Only THIRTEEN Years Until College

THIS BOY.

I cannot believe that last week we did this - meet his Kindergarten teacher. More on that in a second.

This boy who played his first game of Settlers of Catan (cult-following-German-strategy-board-game) ever on Labor Day - the last day before the start of Kindergarten. Kyle and Carlos were his teachers and opponents.

Yes, I'll trade you some ore. And I'll eat my snack while I'm at it!

Our two neighbor friends E & H came over to see if Owen could play and instead ended up watching a good portion of the game - his entourage, Catan groupies.

You should have heard Kyle and Carlos both trying to use Owen against the other to their advantage. And yes, they both helped him some. But they didn't let him win. And he did!!!

To the victor go the spoils!!!

Okay, so that's how the week started - not a bad way to kick off Kindergarten. 

Here is the little man, in his uniform, eating his breakfast (seemingly in the dark) on Tuesday morning. We had been working with him the week before to get up to an alarm (6:45!) and he had been doing great. For some reason this morning it didn't work because the time on his clock someone got adjusted so 6:45 came and went and then it went off. We've fixed the glitch and this little stud gets himself out of bed and dressed and comes down for breakfast all on his own. He began the year with a leftover Torchy's taco and a specialty Carlos smoothy - lucky little guy.

I was really glad that Kyle was off that morning so we could all go to his first drop-off.

We all still have sleepy eyes!

Parent fail #1 for the week: He was supposed to be wearing the pants version of his uniform this day. Oops!

Owen and the precious Mrs. Jill Adams - World Famous Kindergarten Teacher (We feel especially bless to have Mrs. Adams because we knew her and her husband Mark from Austin Bible Fellowship days!)

Proud, not sad (yet) Momma

Same for Daddy

Getting started at his activity table

All the parents taking pictures and trying to force themselves to leave

Okay, so I wasn't thrilled with the totally uncreative photos we snapped that morning - where was my first day of kindergarten sign? Why did I not have an arsenal of pinterest-inspired photo ideas? Because it was really stinkin' early in the morning. So when we got home, even though it was hot hot outside...we went for round 2, just me and the little man.

Pretending to take my picture.

And now its silly time - his idea.

Are we done yet?

Just a few more!

So, Owen had a great first day, really a great first week. He has handled the transition SOOOO much better than I have. Its not that I've been the weepy-miss-my-baby-mom (which I get, but that's just not me) - its more that the transition and new routine is just a LOT. (Owen has made the transition as easy as it could be on us - he's been so ready for a while!) Granted, it's the first week and so there is still just sooooo much newness and new info and new procedures, AND neither one of our carpools (yes, we're in 2) are in full-swing, AND the girls just started preschool on Thursday (a post on that is coming)...so it WILL get easier. But lets just say I almost ran out of gas this morning on Mopac in morning commute traffic and it wouldn't have surprised me a bit. A couple of nights ago I went to bed at 8:30. Lets just say I'm ready for the weekend. And really thankful for the other mom friends I have that are going through this transition with me - at our school and at other schools - because its a big transition no matter the exact circumstances. And I'm thankful for the mom friends that are a few steps ahead of us that can remind me that it will get easier - not necessarily simpler - but easier. Hang in there mommas!

*I just realized all of these photos look a little blurry - it's not your computer - I uploaded them in a smaller size and clearly that's not working. Live and learn. Mommy kindergarten.