Kindergarten is AWESOME.

So sayeth Cutie Pie, who had his Kindergarten orientation this morning. We'd been looking forward to it for a couple of weeks now, and I really thought I was well-equipped emotionally to handle just the orientation. I always sniffle and well up on the first day of school, but Kindergarten orientation? Nah, right?

WRONG! I burst into tears the minute they led the kids out of the cafeteria to go sit in the classrooms and meet their new teachers and friends. I went over to a friend of mine, who has a daughter in Heartbreaker's class and twins that will be starting Kindergarten in the Fall as well, and said, "I really didn't expect to cry today." She gave me an encouraging nudge and told me it was okay. My baby's going to Kindergarten. Wow.

The orientation itself went smoothly. I got there early to help set up, which I think also helped Cutie Pie feel more comfortable. Unlike his brother, who walked into that school cold, he's had almost four years to be familiar with it; he's roamed the hallways with me, he knows most of the teachers, and quite frankly, his brother is Mr. Congeniality over there, so he's blazed a very welcoming path for him. He helped me set up the cookies and juice in the classrooms, and got to meet several of the teachers early on. The principal even shook his hand.

When it was time for me to start showing the incoming parents where to come in, he decided he was going to sit in one of the teacher's classrooms! When I told him he had to come with me, the teacher came out and offered to take him in until the parents were settled in, Heaven bless her.

So the parents were all funneled in, and it was great to see so many familiar faces! The first time around, I didn't know anyone. Having been a part of the school for a few years, and having Alex in a Pre-K program in our neighborhood, I saw a lot of faces I knew - hey, it's a transition for me, too. We said goodbye to the kids for a little bit, I had my mini-meltdown, and we took off for the tour of the school. I think I've gotten the tour down pat, so it only took about 15 minutes.

Of course, I stopped by Heartbreaker's class to show the parents some of our fantastic teachers and the creative things they do with their class - his classroom is currently featuring a fantastic Under the Sea layout, with a blue sheet of thin plastic, or vinyl, acting as a canopy for the class and exotic fish hanging down - I have to try and get a picture of it; it's simply amazing - so I got some face time in with Heartbreaker, who, I'm happy to see, is still happy to see me wandering the halls from time to time.

We got our little kidlings back, answered some questions, and I gave my Parents' Association schpiel. We had some interested parties, so here's hoping for some new volunteers to keep us moving forward.

Dropped Cutie Pie off at school, just in time for snack - how's that for timing? And wended my weary way back to work.

Man, Fall is going to tear me apart this year...

Two Down!

Alex, ready to take on the world in his TMNT backpack today

Will and Alex at the playground for Will's first day, yesterday

I've got two kids in school. It feels so weird to say that.

Will started third grade yesterday - I think the bloom is off the rose, so to speak. He's happy to be around his friends again, but I'm not sure how much he loves school. I think he's turning into a 'dude'. I'm a little worried, what with this being the first year of the state tests that our NYC Public school kids must endure, so I'll have to sit tight and brace for the rough ride. I'm hoping I'm worrying for naught.

Alex, on the other hand, LOVES school. Walking with him today, I asked him if I could cry. He told me no, because he'd "be home later!" First into his classroom, he greeted his teachers with a happy "GOOD MORNING!", happily chose his own cubby, and proudly displayed his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles backpack for them. Then he put his picture on the attendance board and ran to the circle time area to read. I barely got a kiss on the side of my ear because his new buddy, Jason, had arrived.

It's very strange, after being home for 9 months, to suddenly have 2 1/2 hours to oneself. I went back to Will's school to help escort new kindergarten parents and kids to the classrooms, and then took a nice, long walk. I figured if I rushed home just to sit in silence, I'd be pissed at myself for wasting two hours on a beautiful day. So I walked into Forest Hills, ended up at Barnes & Noble with a $25 gift card from my CafeMom Secret Sister (mwah! Love ya!), and browsed the crafting titles with an intensity normally reserved for parent-teacher conferences.

