Noah's first day in first grade

the tears, the sweat, the anxiety, the drama... all for this day, the biggest, the greatest, the day of all days - FIRST GRADE! (seriously, i have no idea where noah gets his dramatic streak from - none at all)

to begin the day - i got up early so i could help noah get out the door on time. one would think that an hour is plenty of time for a 6-year-old to make his bed, get dressed and eat breakfast. maybe it is for most children... but this is Noah we're talking about, a direct descendant of Aaron. (i love you babe, but it's true - you both have the attention span of a gnat, which i'll illustrate with noah making his bed)

at first, we're off to a good start. i tell him to go make his bed while i get reagan out of her crib. he says ok, and takes off for his room. once there, he goes straight to his bed, takes his pillow off and puts it on the floor. this is where we lose him. he notices a dime - which of course he has to bring to me.

noah: mom, i found this dime.

me: great noah, put it on your dresser and go make your bed.

noah: but mom, i don't know whose dime it is. i just found it.

me: it doesn't matter - you may have it... GO make your bed.

noah: so, you're saying that i can have this dime?

me: yes.

noah: ok, but what if someone comes and wants their dime back - then does that mean i stole it? i don't think it's a good idea for me to steal someone's money. we should find out whose it is.

me: noah, it's my dime, you can have it. now don't make me tell you again - GO MAKE YOUR BED.

noah: it's your dime? why did you leave it on my floor? you really shouldn't leave stuff on my floor, mom.

me: NOAH...

noah: i'm serious mom, how would you like it if i left stuff on your floor? how would that make you feel?

me: (no words, just the look. you know - the look only a mom can have. the look that says, "mean momma is just around the corner and she's not gonna be happy")

noah: (seeing the look, takes the dime and goes to make his bed)


And the morning continues like this with me pleading, threatening, and yelling to get him all ready in time for his first day of school - but at the same time still trying to keep some peace and happiness in the home as i reassure him i will miss him and how exciting it is he's so big now... it ends up being a very long hour.

and yet, we do make it out on time and noah is finally ready for his big day.


here's Noah outside, showing his excitement to his friend Kate (a fellow 1st grader)




noah, kate and dallin posing for a quick picture before they all head off to their first day in first grade!!! dallin lives next door to us and kate lives just down the road.




at the school with some of the girls in our carpool - Jane and Emma.




Noah is standing in line waiting for the teacher to take his class inside.




This is Noah's first grade teacher, Mrs. Francom. she is exactly what every child should have as a first grade teacher. i just love her.




The bell rings and the kids start walking in and i'm trying not to cry as i watch my boy heading off to school. my friend, Carrie, summed it up best - he'll now spend more time with other people each day then he will with me and this thought is what makes my chest hurt as i see him walking through the school doors.

now - most mothers would leave at this point... we all know - i'm not 'most mothers'. so of course i follow them inside so i can see him in his classroom. once he's inside i stand in the hallway with reagan and we just watch him. at this moment he looks up and sees us standing there and starts to run to us... i'm assuming it's to give me one last hug and kiss goodbye. but instead, as only noah can, he runs straight to reagan, grabs her by her little shoulders, looks into her snot-nosed, drooling face and says "i love you. please (small breath) don't ever forget me" and after a dramatic hug -for reagan- he goes back inside, ready to start his day.