Back to school!

I had planned to get so much more done before school started.  We are so behind on our purging and organization, but it must get done before the baby comes!  I'm not sure if school starting means that I will have more or less time than I did during the summer.  

Anyway, today was Mei Li's first day of first grade!  That means she caught the bus at 7:35 and didn't come home again until 2:45.  That's a long time!  Mei Li hasn't woken up before 8:30 all summer, so I'm sure that her 6:30 wake up call was a little painful.

I wanted to sew Mei Li a new dress, but a smocked skirt was all I could come up with.  She chose the fabric, and I think it turned out well.

She looked a little bit rigid and not at all excited this morning.  Despite my repeated commands to smile, this was the biggest smile she could muster:

And apparently, all I was capable of was taking out-of-focus pictures.

She ran to be the first on the bus, and in her haste, forgot to give us hugs and kisses.  It broke my heart, but it made Stephen downright angry.  There were no tears from me this year.  I wonder if I will cry when Stephen goes off to kindergarten next year.  Does it just happen when sending off the first?  

Later in the day, I visited the urology office to give them what seemed like my twentieth urine sample (tmi?).  No folks, that issue is still not taken care of.  It's driving me nuts!

Mi Na and Stephen then accompanied me to the dance studio to fill out one last form for Mei Li.  Then we headed back home, packed a picnic, and headed to the park.

It was hot and humid, but I found a great shady spot by the playground.

Stephen played in a mud puddle.

Back at home, I made sure the kitchen was clean before Mei Li's school papers came flying in.

When Mei Li came off the bus, she looked much happier and gave Stephen a big hug and kiss.  I think he forgave her for forgetting earlier.

There was no homework tonight.  It's nice to be able to ease into our fall schedule.  Everything will be in full swing in a couple of weeks when Stephen starts preschool.  There will be dance, music, and sports, and just thinking about it makes me want to take a nap.

While the kids played, I made some peach jam.

I barely made dinner.

We had family home evening.

And it starts all over again tomorrow.