Owen's 1st Day of First Grade

The summer was gone before we even knew it and a new school year was upon us. This year Owen was venturing into new territory...First Grade!  No more half-day classes for him. A big First Grader goes to school all day.

He wasn't even nervous for his first day. It definitely helped that he's at the same elementary school he attended last year and he even has a handful of his closest friends in his class.

On his first day of school, he was up bright and early, lunch packed, and ready for the bus. This year I decided Owen would ride the bus both to and from school (last year he just rode the bus home). Riding the bus seemed the much more sane route (at least for me!) than the crazy parent-pickup process at such a large elementary school. Plus he's the last one picked up in the morning and the 3rd one dropped off, so he's on the bus for less than 10 minutes.

Everyone said good-bye and wished Owen good luck on his first day of First Grade. We were all going to miss him.

Cole giving his big brother a big hug

William sadly watching as Owen goes off to school

We waited and waited for the bus to arrive. Last year during the first week of school, the bus had been chronically behind schedule, so I figured it was just running late. Finally the bus drove up and parked next to our sidewalk...and then it drove off! It wasn't Owen's bus.  

So we waited some more.  

Finally Shane called the school and the person who answered the phone said Owen's bus had already arrived at school! Yikes! We quickly jumped in the car and off we went. Poor kid was 30 minutes late on his first day. Luckily he didn't seem to mind. 

Shortly after 3:30, Cole and I sat outside waiting for a glimpse of the big yellow bus. I was a bit worried - if the driver forgot to pick Owen up, maybe he'd forget to drop him off too. Then through the trees we saw it! Bus #33 pulled up to our sidewalk and my handsome little man came running out.

Owen had a great time at school. He sure is growing up. But the most miraculous part of the whole day was not one tear was shed by mom! (I guess I'm growing up too.) Day one of First Grade complete. Many, many more to go!