They're going back...

As of today, I am officially the mother of a 6th and 10th grader.

Ava is the most excited of all.

She is convinced that today is her "first day". I don't have the heart to tell her it's not.

Julian is still hoping it isn't true. I started the "countdown" 3 days ago + each time I said "3 more days!", he would reply "you mean weeks". 

Wishful thinking amigo.

And Isabella?

She says the first day will be fun, but after that, it's just going to be a lot of work.

I keep telling them this is the best time of their lives. 

I took these this morning // doesn't Julian look thrilled?

I remember loving first days of school. 

It meant new clothes, new running shoes and seeing friends I likely hadn't seen all summer since I spent most vacations overseas.

I loved fresh new paper + pencils and remember restarting that first bit of writing over and over until it was just perfect.

Lunch breaks + recess used to catch up on going's on + to sit cross-legged in the gym eating cream cheese sandwiches. Which I may or may not have eaten every single day.

And getting home that first day to share stories with my folks, rush through any "tell me about yourself" work I had to do and then run out to play on the street until dark.

 Childhood moments. 

Some days, I wish I had savored them more than I did.

To know what I know now.