FINALLY.... a month later I am getting to a post about the big back to school event....
I thought with the littles both being in school 1/2 days that I would have all this extra time...
NO SUCH LUCK...
This is a long post........
I was using my camera and Jeff's for the back to school photos. In addition, I just put the thing on auto and snapped away.... which explains the odd lighting in some of them.
We had a little back to school dinner with their favorite stuffed shells....
While doing some much needed playroom cleaning I found these little buses that they use to play with. They both thought it was so cool that I found them just in time for back to school.
Lily's kindergarten had a phase- in the day before school actually started.
I quickly realized this phase-in was more for the parents.
Miss Independent walking a mile ahead of mom.
Lily and Mrs. H.... Lily LOVES her teacher...
Lily's words after her first day of school were....
MOM, My teacher is so bossy and sassy... and I LOVE that about her
Ty had an open house at his school the night before school started.
He was quite proud to show us his classroom/ big boy school.
His preschool is through the school system and he also receives speech therapy in his classroom.
Lily all ready to ride the bus.....
Ty not so happy that his school didn't start for another week and
his Lily was going to school without him.
Our little girl (or shall I say big girl) getting on the bus for the first time.... she said she was a little scared (just a tiny bit mom) but super excited...
I held it together up until I saw these little eyes in the bus window...
Then Ty ran (in the grass) after Lily's bus.....
He was so sad that she went without him....
Nothing a little X Box Connect 4 with Dad couldn't cure...
***When Lily came home she said, "I LOVE SCHOOL".
Here are some of her comments...
*I didn't even miss you guys.
*I have a new friend Ella. She has blond hair and blue eyes.... she looks different than I do... and that is why we like each other.
*Everyone on the bus knew me but I didn't know them... how do they know me?
*I love kindergarten.
Conversation between Lily and her afternoon bus driver....
FYI...When Lily started school it was 90+ degrees that week
Lily~ Do you have the air condition on?
Bus driver~ No air conditioner.
Lily~ Well, I am about to die on here in this heat.
Will you please open the window?
Bus driver~Sure.
Lily~ Thanks that helps a little.
The few weeks before school began Ty started to get a little anxious about it all.
I think the whole institution setting was worrying him.
He thought he was going to jail.... he thought when he was in China that was jail.
Because Ty adjusted SO WELL we tend to forget that he might still get worried.
We talked over and over about it all... assuring him and explaining things.
Seeing Lily come and go on the bus helped a lot. As did his open house.
We made sure that he knew he was only going to school and coming home to his family.
By the time school started his mind seemed at ease.
He loves his backpack but during his bus ride he has removed the little white tag and is working on removing his embroidered name.
Lily told him she was really proud of him.....
I can only imagine what these two were talking about...
Ty baby getting on such a big bus...... the tears started for me right at this moment....
I LOVE my snack and recess.
I asked him if he liked his school...
I LOVE it mama!
Well, somehow we survived our littles moving on to buses and school and all the new experiences they are having.
Lily is full of funny stories about her days. She sings all of her new songs constantly. She tells us when all of the boys in her class get into trouble. She is loving kindergarten.
Ty LOVES glitter (his backpack is full of it) and any paint projects. He gets really excited if he has homework (I am sure that will change a few years from now). He continues to enjoy snack and recess. He is also known to fall asleep on the bus ride home. Hee hee
9 comments:
Oh Tiffany! How are you surviving? Your two babies are gone...on the bus. I can't even imagine how this feels.
But gosh your kids are cute. The air conditioner story and Lily saying she was going to die. *I* about died laughing at THAT! Oh my goodness. Your children are obviously enjoying themselves.
I totally agree with you on forgetting how hard it must be for these little sweeties, how they understand school to be like the institute they came from. I have a funny feeling even though Lilah is SO excited about school already and still has another year to wait, we'll be having those same chats when her time rolls around.
They come through so much, and goodness if I have to explain one more time to an 'I-haven't-got-a-clue-about-adoption' person about how children remember stuff, that they DO NOT forget those first months/years of their lives. Seriously. I might just have to scream! In a nice way of course. :)
Your photos are precious, what special memories you've captured here. I pray they'll be happy and enjoy this special time at school.
Jill
I can report that our Alex (adopted at three and now twelve) is finally starting to forget or misremember his foster home. But at 5 and 6 and 7 he could remember amazing details about his life when he was two.
I have tears in my eyes seeing how grown-up the Littles are! But, the tears are short-lived seeing the beautiful smiles on all of your faces. What wonderful photos, and the memories you captured are priceless. You have a beautiful & happy family. God loves you and so do I. Love, Grandma Glenda
OMGosh Tiffany, each time you said you cried, I cried! I can't believe when I stop and think of where we both are today with two children and where we were when we first connected.
Ty and Lily are just adorable together. I love their big, happy smiles.
xo
Carolyn
Like Carolyn...I cried each time you said you cried....
You did such a great job journaling this big moment in their little lives. The photos are awesome as always...you still glow with such beauty...love the pic of Jeff and Ty... your children are precious as ever...and so, so FUNNY!
I was laughing...crying...smiling...
Oh...and Miss Lauren was sitting on my lap with a chopstick in her hand (using as a pointer). She came to Lily's shoes...pointed to them with the stick and said "oh my gosh, those are cute shoes". lol
Great post!
Love and blessings,
Robin
Another big step for Lily and Ty - and Mom and Dad as well! I'm sure you had mixed feelings watching your little guys get on the bus - I cried just looking at the pics. But, oh my, what happy little faces! Everyday they will have so much to share about what they see and do!
It's great that you recognized Ty's anxiety and the reasons for it & then dealt with it. Children may not remember actual events but the feelings they may have had can stay w/them for a long while.
(hope that get some a/c on those buses and soon! Leave it to Lily!)
Love, Auntie Max
great pictures! so many similarities with our kids— I feel like we live parallel lives. Lu is going to start speech therapy this fall too, our cleft team says it has nothing to do with his mouth formation, just that he's replacing certain letter sounds with others. I'm really glad about that since he's starting to notice that people can't always understand him. Good to do it before Kindergarten starts.
I too forget that Lu could have anxieties or worries that stem from his days in China, he is also Mr. Happy Go Lucky. One day I was running a quick errand for Clara's Chinese Immersion school and the teacher said I could leave Lu there for the 10 minutes I would be gone. When I returned, she said when she spoke Chinese to Lu he started to shake uncontrollably and cry. I was so surprised! Had I known I would have never left him. I think it triggered memories from the orphanage. Poor little folks, so much for them to sort out, and us too!
Hope you all have a good school year, looks like you're off to a great start!
You weren't kidding big update! Loved every word and photo. I think this is when people say "my they grow up so fast" but it's absolutely true.
Lily's got it under control just like a big sister would. She reminds me of my childhood friend Brooke - a bit bossy but fun to play with and she always knew just what to say. And she had the first pinata I'd ever seen (!!).
It's great that the school lets the kids come a day early. Yay, Ty liked it ok - it's good that you figured out why he was apprehensive and worked that out.
How do you let go when all you want to do is scoop them up and squeeze them tight?!?!
oh Tiffany...I love seeing pics of your babes!!
Lily is just looking so grown up...and that Ty..well it brought tears to my eyes seeing him get on that bus!
Enjoy this phase of your life!!
Lucy was just carrying around the strawberry purse you and Lily sent to her for a gift...I smiled and thought of you both!! HUGS
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