We are ALL in school!!!!

Well, the time has come: We are officially ALLLLLLL in school!! Where, oh where, does this time go?!?! A 4th-grader, a 2nd-grader, and a PreK-er!! Oh, my heart.

The girls were sooooo excited to go to Open House to meet their new teachers:

Nora was ecstatic to be in Senora Chaij's homeroom!!

Nora's 4th grade teachers: English teacher, Ms. Harmon, and Spanish teacher, Sra. Chaij

And Ella was super stoked to be in Mrs. Munoz's homeroom!!!

The most precious set of teachers ever!! English teacher - Mrs. Munoz.....

.....and Spanish teacher - Sra. Brownlow!! :)

Next up, we headed over to Green Acres to check out Claira's Pre-K classroom!! She was happy that she's in the same class with her favorite little man and BCF (Best Cousin Forever), Matthew. 

After attending our open houses, the whole fam headed over to IHOP for dinner (all kids eat free 4-10 pm until mid-September.....holla!!) 

The night before the big First Day of School, we read a few school books and Claira helped pack her lunchbox for the very first time:

On the big morning, we all got up super early!! Huge adjustment since we'd been sleeping in until almost 9:00 (which is UNHEARD OF with this family!!)

I wasn't able to take pictures of the big girls in their classrooms on the first day since I had to be there early to greet my new 3rd-graders. BUT, the local newspaper swung by to get a picture of me and my cute students "in action." :) #mostawkwardpictureever

Meanwhile, Daddy was able to take Claira to her big first day!! 

Claira loved her first day, but there's been many tears since then. She loves her teachers and her school, but says she just misses us so much during the day. She's finally starting to adjust. It's hard to start a new school when you're so little.

Finally, I must take the time to acknowledge a beautiful soul:

If you know me, you know I love my workplace, Beulah Elementary. It's been my second home for almost 13 years, and these people are my second family. They've been there through each birth of my daughters, they've taught and loved my daughters, and they've picked me up through some of the hardest times of my life. That being said, this week was the most difficult week I've ever experienced in my "home." Last weekend, we lost Naina Hashim, our young, smart, precious beyond words, humble and loving Speech/Language Pathologist.

Naina was one of those people that reminded you of the purity and goodness in the world. A person that you could not say one negative thing about, even if you tried. Her death makes us all question, Why, Lord? WHY??

Yet, I found a quote on Naina's Pinterest board that reminds us "Faith in God includes faith in His timing." God never makes mistakes, and we must trust not in our own understandings.

We have honored her this week in many ways, mourned, and missed her terribly. I don't think we will ever NOT miss her. She was already an angel on earth, and I imagine that she's now one of God's leading angels. :)

We love you, Naina!! Thank you for your unending kindness. Your sweet spirit will continue to be a strength and calming presence within our school and hearts.

Cheers to our new school year, and to our sweet Naina!!