I’m that parent.

The one that wakes their kids up at daybreak on the first day of school so that we can take nice photos. Partly because the lighting in the morning is gorgeous and partly because I know that spaghetti and meatball cafeteria lunches are the nemesis of white shirts. But mostly because I refuse to buy the overpriced and underwhelming school photo packages with fake tree backdrops — I have my own dang camera (and trees for that matter) and can do a way better job capturing who my kids really are these days.

This is a big year for Songbird. She started 1st grade, which in Virginia is the first year you attend a full day of school. Last week she lost her front tooth and I adore her new gap-smile. She insisted on buying lunch (I was right about the spaghetti sauce/shirt encounter) and is happy to ride the bus home with friends.

Bug is the newest preschooler in town! He attends morning class just two days a week and is way too excited about no longer being my tag along kid. On the way to school this morning he says, “Yay! Now I don’t have to run errands with boring mommy!” So glad he sees the positive side of life. I’ve also never had a kid so pumped about a new backpack!

Goofs.

After taking pictures, they got to Skype with Handsome while wolfing down breakfast. He is so good about taking time to connect with them on important days, even when he’s traveling.

Songbird ate standing up with her backpack on because she couldn’t keep still in her seat.

Both kids came home with glowing reviews of being back to school. I, on the other hand, enjoyed walking slowly through the grocery store and not uttering a single word to anyone for a couple hours. It’s gonna be a good year, I can just feel it.