Anna's first day at Primary School

The long awaited and long prepared for first day of primary school.  We had things all ready, uniforms hung up with underpants, tights, and under shirts all on the hanger.  Lunch menu prepared, super easy as most of it besides some fresh berries were in the freezer (smoothie, protein ball, and apple banana muffin).

Getting Ready for the big day

Anna's First Day of Primary School Picture

We are ready to get in the car

Halfway there (it is a two minute drive but for Anna a 45 minute walk, so yeah, we will be driving, at least to get there in the mornings), I gave her a primary school gift.  A teaching watch.  She was super excited as she constantly, constantly asks me what time it is.  The watch is fabulous, the little hand is labeled hour, the bigger hand minute.  The hour hand is green just like the numbers on the watch.  There is an additional outer ring with the number of minutes in 5 minute increments so it says (5, 10, 20 etc).  She had time to put the watch on and something exciting to show her teachers.  I told her she can ask her teachers how to read it!  With the excitement of the watch, I was pretty sure we would have a tear free morning and it worked.  She also packed a picture of the family in her book bag as well, so she could look at it and feel connected to us if she needed to during the day.

After we parked we realized we stopped in front of a lovely truck bringing a variety of deceased animals to the butcher shop.

Luckily Anna didn't take notice instead she said "I want to run to school!"

Daddy and Anna first day picture

Excited and nervous about going inside

Anna putting her things on her peg

The kids in Anna's school usually start half day but the school flooded at the end of summer term.  They also usually get at least one practice day where they come to primary school whilst still in preschool.  It helps with the transition.  However, the flood happened two days before practice day.  It was bad.  They got 4 feet of water in two of the classrooms, the kitchen and the cafeteria.  They managed to save the cafeteria floor, the rest of the place had to be gutted.  Except The main office and Anna's classroom, which didn't flood at all =)  They  school had to open a week late with two temporary class rooms for the older two classes (its so small they only have 3 classes!  Anyway, they also normally start the reception (kindergarten) children at half days for the first week to get used to going.  Anna was sad she didn't have a practice day and they were supper flexible about the whole thing, so she took Monday and Tuesday as "practice days" where I pick her up after lunch time.

Anna goes to a small village school 56 children total.  She is in a mixed classroom, with reception (kindergarten/first grade) there are 20 children in total 10 kindergarten, ten first grade.

Anna's first primary school painting!

Anna's Aunt Fiona came over to have lunch with me and we went to pick Anna up together. She works at a school but is off on Mondays and really enjoyed seeing another school.

Anna also came home from school and counted by tens to 90!  I never heard her do that before.  She can count pretty high up to 60 at least (almost always skipping the number 15), but I never heard her count by tens!  So she is really learning.  She was also so helpful all afternoon, feeling very mature being in primary school.  She helped with Lizzie, she did the laundry without me even in the room.  She also came home and used the word "manage" about a hundred times throughout the afternoon.  Here instead of "do you need help?"  People often ask, "can you manage?"  Well she said "I can manage", "can you manage?" and several other incorrect forms of the use of the word all day/night long.

Anna with present baby who got a new outfit (matching school uniform) in the post today

To celebrate I told her she could choose any restaurant to go out to eat for dinner.  She chose to go to Burger King, which I vetoed as Drew and I would not be able to eat anything there (I know I'm fickle).  Then I gave her some suggestions and she wanted to go to a place near by called "Hopper's Lane" because they have a "wishing well" table.  It is a table over a well that has a glass top that you can look down into the well!  Anyway, the place is normally not busy, but I called and made a reservation for that table anyway!  

Boo outside of Hopper's Lane

Our wishing well table

a peak under the glass at the table

waiting for our food leaves time to explore

upstairs the girls found a dance floor, hilarity ensues

Not to forget flying babies

"Special Dancing" with daddy

the dancers take a bow

Our food arrives (note Anna's massive meal)

Special dessert "extremely sticky toffee pudding" with a scoop of ice cream

Lizzie gets a bite as well she savors the moment

Finding pure bliss

while daddy pays we head back upstairs and find a kid prison window

breaking out to go home

 A great day, hopefully things continue to go well (although, I realize she is in a honeymoon period, for sure).  But on Wednesday I am dropping Lizzie off at the child development center so when Anna stays for her first full day, she gets to go out on a special date after school, how is that for motivation!