First Day of School!

School finally started today. As it often happens, starting about a month ago I couldn't wait for school to start. Noah and Callie were at each other's throats. But, the closer it got, I began to dread the idea at the same time. The bi-polar tendencies and emotions of motherhood always grip me!!

Noah began second grade. He was pretty low key about school starting- not excited but not throwing a fit, either. His uniforms from last year still fit, so that was a blessing! Throughout elementary school he will have the exact same class with the same teacher. So, things felt very familiar. This year he knows the language and kids in his class. All of our confidence levels are 100 times higher!! He walked into that classroom with ease today! What a blessing!

Callie, on the other hand, was beginning kindergarten! Everything was new for her. She threw me for a loop. A few weeks ago she was pretty sulky about school. So, I figured she'd throw some pretty good fits leading up to the start of school, with a public eruption reserved for the first day in front of God and everyone! BUT, she did a 180, and was so excited! Thank you, Jesus!! Unfortunately, once we got to school we found out that the kindergarten doesn't start today, and we're not sure if it starts tomorrow or Wednesday. She took the news fine. I think new school supplies, and especially a beautiful new Barbie backpack smoothed the pathway to kindergarten!!

The government provides every student with their very own set of textbooks and workbooks. The major expense is, of course, uniforms. Lucky for us, Noah's still fit and Callie doesn't wear them this year. They each got new backpacks, snack bags, pencil cases, water thermoses, erasers, pencils, etc. School begins at 12:25 and ends at 5:35. First grade and up has 5 different lessons, sort of like when you get to change classes in jr. high, but they have the same teacher and classroom. So basically the kids get a break between each subject. Noah loves it. The boys play futbol with an empty water bottle in the schoolyard (it is paved). One of the breaks is a few minutes longer for snack, which they bring from home.

Here are the pictures from the first day!


Ready for school!







Showing off their back packs.



Showing off my beautiful kids!




Posing on the front steps of our building.




Callie posing in front of her school. It is in its own cute little building.



Noah in his classroom.



Fatih and Baran sitting in front of Noah and a new student, Mamut (or maybe Mohamed).


I guess I'll have some more pictures from "Callie's First Day: take 2" if and when it happens!