It's the most wonderful time of the year...

School is in session!!!

Ryleigh started school on August 9th at Coyote Hills Elementary. She is in Mrs. Potthoff''s 2nd grade class. A couple weeks into every school year I ask Ry... "Who is your favorite teacher so far?" Every year it is the new one. She is one lucky girl to be able to experience such great teachers. We have loved all of our teachers at Coyote Hills!

The ridiculously HOT walk to school at 7:45am

A great place to be.

She's ready!

Last kiss from dad...

Such a brave girl this year.

The wonderful Mrs. Potthoff...

The okay mom, you're embarrassing me! Look.

A few weeks into the school year and Ryleigh has already found a friend who she can bum sugary treats off of at lunch. No matter what I send with her, she still manages to score donuts or a cookie from her new lunch buddy. She is doing very well in class and told me that Mrs. Potthoff calls her the "math wizard." She definitely must get that from her Daddy.

Ellie started school the following Monday. She is attending a new preschool this year - Work of Heart at the Church of Nazarene. She goes every Monday, Wednesday & Friday, from 9:15-1:15. It is a little bit different than the "in-home" preschool we have used in the past. One major change has been the morning and lunch time prayers that end in... "and all the bunnies say, Amen" (the classroom mascot is bunnies). It has been very enlightening for Ellie to discover that not everyone prays the same way, and that is okay. Heavenly Father loves all prayers and it is okay for people to pray a little bit differently than we do. The school is VERY structured - gotta love that. The kid has to get structure somewhere....

This is the picture we chose for her classroom door, which has pics of all the kids in her class. Love that under-bite smile and those bright blue eyes.

Showing off her school bag - the front...

...the back. Everyone was encouraged to decorate their bags so you know which one belongs to whom. We couldn't choose anything except a princess theme for our little Princess.

Not comfortable enough to let go of Dad just yet.

Ms. Reta showing Elle what her "job" for the day is.

Elle did NOT want to sit on the carpet with the other kids. Her nerves had the best of her.

So we compromised... she sat in the chair closest to the carpet.

It is always hard leaving my girls when they are scared and nervous. It was definitely harder this time around (it is her 3rd year of preschool), it being a new school and her not knowing hardly anyone there. But, I think this will be a great school and is a good change.

Two weeks into preschool now and Elle has learned how to count to 10 in Spanish and her favorite thing to do at school is... The monkey bars at recess.

Now... what to do with all this extra time on my hands? Hmmm, I think I will enjoy the quiet.