Back to School + Back to East Africa

Four fingers for fourth grade, one finger for first.

Dear Jesse,

I've let the blog lapse for ages. But before you left for this current two-week trip to Burundi and Rwanda, you made a sidelong mention that if I could find a moment to put up an occasional 'blog post for Daddy,' it wouldn't be a waste of time in your book. (You were smart to keep the comment very low-key, knowing what's on my plate while you're away!) Seeing that this morning found the boys climbing on the school bus for the first time since last May, I'm here with super-quick installment #1.

Our back-to-school story started yesterday afternoon, when your mom put on a lovely back-to-school party for the boys. She'd made not one but two cakes—to fulfill two different favorite flavor requests—and bought many of their required school supplies. Even more sweetly, she gave them little gifts representing some of their summer activities and memories together, like movie theater style boxed candy and Red Sox baseball cards. I'm not sure how much the boys recognized the thoughtfulness, but I certainly was touched!

As for this morning, all went smoothly. You know that William has been storming big time about the thought of going back to school, and although I've been pulling out every subtle skill and trick I know to get him ready, I was braced for a rough morning. But both boys did a great job getting ready and even posed for obligatory first day photos before heading a few doors down to the bus stop. How is it possible that we have a fourth grader and a first grader??

Just for reference and for a walk down memory lane:

First day 2015: Hélène had just arrived hours before!

First day 2014: In France!

First day 2013: apparently I never posted anything that day...

First day 2012: I see Josiah wore the same shirt for his first day of K that William wore today. :)