Today was Daxton's first full day of school.  When I picked him up he was so mad at me because "I left him there ALL day".  I stopped and got the kids a slushy a the way home to try and make it all better.  Daxton loves Tiger's Blood and Stratton loves Blueberry.  On the way home, Daxton told Stratton he was so lucky because he didn't have to go to school ALL day.  I think Daxton thinks his life is over!  Then later that evening, Dax was watching t.v. and said "Mom, I don't have to go to kindergarten anymore 'cuz I can learn everything on pbskids.org". Dang commercials.

Damon left for a fire in Idaho today.  It's going to be a struggle having him gone for 3 weeks.  I know we need the money to start building our house but with school just starting and all of us adjusting to a new routine...it's just going to be hard.  I teased him because tonight is book club and every time I have it "something" comes up and he can't babysit the kids.  I told him a week ago I had it at our house this month and now...of course the day of...he came up with an excuse not to be around to help out.  Next time I am not going to tell him until I walk out the door.  haha.  My sweet mom drove down to help me out so I could get everything ready.  I made creme' brulee for the first time for dessert.  And in true MiQuel fashion, I washed the rug in the family room but it wasn't quite dry enough when I put it back.  I thought nooone would notice.  They didn't...except when I walked everyone out to their cars and walked back in the house it reaked like a wet dog.  So all the effort to clean my house, make a nice dessert, etc. went down the tubes because my house smelled like a dog and everyone was too nice to say anything.  Wouldn't be a MiQuel function if something like that didn't happen!  AY CARAMBA!

First Day of Kindergarten

Today, 8/8/12 was Daxton's first day at Kindergarten.  We have enrolled him at the charter school in Pima called Discovery Plus Academy.  We met his teacher, Ms. Willis, and saw his classroom last night. He's all set with his spiderman backpack and matching spiderman shoes. I was so heartbroken and emotional last night knowing that from here on out he is going to be spending more time away from me than with me.   I guess it helps me to realize how fortunate I have been to be a "stay at home" mom. Fortunately, this school is on a 4 day school week and so I get Friday, Saturday and Sunday with him all to myself.  School starts at 8:00 and I have to drive him from Thatcher.  We were almost late on the first day which led to very little time for me to be emotional or upset about dropping him off.  Here's the best part, I FORGOT to pick him up.  Damon called me and said "Did you forget something?" "Uh NO, why?" "Daxton's school just called and apparently you forgot to pick him up!"  hahaha.  Oops.  It was only a 1/2 day today and I didn't know it.  Guess I'm not off to a very good start.

Stratton also started preschool today in Pima at Brighter Day Preschool.  Fortunately for him, he gets to ride the bus to school, the short bus.  :)  Stratton has a hard time saying his "c, k, g, l, th, r's" and so he qualified by 1 point to attend this speech therapy preschool.  It's wonderful.  His teacher is Ms. D'Ann.  He goes Tues-Thursday from 12:30-2:30.  The bus came and got him.  I loaded up the girls and we drove to his school so we would be there when he got off the bus.  I didn't want him to be scared on his first day.  I told him we would be there to pick him up.  Well...being that Daxton only had a half day I didn't have a reason to be driving to Pima in the afternoon.  So, I called his school and told them to send him home on the bus.  Big Mistake!  I guess he started crying and said "my mom said she is going to pick me up".  He got on the bus and as the bus driver told me "he just knew I wasn't going to bring him back home".  Poor guy.  As the bus was going to everyone's house but his, he thought he was never going to see us again.  He was so distraught when he got home that he got mad at me because I didn't pick him up and told me not to ever do that EVER, EVER again.

Tomorrow the boys start school.  We went to Daxton's school and met his teacher, Ms. Willis, for a meet n' greet.  His classroom is kind of small but I really think he is going to like it.  I can't stop crying.  My heart is pounding out of my chest.  I wish I could have his first 5 years all over again.  How is he five years old already and leaving to go to kindergarten?  I just hope he knows how much I love him and that I'm not abandoning him by making him go to school.  I really hope I did a good job raising him thus far because now all the influences of the world are going to be upon him.  Wish I could keep him in my little bubble.  Damon gave all the kids a blessing tonight.  Even Ellie.  When he was done with Stratton she said "me" and sat down in the chair in front of Damon.  She wants to be big just like them.

Daxton and Stratton both start school this week.  We will be turning a new page in our book.  I will have boys in school.  Daxton will go to a charter school in Pima called Discover Plus Academy and Stratton will go to Brighter Day (also in Pima). Brighter Day Preschool is a speech therapy school.  We tested Stratton over the summer to see if he qualifed.  A score of 78 or below means the student is eligible for free school and the bus will pick him up.  Stratton scored 77.  hahaha.  I guess we won't be able to hear his cute "oh-tays" anymore.  For family home evening, Damon took Daxton and Stratton to see Spiderman at the theatre on a "boys only" night because it is their last NON-school night before life changes for them.  They both love spiderman and both picked out a spiderman backpack for school this year.  All went well, except Stratton fell asleep during the movie and somewhere between the movie and the car ride home pee'd his pants.  Hopefully he can laugh about that someday. He's still my little stratterbug. :)