Thursday, August 14, 2008

First Day of School.... 2008

I officially have a second grader. It doesn't seem possible. (How am I THIS old??) I can still picture my December baby curled up at the hospital with a tiny red hat on his head. If I breathe really really deep, I can still remember that baby smell he always had on the top of his little blonde head. I can still remember his belly laughs and his mischievous twinkle in his eyes as he would crawl away from me. I still remember waking up to him counting... by fives... in bed next to me. I remember him wondering where the "door" was that his baby sister (in my tummy at the time) would use to get out. I remember him running into the hospital room after Carlie was born, but he only had eyes for me. For a minute. Then preschool came and went in the middle of those bleary months of having a new baby in the house. It really is a blur. Kindergarten was when I started to see his confidence start to kick in. First grade was when he decided he wanted to be a math teacher someday and he couldn't believe that he "would have to wait" to learn multiplication! Now... well, somehow "second grade" doesn't seem like such a little kid thing anymore. He's almost too busy for me anymore. He's got "stuff" to do and a sister to fight with. But today, when he came home from school.... he just needed a little snack.... and some snuggling with Mom. I can handle that.

1) There are three days of the year where the kids just KNOW that Mom can take pictures and THEY can't complain... my birthday, Mother's Day, and the first day of school. They aren't allowed to fuss about it. And it pays off. Big time. :)


2)Thanks to Daddy for making these kiddos smile. It was tooooooo early for me to work my silly magic!
3) I'd like to point out the addition of Cat-Cat this year here in the bottom of this next picture. Of course we could NOT leave her out!
4) This was right before the bus came. I wanted just a couple more in different lighting. I love this shot because it's so them. Colston is trying to get away and wiggle out of the picture, and Carlie is being her usual bossy self and trying to restrain him. (with the help of C.C. of course!)5) Seriously... they are growing too fast. Carlie looks like a baby to me in the 2007 image. Not so much in the next. The first one is from 2006... I finally found it!!And right (as in like 2 seconds) after the bus pulled away with her big brother, best friend, and worst enemy on it, Carlie turned to us and said, "Now what did I used to do last year when Colston was at school?"

12 comments:

Unknown said...

Mighty cute little people!

Anonymous said...

oh now you're going to make me cry!! my little guy is starting preK next week, and we have an 8-week old daughter as well. so i can totally relate to the bittersweet craziness that you must have had that year especially! it's so hard to let go, isn't it? :(

gorgeous images. i hope you're getting through today alright! ;)

Unknown said...

OMG, I don't even know you and you have me in tears!! I am such a stalker of your blog and I love your work.
Why do our babies have to grow up? Mine are 4 and almost 2 and I thought it was hard to see my 4 year old start pre-k! Oh boy!
Beautiful children you have, and yes, it looks like your daughter has lost her baby look.

Anonymous said...

Too cute! Your kids are adorable!

Anonymous said...

Enjoy this while you can! Before yu know it, he will be driving and she will be starting High School! Just you wait! DSR

Anonymous said...

I love watching C&C grow into themselves, the picture of Cat Cat makes me smile not just because he's in the picture but I love their body language. It shows the reserve, conservative side of Colston who I believe will fall in love in the field of math & science like his father and then you have Carlie with the baggy jeans, flip flops and color who is like her mother, free spirited and inspirational, She will be an artist. Hope you both have a wonderful school year! Love Aunt Jen and "onthan" :)

Anonymous said...

Such adorable kids! They have grown a lot!! Happy first day of school! Mine is going into first grade on the 25th! First time for "all day" school!!

Andrea Joki / Ajaton Joki Photography http://www.ajatonjoki.com said...

Love the cat especially. You really caught the moment well in these.

Joni Streit said...

Thanks, everyone! I think they are kind of cute too. :)

Anonymous said...

Your post and words brought tears to my eyes as I am preparing to send my baby girl to her first day of kindergarten in just a few short days. It's so hard to realize your baby really isn't a baby any more.

Your kids are adorable! I love the previous years pictures too. It really show how much (both) of them have grown!

Amber said...

You're gonna make me cry and I don't even know your kids! My oldest son starts 1st grade in a couple weeks. My thoughts about it all are the same as yours. They are always so cute on the 1st day of school. Great shots!

Anonymous said...

School has all ready started!! We still have 2-1/2 weeks thank goodness.