Xander and Clare

Awesome new school shoes!

Striking poses before we headed to their new school's
meet-and-greet last Friday.

Checking out Clare's kindergarten classroom...

...and then Xander's 3rd grade classroom.

Saturday morning we had the Osterkamps over for brunch.
So much fun!

Xander and Jack built a baseball stadium in X's room, and then
shot an iPhone movie of a pretend game.

We then had the Shaughnessys over for dinner.
It was a perfect Saturday, full of fun with old friends.

Sunday morning we walked from Boulevard Park to Fairhaven,
where we then rewarded ourselves with Rocket Donuts.

Clare got to watch a train go by from up close
on the walk back to the park.

We then headed up the hill to the Winters,
where Clare kicked back, relaxed, and "read" a book.

Just a tiny fraction of the yummy, yummy grapes
we harvested from our back yard.

Xander's first day of third grade!

Clare didn't start until Friday, so she got to
wait at the bus stop for X to return home,
just like old times.

Celebratory TCBY.

I took Clare in for her kindergarten assessment on Wednesday.
Here she is coloring outside her classroom while we waited.
(You can see Xander's classroom door on the right -- I love
that their rooms are so close.)

Clare's kindergarten monkey sign outside the
school office.

Had a bittersweet moment while watching Clare at the table
on our last school day afternoon together, just the two of us.

Clare's first day of kindergarten!

 

A little bit nervous on the drive up to school.

Heading in (in the pouring rain).

Making their way together to their classrooms.

Putting her things away.

Finding her name and putting it in its pocket.

She settled right in, gave us a kiss goodbye, and never looked up
as we left. So easy! No tears! (From Clare, anyway...)

Taya and I then met up for a celebratory birthday brunch (for her)
and to commiserate about sending our last babies off
to their first day of kindergarten.

Jumping off the bus for the first time.
(Xander sat with her and helped her carry her things -- such a
great big brother.)

Can you tell she had a great day??

We all celebrated the big week with pizza at La Fiamma.