The Big Wide World

Michael and Emily took on a whole new world today, one that their sister left behind as she entered her new world of Kindergarten. Today was their first day of Mother's Morning Out. Being the sign queen, I of course, had to make them for one just like I did for Soph 4 years ago:
We started with the most important meal of the day:

Michael was willing to pose with the sign; Emily just wanted to get her hands on the camera. Then she found Michael's discarded cup to play with, and she was done with the posing.

Michael is really becoming a ham, and will even say "geez" when you take his photo.

This next is really just to show you how crappy our lawn has become, thanks to the drought, and the recent 100 degree temps. Even running the sprinkler system right now is an exercise in futility, and a waste of money. If God wants my lawn green, He can send some rain!

But I digress. I wasn't sure how they would do this first morning, but I needn't have worried. While waiting for the doors to open (yes, we were one of the first to arrive, along with my friend Sharon, also a mother of twins, go figure) Emily stood on her tip-toes and tried to open it herself. Once the secretary unlocked and opened it, Emily bolted in and took off down the hall. Michael preferred to check out each classroom along the way. When we got to their room, Miss Marsha bent down to greet them. Emily walked past her to see what was in the room, but Michael gave her a hug, which was unexpected. Once in the room he realized I was leaving, and started to back out the door, but Miss Marie distracted him with a "cuck" (truck) and that was all it took. By this time Emily was sitting at the table playing with a puzzle. Marsha looked at me and said "ok, scoot" which I did. Pretty painless. I think being the first kids to arrive helped, there was no one else clinging or crying, which is contagious.

I arrived about 2 minutes early to pick them up, and they were the only ones left in the classroom. Marsha told me all the other moms got there about 15 minutes early, and that set off most of the kids, but M and Em didn't cry at all. I was pretty impressed by that. So, it looks like we are off to a great start.

After a well deserved nap, the fun continued: And not to be left out, here is Sophie last Friday checking out her Sally Foster catalog. She is wearing her "spirit wear" which she was excited about, and her cheeks are rosy from the hot bus ride and walk home. She is still struggling with getting up in the mornings, still very tired, and still very disagreeable and prone to falling apart when she gets home. But, she is doing fine in the classroom, and that is what is important right now. As long as she is holding it together at school, learning to hold it together at home will come in time. I hope.