First Day of School...

At 5:45am my alarm went off and after 2 months of lovely sleep and pj's it was time to get my butt out of bed for the first day of school. 45 minutes later the kids alarm clocks began to buzz. I was first greeted by a joyful, smiling 9 year old who was happily getting dressed in his nice shirt and new jeans. Next Abby, who as we all know is quite a lot like her mama...so into her room I went alarm clock still blaring and Abigail still sleeping! After a few minutes she arose with the excitement of the first day bursting in her. With the kids dressed and ready to go it was downstairs for breakfast,usually a joyful time but today it was all about efficiency bowl of cereal and toast. As the children ate Scott and I feverishly prepared lunches...yogurt, bread with butter, lyoner, and a apple (remember there is very little convenience food) and snacks raisins and crackers.
Now 7:00am time for a couple of photos and out the door. Now Scott and I decided that even though we had a car today it was important for them to learn the ubahn since that is what they will mainly take. The ubahn stop is 14 minutes walk from our house. We arrived with a few minutes to relax before we got on the train. Now the train ride is when the exhaustion of the summer caught up with the kids. Even though it was the first day and they were excited, sleep began to over power them. We have a 22 minute ride, so I passed them the iPhone to watch tv on. Finally we reached our stop at 7:51 am.
The walk to school is another 12 minutes! There were very focused on the walk, not a lot of chatter (even from Abby). The nerves had won over, they were officially scared! We arrived at the school at 8:01am. Luckily today the first hour of school had been reserved for new families. There was a meet and greet by the PTA and there was an assembly for the new students. So when we walked into the building we knew that everyone was in the same boat as us.
At 8:20 the assembly started. Wow the director of the school Tim Kelley was amazing. He made us feel so welcomed. He asked for people from another country to raise their hands and show who came from another country, over 3/4 of the hands went up. The kids felt more at ease. He explained that at a school every year is new and being part of a international school every thing every year is new. He even called the day " Happy New Year!" These simple words and phases made everyone a bit more comfortable. Than came the crazy and out of no where part...they introduce the teachers and start calling up the new students to leave...Ahhh we didn't say goodbye! And they are gone off to see the school with their teachers and student helpers.
9:00am....well I wasn't leaving without saying goodbye! Off to invade the school like every other parent and wave to my kids and let them know I love them. We found them easily and wished them well, they were already talking to other kids, and exploring the school! Little Abby already had on her house slippers. Ethan was showing off his sports glasses, and Scott and I were happy.
9:20am PTA coffee hour or as a new parent would call look bored and helpless till hopefully someone says hello. Nah not really I greeted another family who was obviously from the Midwest as they sent their daughter with a Meijer's bag! They are actually from Nothvillie.. to funny. Their daughter Rory is in with Abby.
9:55am for the first time in 3 months....no kids!
The low down really comes a pick up...
From Abby: the school work is way to easy, she like her teacher, she has a friend who she says reminds her of Davison ( I think because she speaks English). She likes gym but the rules our different than the states. Her favorite part is they have 2 recess a day!
From Ethan: The boy "Johnny" who he sits by is a bully. He hates that he has to redo his multiplication times test again! He likes lunch but would prefer sausages. And German class rocks.
From me: They didn't cry. They talked and played with others and they were still there at pick up....the day was a success.
We all survived day one now on to day two.