And, then....Kindergarten

Anderson started kindergarten! I am so excited and also not at all surprised because I think he is at least 15 based on the amount of time he has been awake in the last 5 years. 

Possibly my favorite part was the preparation/planning/supply hoarding/list making/none of this surprises anyone. 

He was SO excited about picking out all of his new stuff. 

The list of things that I was looking forward to prior to having kids:

-forts

-Boo at the Zoo

-face paint 

-playing in the rain

-buying school supplies

I was so excited about letting him pick out his stuff that we went about a month early and then I got another list at Open House, so we had to go back. The thing he was the most excited about was the jeans with the holes in them. He actually put them on when we walked out, but then realized it was July and a million degrees and he took them off. 

Also, this is the only pic I got of the quality time outing. 

Picking out his new shoes. The kid is a sports brand snob; he loves Under Armour. How does even happen? It definitely is not from me unless Target counts as a brand. But, honestly, only having to buy one pair of shoes for the year makes it sort of easy and justifies the expense. 

He is SO excited about these. 

Brandon met us for "Meet the Teacher."

Side note: this event was from 10-12 in the morning. For the love of all things, does nobody else work??? I had to drive to AE, speak to the 9th grade class, fly back to his school and then drive back before the 9th graders left for the half day. It was crazy and, I think, provided a small glimpse of my future. 

His teacher is already awesome and had so much cute stuff out in the room-it was so little and colorful. I was in shock because my school world is sarcastic and everyone is bigger than I am. 

He got to take home treats and found out one of his friends from preschool is sitting at his table!

The Science center also helped his excitement. 

But, this-this RIGHT HERE, made me the happiest. Of all of the books, in all of the world, this is the one that was sitting out on the shelf. (Technically there were about 50 books sitting out, but this was one of them.) What kind of amazing sign of fate was this??

So many different pictures. 

Knox County does this really fun thing where kids basically go for 4 hours at a time spread out over the course of 6 months. I am kidding, but it really seemed like that. 

He is in the army phase pretty cool now. At his Open House (another adventure), his teacher told us about "ABC Boot Camp" and how, when it is over, they march down the halls. I was telling Anderson about it, thinking he would be excited, and he asked, "Oh, like the army crawl?"

Yet again, he will always set his bar high. 

Ok, one more funny about this pic. A said he wants to be an army man to "protect the country and Max." I said something that ended with, "best brother." 

To which Max promptly replied, "I right here!" 

Walking to school on the first day, well one of the 15 first days. 

Yet another first day....it really has been a very gradual process.

His teacher gave these out at Open House; it was really sweet. 

Perhaps you know Clare? My partner in all things parenting over the past 5 years?? Well, THANK GOD, we get to do this rodeo together, too!

Anderson was supposed to be in this pic, but I was frantic (shocker) and dropped him off earlier because I was worried about being late to work. 

Another side note-we get to meet Baby 3 in a month!!!

We are now 2 official days into this new journey and here is what he has told me so far:

He dislikes: the pizza, the fact that kindergarteners can't go on the monkey bars, the fact that they don't do Science ("If I had a wishing well, I would wish for a Science kit."), that they didn't get a ball out in P.E. and that there is so much drawing. 

He likes: the snack after school, the fact that a kid he knows is in his class and the fact that I gave in and let him pick out his own clothes each day-see below.