Two of the kids started school today. J has proudly announced to everyone who has been asking that she's homeschooled - and a LOT of people have been asking. K was very excited to start school. She wore a camouflage miniskirt (has shorts attached), black uptowns (sneakers) with ankle socks, black tank-top, and cropped denim jacket. I wish I had half of her fashion sense. She's good - and still tasteful. She said she had a good day. 7th grade is going to be tough and she knows that. She has 8 different teachers and already got math homework. They gave her an elective she did not pick (orchestra - which I think is a good one since she's taken that for 2 years already, but she hates it), so I have to write a note to get it changed. She sat with her old friends at lunchtime and was happy to see them. None of them are in her class this year, but she is starting to make new friends. I pray she has a good year.

W started school at 12:45. At 7am he started asking if it's time to go. J and I brought him over, and he was eager to get into the building. I was disappointed that it wasn't the room I saw in the spring with all the animals in it. So we go up to the room and all the parents sit outside (we had to stay in case there was a separation issue). Only about 5 kids out of 16 showed up the first day (WTF?). There are 2 big playground areas outside that they will use frequently. They provide the snacks, which is great - I don't have to scrounge around the house for something to pack for him. They give fruit, graham crackers, juice, and stuff like that. Everything else was ok, I guess. He didn't like it, said the teachers were weird, and said he didn't want to go back. By the evening, I found out that the teachers were "weird" because they had the kids clean up. (LOL). I think he also doesn't like the sing-songy way they talk to the kids. He decided he DID actually want to try it again. If he still doesn't like it by next week, I'm taking him out altogether.

So about 4 people yesterday asked J where she goes to school. I am so proud of her that she finally has the confidence to say it like it is rather than get that "deer-in-the-headlights" look she used to get. The responses have all been positive but you can tell they are a bit take aback by the idea of homeschooling. J told me she doesn't miss school at all and loves being home with me. She didn't get much time to herself yesterday but did manage to create several new songs on the piano keyboard, so some artwork, take an online history quiz, and help me straighten up the apartment.

So, it was my birthday today. The kids fought a lot, the apartment is better, but still messy, and I have this whole preschool thing weighing heavily on me. In the evening, B was home (he took off from working the US Open)! He took all the kids out to pick up a nice Italian dinner and K's school supplies. We ate dinner as a family for the first time in weeks and it was so nice. They surprised me with a birthday cake with 2 tealight candles on it (dh forgot birthday candles, ROFL). My gift was an old necklace he got fixed for me - of my 3 kids' birthstones each set in a charm. I love it. My birthday horoscope today said to stop trying to live up to everyone else's expectations and just be yourself. Yeah. I think I'll save that one.