The First Day of School...

Or, as I like to call it, MOTHER'S DAY!!!

The kids started school today. It was a short, mental/emotional trial to figure out which school they should attend. We live in the Wallace District but are 30 miles from that school (and they don't bus). I thought about sending them to North Platte Schools since they are closer (20 miles) but then found out that North Platte does not bus either - not even the "country" kids. That doesn't work for me. (They were willing to pay my gas one way, to the farthest school from the house, but I would still be in the hole about $12 each day in gas, not to mention the 30 minutes each direction, twice a day... Again, that doesn't work for me.) So, we decided to try Maywood School in the town of Maywood. Maywood is about 25 miles south of us but they bus. I just have to drive the kids six miles on the dirt road where the bus will pick them up on the highway. That part is still not ideal, but the rest of it is... The school (K-12) has only about 150 students attending. They do not combine grades so each class is VERY small. JJ is one of 11 students (10 boys, one girl). Kelly is one of 10 students (five boys and five girls). There are eight students in Christopher's class (seven boys, one girl). I am excited that they will get so much individual attention with such small classes. JJ has to take band and 7th grade Ag.

John - 7th grade - can't get the dang kid to smile, but at least he posed for a picture.

Kelly - 4th grade - she's been wanting a John Deere shirt all summer now because, as she says, "We're farm people, Mom. We're farm people!" Kelly slept in sponge rollers last night so she could have curly hair for the first day of school.

Christopher - Kindergarten - He has been waiting FOREVER to wear his new shoes and his Lego Star Wars shirt. His backpack has been packed FOREVER and he was excited about his Lightning McQueen lunchbox.

The whole group - Leslie wanted to get in the picture, too. She kept walking over to JJ, asking to be picked up.

JJ in front of the Junior-Senior High School part of the campus.

Kelly, in front of her classroom. She is in a permanent "portable".

Christopher in front of his classroom. The sun was in his eyes so I had to step in front of him and block it with my shadow. He has his resting mat under his arm. School is going to be a shock to his system. He is used to sleeping in until 9:00, grazing all day, watching TV and playing whenever/whatever he wants. Now he'll be on the bus by 7:30 and off about 4:15. I think he'll love it, though. (I did tear up for just a minute when I gave him a hug goodbye.)

For the grandparents... This is a picture of the whole campus. JJ's classes are in the brown building on the left. Kelly's classroom is in the white building in the middle. Christopher's classroom is behind the trees that are just to the right of Kelly's building. The big brown wall on the right is where the cafeteria is. The playground is to the right of the cafeteria. The football stadium is to the left of the Jr/Sr High. The grass you see is in the middle of the drop-off driveway loop.