first day of school!

this morning madelyn heads off to the second grade! we were all pretty excited about the first day (and very thankful that it wasn't raining). madelyn put out her outfit last night and was dressed (with new earrings) before breakfast. she had requested oatmeal pancakes with chocolate chips so i got up early to make sure i could get myself showered and presentable before making them. and then she put on her backpack! she had packed it up yesterday - lunch and all - and wore it all morning.

when i took madelyn on our 'back to school date' to shop for a special first day of school outfit, she only picked this yellowish t-shirt. i suggested putting it under this dress that we had purchased earlier and she added the leggings herself to finish off the look. she wore new rhinestone cross earrings and a new tiara headband (it is her third identical one - purchased each school year after a brother broke the previous ones).

i didn't realize that we were color coordinated until i looked at the pictures. the boys had dressed themselves and i think they tried to 'match' madelyn's first day outfit.

our 'first day' family picture before heading to the school.

there were a few of these...

we drove her this morning. partly because she wanted us to and partly because they announced that parents were welcome to come in a meet the teachers. madelyn's teacher was on the pto board the past two years so i know him and think he will be a good fit for her.

this is her last first day at this school - next year she moves to the intermediate school. she is pretty excited about being in the top grade. there are a lot of privileges including the opportunity to read morning announcements (like she did at the end of the school year) and a second grade musical at the end of the year.

waiting to go in.

finding her name outside the room. she was excited to see owls like on her backpack and lunch box.

finding her desk

and her locker (her teacher is a huge disney fan and even gave mickey mouse gloved high-fives on the way in)

good-bye, daddy.

good-bye, mommy.

a peak inside her well stocked desk after unloading her backpack.

and then she started to get nervous and tear up. she didn't have any roll down her face, but she didn't want us to leave. lots of kisses in her hands to save for later and seated at her desk, she put on a brave smile and said good-bye.

we can't wait to hear all about her first day when she gets on the bus this afternoon! i told her that the boys might knock her down, running to hug her, because they will be so happy to see her again. here's to a great year, madelyn! love.