A Big First-Grader: SO EXCITED!!!

Monday was the start of the school year and this cute boy could BARELY contain his excitement. It helped that we went to back to school night last Thursday and he got to meet both his teachers and see his 2 classrooms.
My boys normally sleep until 6:30 or 7 but I heard someone up around 5:30 and at breakfast Ethan told me he'd dreamed that he missed his first day of school and was so sad. This is the quick-take-a-picture-so-we-can-go smile. Can you guess what his favorite color is???

So we were a few (ahem 20) minutes early for school since someone was so excited and there were just a few others there too. Ethan instantly found his homeroom teacher's name on a piece of paper and insisted on standing right on it and waiting... for the entire 20 minutes. He seriously wouldn't budge. I kept saying, "you have plenty of time you can go play" and he kept saying "but I want to be first in line so I can be first in the class and first in my desk."

Miles watched him for a second and then took off for the playground. Brother vs. Playing?

Not even a hesitation! Isaac however refused to play. He spent the 20 minutes stomping around the playground and announcing to anyone who would listen to him "I AM 6. I go to first grade." And then he'd make this face every time I said, sorry, you're not. He kept this up ALL MORNING- through Rite Aid, through Costco, even at home. Anyone and everyone he could get to listen to him, he'd announce that he was 6 and going to first grade. Poor thing. Just 2 more weeks though and his preschool will start.

Still wouldn't leave his spot!

And then the much awaited, magical time came when the bell rang and the teachers came out and proceeded to high five all the students in their lines (seriously felt like the opening of a basketball game). Mrs. Foulke made the dramatic gesture of removing her "magic scarf" that allows her to speak English. Ethan almost died jumping and giggling when she did this.

And then since she wasn't sure they'd all understand (which most of them wouldn't) she took Ethan by the hand, gestured to the class to come, and yelled "venga!".

And they were off! This last picture is my favorite. His smile is priceless!

Just as an aside, Ethan is at an entirely new elementary school this year- William Penn. We loved having him at Dillworth and really debated whether it was worth it to keep him there for the great teachers, art, music, and p.e. weekly classes, and the chance to walk to school with all the other neighborhood kids and build strong friendships. But in the end, we chose to continue his education in Spanish. So at William Penn his homeroom teacher speaks spanish only and he'll learn math, science, and social studies with her. Then he switches to his afternoon teacher, Mrs. McGavin for reading and writing and she speaks only in English. One of his best friends from Dillworth actually moved into the William Penn boundaries and even though he's not in the spanish program in the morning with Ethan, they have the same language arts teacher in the afternoon and get to go to lunch and recesses together. Ethan is in heaven!

He came home today and announced "we colored a pinata and read a story called No comes la maestra- that means don't eat the teacher- and we had 3 recesses and I ate with Chandler and he had a sandwich and carrots like I did!"

We are so excited for him and very grateful he has this opportunity and that he's happy.