Back to School, Back to School

Another school year has officially begun, at least for one proud member of our family.  Ben started 1st grade yesterday.  He is in Miss Raikes class (a new teacher to his school) and has a lot of friends from Kindergarten in his room...but not his BEST friend, Nathan.  This revelation came Monday afternoon when we eagerly joined the rest of Ben's schoolmates at Wheeler at 2 p.m. for the big teacher reveal.  Nathan greeted Ben at the door with sunken shoulders and tears in his eyes and said "Ben, we're not in the same class.  I got Compton."  This news was doubly diasspointing for Ben, who wanted Nathan in his class and Mrs. Compton as his teacher.  First grade was not starting off with a bang!  Ben reluctantly went to his classroom to meet his teacher but eventually had to leave because he was so upset about the situation that huge tears were falling from his swollen eyes and by the time we got to the car he was sobbing.  "I didn't get ANYTHING I wanted." He cried the rest of the afternoon.  Poor buddy.  He was so dissapointed and I felt bad for him but we reflected on what a great day we had had together (school shopping downtown and lunch with Daddy and Uncle Craig at Steak n Shake) and how it was okay to be dissapointed but we needed to get over it and prepare for a great year.

After dinner at Chickfila (such a healthy day of food!) with our family and Oma and one last stop at Dick's Sporting Goods for new soccer cleats and shinguards and new school shoes (thanks Oma!), Ben was ready to hit the sack and was excited about the new school year.

He awoke (with a little help from his brother) with a huge smile on his face. 

He was bummed at first that he was at a table and not a desk (he later told me they brought in more desks so that snafu was quickly remedied) but was happy to be seated by his good friend from church, Grace. 

Joey was not a happy camper that we had to leave Benny behind!

But we had a great day nonetheless and Joey had his friends Macy and Drew and their little brother and sister over for a playdate. 

We walked to school to pick Benny up in the afternoon and he was tired but had a smile on his face.  He didn't offer up too many details other than that he "definitely thinks he was the best behaved in the class" and that he liked it and was excited for the year.  Off to a great start!