Back to School | Fifth Grade + Last Year Preschool

Sep 16

Written By Tessa

I'm a little behind with this post. Andrew started 5th grade at the end of August and Charlie began his last year of preschool a week ago. I can't really think about that too much, I get a little heavy hearted at the thought of my baby turning 5 in a few weeks. And the thought of him in elementary school next year? Forget about it. There is still one last golden preschool year left and I plan to savor it!

Fifth grade started without too much fanfare for big brother. The biggest excitement is that Andrew joined band and will be playing the trumpet! (should I post some audio?!! :)) Last week at dinner Jimmy and I asked how band was going. He replied that it is so difficult to hear when everyone plays their instrument so he isn't even sure if sound is coming out of his own. Sure enough, there wasn't a peep coming out of his trumpet due to an incorrectly placed valve. Ha! Sign up for private lessons -- check!

My little guys are getting so big. Life is moving forward too quickly and with each passing year I'm ever more grateful that I'm the one that gets to go through the daily ups and downs with them. That I'm the first face they see after school and my ears are the first to hear the stories of their days.

"My job at preschool today was to be the Maestro! I got to pick out two songs for the class to sing! Itsy Bitsy Spider was my favorite!" - C .... "I have to write a personal narrative and I want to write about go-cart racing and how scared I was but I don't know if I want to share that with the class." - A ... "Did you know that when we pass around Chester (the class Guinea pig) we have to hold him on a towel so he doesn't poop or pee on us." - C... "I shared the chocolate cake you packed in my lunch with Tony because he didn't like his dessert." - A... "I love how the new Spanish teacher sings with his guitar and he's not even from Mexico." - A ... "Becca said she was in love me me." - C ... and on and on and on...

These little snip-its of their days, these seemingly insignificant details, I live for them. Even when they are harder to hear, involving hurt feelings or disappointments, I'm glad it is me they get to lean on and I hope they know that I want to listen to those too and try my best to lift them back up. I want to hear it all, good, bad, important, funny, you name it!

So, here's to the 2013-14 school year! May it be shared alongside kind friends and enthusiastic teachers and filled with new discoveries! (And please God, minimal communicable diseases! Amen.)