First and Last...

Yesterday was a special day for our family. It was a day of many first for us,

and with those first, also came some lasts.

Here are some first:

• It was Cecily's first day of second grade and Ariel's first day of 5th grade.


• It is the first time we have had a male teacher for one of our children. Ariel has Mr. Baker for homeroom. He will teach math, science and social studies. She has Mrs. Pugh for Reading and Language Arts. They switch classes in the 5th grade, but this is not new for Ariel because they did this in the 4th grade as well. She LOVES having Mr. Baker as a teacher and will meet Mrs. Pugh today. It was so neat hearing her tell about her first day.


• It was also the first time that Cecily has a teacher who has not first taught Ariel. Cecily's teacher is Mrs. Burden and we are thrilled to have her. Cecily had a great first day too, she could not wait to tell us all about 2nd grade. It's a joy when both of your children love their classes so much that they can't wait to get to school. My girls were up by 5:30am, with no prompt, to get ready for day 2!


• It's my first time having a 5th grader. We love E.R. Dickson and feel blessed that our apartment was zoned for that school 6 whole years ago---WOW! It seems like yesterday, my "little" Ariel was starting kindergarten. It has been a blessing that Ariel has been able to start at E.R. Dickson, and finish there. I attended so many schools as a child (too many to count), and I hated it. It is nice seeing all the teachers, those who have taught our children and even those who have not, that have taken a special interest in the girls. Yesterday, in carpool we had so many teachers waving and saying hello, it was as if we were in a parade. I love the feeling of belonging.


• It was the first time that Ariel was actually concerned about what her hair looked like on the first day of school.


• And I think it may have been the first year that I can remember starting school with it pouring down rain.

Now for the last:

• Yesterday, it was the last time Ariel and Cecily will begin their first day of school at the same school until Ariel is a senior in high school.


• It began Ariel's last year at E.R. Dickson.


• It is the last time I will have a child start the 2nd grade.
• Ariel and Cecily were both almost the LAST ones in their classrooms on their first day. We sat in traffic on Bit & Spur for 30 minutes. The only time we moved, was when the drivers of the cars got mad and turned around. Ariel was upset that she was one of the last kids because she WANTED to be on the news. The Ham! Here is the news report link of Ariel's teacher and class from yesterday. We did manage to make it in a small clip from another news station. We are the in the very beginning under the umbrella coming up on the sidewalk. Don't blink or you'll miss us. The Emmertson girls are at the very end of the clip.
• It will also be the last time that Ariel threatens a traffic lady (even if it were from within our car). She asked me to get really close to the traffic cop when we drove by and put the window down so she could toss the apple she had for Mr. Baker at her. She was so upset with the traffic cop almost making her late for her first day. Although I know Ariel would NEVER really do this, I told her it was not nice to even think it!

So that about sums up the first and lasts.

As, I mentioned both girls had a great first day of school. I feel so blessed to be able to be alive to see my children reaching these milestones in their life, and that the Lord has blessed me to help these sweet spirits reach their fullest potential. It's such an awesome responsibility.

I also feel blessed to have FABULOUS teachers helping us with this. Throughout the year, I like to write a note to them letting them know how much it means to me, as a mom, to know that my children are under the care of these wonderful women (and now man) for 7 hours, 5 days a week. It's one of the things that helps me to let them go. These teachers are a great part of the reason that my children WANT to come to school.

With each day that passes, Ariel and Cecily will have many more first and last. Each day they become a little more independent, a little wiser, a little stronger, a little more of who they were meant to be.

As their mom, I want to hold on to them tight forever in hopes that somehow, someway, they can stay my little girls forever.

But it was never meant to be that way was it?

Thank goodness for pictures and memories. I think I'll go bake some cookies, so when we get home today we can sit down and do something that is definitely not a FIRST--- have a cookie and share our love--- and it definitely will not be the LAST.