I ended up getting three kids' books and a free Halloween tote bag. Hey, I've got $6.50 left on the gift card, I'll get a new magazine; maybe the next issue of Interweave Knits.

I saw a chapter book for Will that looked interesting - and honestly, anything that keeps him reading these days, when it's getting tougher and tougher, is a book I'm going for. I've got the first in a new series, Fred and Anthony's Escape From the Netherworld. It's definitely going for the Captain Underpants audience, a couple of years older. And it claims to have "Ghosts! Monsters! Blood! Guts!" on the cover, so I'll take it. Wish me luck.

Alex, for whom reading and being read to is still a pleasure (please, please, PLEASE stay that way!), got two books (well, I figure he and Will could share one). Max's Halloween, which is a cute board book featuring Max from Max and Ruby, who Alex loves. Very cute stuff. I also saw a book by Carl Reiner, Tell Me a Scary Story - But Not Too Scary. It even came with a CD of Carl Reiner reading the book, with sound effects. For $7.99 and the chance at getting a free tote bag, it sealed the deal. The book is a home run with both boys, by the way - I've played the CD for Alex three times today, and Will's just put it in now. Score, baby!

I've finished off two books myself, but I'll blog more about them later. I'm wiped and I still have to get one kid out of the bath and put one in. And work out. And iron. I think I should rename myself Cinderella.

School Starts Tomorrow? Holy Crap!

So it's Labor Day today (Happy Birthday, Mom!) and I find myself embracing the fact that Will goes back to school tomorrow, and that Alex starts Pre-K the following day. And yes, I will cry like a 2-year old with a skinned knee when he does.

After being home all summer with the boys, I'm grateful to have had the time with them, but as I've said before and will say again until the day I die, being an at-home mom (or a part-time at-home mom, as I've been for the past few months) ain't pretty. I think I've said the word "Guys" in a threatening voice approximately every 2.5 seconds every day since June 28th, when Will got out of school. "Please!" follows, clocking in at about 3.2 second intervals. I've almost had sunstroke from being out in the park, while my children play blissfully on, I've watched a lot of DIY Network (new obsession show: Greetings from DIY - Lauren and Linda, I'm talking to you), I've knit a lot and even got to know my sewing machine a little better. I've baked a lot of muffins, I've explored some new recipes, and I've had a lot of fun.

That said, I'm thrilled to say I've accepted a full-time job! Starting on September 17, you can find me at Working Mother Magazine, where I'll be a Consumer Marketing Manager. I'm so excited; I've been reading the mag on and off for about 8 years, and to have the opportunity to be a part of the magazine is so exciting. I love the location (42nd right off of Vanderbilt), which will leave me the opportunity to meet with Stacey for some mac & cheese at Burger Heaven (mmmm...); I really hit it off with the people I interviewed with, and I'm thrilled and hopeful, which I haven't really been much of in a while.

The boys are excited to be in afterschool - yes, after I started my little experiment, figuring I'd give them the home-time and security and freedom I thought they were lacking, they turn around and tell me they miss their friends. Who knew?

So it's Fall, the kids are going back to school, and I kind of feel like they do, as I get ready to go back to work. I'm psyched that I'll have their first two weeks of school off for them (especially since I don't feel like scrambling so early on to find out where to put them on Rosh Hoshanah).

And to be mercenary for just a moment, it'll sure be nice to have two full-time paychecks again... a girl's gotta have yarn, ya know...

Young Mr. Roosevelt

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you, young Teddy Roosevelt, the Rough Rider:



Will had to do a Herculean biography project for school, culminating in his dressing up like the person of his choice and giving a presentation. After seeing A Night at the Museum, Will was all about Teddy Roosevelt - and hey, a New Yawker could do worse, right? He was adorable and awesome, and I'm gushing as usual. :-)