The day we've all been waiting for!

It's the first day of school!!!

I know, I know, I probably shouldn't be so giddy, but we have been ready for this day for about three weeks now. The girls have had their clothes picked out (not that there was much to choose from, with the new "code of dress" - i.e. uniforms - that our school implemented this year. Have I mentioned how happy I am that they did this? No more fighting over clothes every. single. morning!) and ready to go for days. Vicki made plans with her friend Kate to match, which made me laugh for two reasons. 1) because I remember doing the same thing with my friend Katherine, and 2) because, hello, they're wearing uniforms! They're going to match with at least 5 or 6 people every day! But with the choice of skirts, pants, or shorts, plus three colors to choose from for the tops, apparently the coordination was essential to a successful first day back. Anyway, they settled on a pleated skirt, a white short-sleeved shirt, and a green sweater with white knee socks and brown shoes. And of course, Lexi had to match Vicki.
It's so nice when they get along and love each other. School starting back up will help this.

Vicki is starting 4th grade. I've been having minor panic attacks all week every time I thought about this. I remember 4th grade! It's more grown-up. I don't know if I'm ready for her to be that grown up, but she sure is. At their school the 4th and 5th grade classes are all combined, and they meet in the annex behind the main school building, so she feels like this is a huge step. Which it is. So she had to have a messenger bag this year, to add to the grown-uppedness. She keeps reminding me that she only has two more years until she's in middle school, to which I plug my ears and sing loudly until she goes away.

Lexi is lucky in that her 1st grade teacher got moved to 2nd grade this year and kept a few of her students. This is the same teacher that I babysit for, and who Vicki had for two years, and we love her, so we're hoping we can somehow finagle the two years in a row thing when Ellie's in school, too. Lexi's excited because once you're in 2nd grade you get to have recess on the big playground, so she's taking a step toward that grown-uppedness thing, too. I stood in line with her while they waited to go inside, and she was excited to see some familiar faces. It's nice to drop them off at school and have them be completely confident that it will be a good year and that they'll have fun.

They're growing up, but I think I can handle it. And look at them - they're ready for anything!