First Days of School

This week all 3 kids had their first days of school- Charlotte went back to the JCC and is in the "younger 3's" class with some of her old classmates, and the boys started KINDERGARTEN!  It has been very disjointed- orientations for the boys on Tuesday, then nothing til a full day Thursday; regular school hours for Charlotte Tuesday through Thursday... Plus we are inundated with paperwork from the various schools and programs, so that I am sure I have missed something of the utmost importance and just hope that someone catches my error before there are any serious consequences...

Here are the kids on Tuesday before orientation and school:

Asher and Charles Broccoli

Benjamin and Pandy

Charlotte Eve in the dress her Memere bought her

 I took the boys first to their "Explorers" orientation- this is a half-day enrichment program since kindergarten only goes until 11:50. The Enrichment teacher is very friendly and energetic. She had a bowl full of snack- cheerios, raisins, and marshmallows- that Asher couldn't keep his eyes off of.

Coloring self-portraits

Asher's portrait and getting-to-know-you. He drew himself "as a mailbox"

Then we had another 45 minute orientation at the elementary school. The boys went into their classrooms and the parents to the "cafetorium" where we learned no new or helpful information.

Benjamin on the way to orientation

Wednesday the boys were home with their babysitter while I worked and Charlotte went to school and her first dance class.  Meema took her to dance but said she had a great time there and was cooperative and enthusiastic.

In her special tutu

Thursday was finally the boys' first day.  I thought I would cry, but we were so busy getting bags packed and 3 kids to 2 different places plus me to work, that next thing I knew, the boys were at school and I was alone in the car headed to the office.

Asher & Benjamin headed to their first real day of school

The boys seem to be doing ok- Asher is more quiet and reserved in his opinions. He says he can't remember anyone from his class's name, and is hazy on what he did during the day- I know he knows all of this, because he knows everything about everyone, so I assume he just doesn't want to talk about it yet.  Benjamin said he already has a new friend, Charlie, who he invited over to play after school some day.  Their teachers both seem friendly and we have heard good things about them from other families.  I am hoping that we are soon in the swing of things and I don't feel so disoriented around what I am supposed to be doing as a parent, too. It isn't made easier by the fact that after 2 days of school, the kids only have school a maximum of 3 days a week until October.  I guess we're starting slow!