first day of THIRD grade + FIRST grade!!!!

Kicking and screaming we kissed Summer break goodbye and said hello to school!! Yesterday was the littles first day and they had a great day.  LOTS of fun pics, but those firsts have to be documented, right?!

Grace, 8 1/2
{first day of 3rd grade} 
favorite color: pink
favorite character: Elsa from Frozen
favorite game: The Shopkins Game
favorite food: steak, noodles, and broccoli
I love to: dance and draw

I hope her whole year is this smiley and dreamy!!

Hudson, 6 
{first day of 1st grade} 
favorite color: gold
favorite character: Zane from Ninjago
favorite game: swimming
favorite food: corn dogs
I love to: play with my family

Meanwhile...he is SO his father's son!! 
"How many pictures do we have to take??" 
he he he

There's that sweet jack-o-lantern smile I love so much!!

DEFINITELY a joy filled spirit!
{and same answers three years in a row!}

Perfect fit for him!! He notices every little detail! Everything must make sense and fit together just so. Love him to pieces!!

Official backpack pics!

Lunches packed with some yummies...stir fry chicken bites, shells with butter and parmesan cheese, apple slices, blackberries, and a chocolate pudding pouch!

They both loved their new magnets from planetbox and I love that we can use the same box and just buy a new carrying case + magnets every year!

And we're off!

The do-we-have-to-take-a-picture-at-school look. Why, yes we do! Mama wanted a pic of the two of you together and Grace in her cute new glasses!!

Ready to go into Mrs. W's Wonder Kids homeroom!

I have a feeling our days of walking her in are coming to an end... *tear*

Hello, Mrs. W!

Something about dropping off your *baby* that gets me every time!!

With his sweet teacher, Ms. H!

Bye mama!  Such cute Honeybees!!

But the best part about going back to school is catching up with all your friends!! Hudson was super excited that Lilly is now at his school!!

They both had a great first day - that's always an answered prayer!! 

When I picked up Hudson he ran to me and gave me the biggest hug! He said, "I had a super fun day!! Ms. H has the most amazing treasure box!" {he got a LEGO out of the treasure box!?!!!! he was OVER THE MOON!!} Later his buddy Jayden's mom told me that Hudson said Ms. H was sooo pretty + nice - he he! 

Grace said she had a great day but that they didn't get to go out to recess because it was too hot. (the good 'ole South for you!) That her desk (in like a little desk group of several desks together) is the farthest one back from the whiteboard but "I can see perfectly with my new glasses and I like it back there." (the stuff they notice!) And that she is sitting with two boys next to her that she tried to keep on task all day (ha!) 

Frozen yogurt at our fave spot to wrap up a successful first day!

We ran into some school friends and you would have thought they hadn't seen each other in YEARS!! Such crazy girlies!! 
{and yes, they were WILD after school. extra apologies to other froyo patrons that were there!}

All in all a great start to a new school year. My biggest prayers are for safety, for learning mixed with copious amounts of nurturing, and for the littles to shine with God's light from within in every circumstance they are faced with. 

Daddy and I love you more than words can say!
Go get them! 
XOXO,
Mama 

P.S. 
Second day of school fashion. Her style is really changing and she looks so grown up!!