsome kid.
Conner is in 11th grade. He has some great classes this year like Pre-Calculus and AP Physics and Beginning Guitar! How cool is that? High school is old hat to him so not too much to report on today. He was just happy to see his friends and check out who the new choir members are.
We grilled hamburgers for dinner and while we sat around the table I was so pleased and proud to hear small stories of my kids taking the opportunity to SHINE today.
Each of them took the initiative to introduce themselves to someone they didn't know in their classes. Anna's story was so cute -- she was sitting in class and before the bell rang she turned to the girl next to her, stuck our her hand, said "hi I'm Anna!", and shook the girls hand! I told her that the girl might have been really nervous at school, or felt out of place because she didn't know anyone and Anna's gesture very well could have made her feel so much more comfortable in this new, bigger school.
Let's keep it up kids! Here's to a great school year!
