A day that will live in infamy…
For the past month, I have felt like my whole life has revolved around prepping for this day.
First, at work, we have been building a binge drinking prevention web site for college freshmen that has been fraught with trials and tribulations. Delays and damnations. But finally. FINALLY. The site launched today. It’s the biggest site we have built to date. Has the most advanced technology we have ever attempted. Full of video. Yup – it’s pretty much BAD ASS.
Oh, and it’s been Bryan’s baby. He’s run the nuts and bolts on this project from the rooter to the tooter. So, the man has been working like a dog for weeks and was forced to miss the other major event of the day to see this thing set sail smoothly.
I am… SO. PROUD. OF. MY. CREW.
I wish I could share the site with you all, but it’s a government research project, so it stays under wraps for a while till we are able to prove exactly how bad ass it is. But trust me on this one.
IT. IS. BAD. ASS.
OK, so, speaking of bad ass, have I mentioned that my son… the one who does not turn 5 until September… yeah, him… HE STARTED KINDERGARTEN TODAY!?!?!?!?!
I am… SO. PROUD. OF. MY. SON.
He made it through today like a champ. I know he (and I) were completely prepped by the fact that he attended preschool last year, but it still was all a bit overwhelming (and when I say “overwhelming,” I mean “chaos.”) Especially when at first, I watched the two classes line up and I saw so many of his friends from last year in the other Kindie class. My acid reflux was quivering until I saw a certain little girl, the very one who called Declan “her Prince” all last year, line up behind Declan, bound for his classroom.
Aren’t they freaking adorable?
The other surprise pupil in Declan’s class? The little boy who was next to him in the NICU. I am not kidding. We were in the NICU for 6 weeks when Declan was born early and the little boy who was in the cradle next to Declan is in Declan’s Kindergarten class. A-maz-ing.
OK, back to the blathering. There was two hours of teachers talking and confusion and questions and confusion and answers and more confusion… but again, I feel MUCH better than I did at this point last year.
And then we broke off at half day. As we will all week except Friday. Because, you see – they are required by the district to TEST each and every Kindergartener. For an hour. For placement. It says in the package that Kindergarten is more like the 1st grade that we knew growing up, but this sounds more like the S.A.T. to me. And don’t get me started on scrambling to find coverage every afternoon this week. Because every working parent has plenty of vacation time to throw about, and can take off any time they want, right?
But here is where Declan helped me out a bit. He asked – nay, demanded to be brought back over to the school this afternoon for the afterschool care. I figured, what the hell? I am paying for it, right? So, we headed back over in time to watch the mayhem of afternoon pickup and went to the cafeteria to find the afterschool teachers. Remember the Dream Team? Two of them where standing at the door greeting the kids and Declan leaped into Desmond’s arms with absolute glee. He barely waved goodbye to me as Desmond grabbed his hand and they all headed inside to start the jamboree!
Seriously, this was the only part of the day that I got, to use my friend Stacie’s word, verklempt. Partly because… DAMN. My boy is SO growing up. And partly because I was thrilled to be back in this system that felt so good to me. Yes, it’s chaos and I am not good with chaos.
But the look on Desmond’s face as he lifted my son up into his arms?
That’s the calm in the storm.
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I love that picture of Declan! He looks like he is headed off to college, not Kindergarten!!!
Binge drinking huh? I would be a good test subject. lol.
Yeah!! Glad it went well!! All well up here, too for everyone’s first days!!
I can’t believe the kid from the NICU is in his class!!!
Big congrats Declan!
It’s days like this where everything lines up and POW! So surreal and bursting with pride — on all fronts! Congrats to all!
Congrats on the first day!!! His friend is adorable too.
And congrats on the website. I can’t wait to see it.
aw, that’s precious! 🙂
I’m bringing Bodenseewasser so you can calm down – yeah Bryan, I found some!
CONGRATS DECLAN – you’re a champ and I love you
Pata
Woo hoo! Sounds like a great day!
And congrats to Declan for a great first day!
yay for the first day of kindergarten!!! my kids don’t start until sept. 4th!
Wow, I will be a wreck on this day!
Aaaawwwww!!!!!!
L starts next week! They grow up so fast. The pics are great.
I’m sooo excited for you that the site launched! It looked GREAT!
Congrats on the bad ass site!!
We had first-day-of-school today, too. First and fifth grades. Aside from the fact that the kids almost missed the bus this morning, everything went smoothly. Sweet relief, isn’t it?
And happy belated birthday to Bryan!!
My daughter started first grade today at a new school but I remember the first day of kindergarten vividly and it’s HUGE! I’m glad it went so well for Declan. And you!
(I took pictures today, too 🙂
Declan was in the NICU? My guys were in the NICU for 8 weeks! I’ll actually be writing about it next week because it is the anniversary of some yucky stuff.
But this is you – CONGRATS on the site and CONGRATS on the growing man. Both are wonderful milestones.
Awww – Congrats to you, and Bryan and Declan!!! What a big day for your family…
You are two weeks ahead of us. Elder Son starts Kindergarten on the fourth. But Kindergarten here is really laid back: only half days. My only issue: finding an appropriately sized (read: SMALL) backpack so in 6 months I don’t have to get the kid in physiotherapy.
Good grief, Cute cute CUTE!
Adorable doesn’t even begin to describe it. Wow.
Congrats! And good luck.
Woo Hoo. Congrats. Cute pictures. Amazing his social network from birth an all. 🙂 Can’t wait for next week when the girls start first grade and preschool accordingly. 🙂
Three cheers for Declan’s first day of school AND for your completed project!!
AWESOME!
Aww… what a nice post. They grow so FAST, don’t they! Mine are age 31-23 and I STILL remember that first day of school… *sigh*
Congrats Declan on your first day of School! He looks so grown up and sweet and wonderful. Yay.
And congrats Aimee and crew on the launch of the new site.
Care to send me a link to it? I’d like to check ito out.
Awww! They do grow up fast, don’t they!
Remember introducing me to blogs? Now, I get it. Declan looks great. I remember the days Marabeth and Adam started school and now it is so great to watch Evan, Emerson, Hawkins and Nolan. Afterall, that’s why we are here!! Stella will start before we know it. Love, Nancy
Congrats to you all!