Sasha's First Day of School

Ah .. .what a busy week this has been!

Wednesday was Sasha's first day of school. Nathan worked from home so he could be there for the big day as well. 'Auntie' Arlene came over to be prepared to get Sasha on the bus on Friday while Nathan and I go to Waukegan to get our fingerprints taken for USCIS (the final step needed to complete our paperwork to bring an internationally adopted child into the U.S. - yes, this is the step that ultimately expired during our first adoption ... while we were in Russia ... with a newly adopted baby ... in a hotel room ... watching the endlessly sappy Hallmark channel (it's more sappy than the version we have here, trust me) ... in the middle of summer ... with our Russian visas expiring in a couple of days ... this will not happen on on second adoption).

So the bus arrived and we walked up to the steps, helped Sasha up and seated him next to his classmate, Isaiah. We buckled him in and said good bye to everyone.

For Sasha's drop off, he was 10 minutes later than what we had been told and visions of him causing some kind of disturbance that required pulling over to the side of the room went through my head. Would they let him return tomorrow? Would he get by with just a warning? Would he have been so bad that Ms. Tricia would ask that he be put into another class? Did he somehow get matches before he got on the bus? Can you kick a three year old out of school?

The bus arrived and informed me that Sasha had been very good and was the sweetest boy. She told me that he had a nickname already. Lord, a nickname? Surely three is too young for kids to be really mean, right? I know that kids can be very cruel but those little faces on the bus looked so sweet. Could they have already come up with something that would be the catalyst for years of therapy later on??? As the million deragatory possible nicknames spiraled through my head, she told me "blue eyes". Woo... I can totally handle "blue eyes" for a nickname.

He turned around and waved goodbye to the bus and yelled, "Bye, bye, bus", in his sweet munchkin voice. (He has other voices that aren't as nice as sweet munchkin voice, like yelling voice, singing at the top of his lungs voice and bossy voice just to name a few).

Upon opening his little Thomas backpack, I saw that Sasha's teacher had written a note that said Sasha had a great first day. She even gave him a new book to read.

Later that day, I received the following email from Ms. Tricia:

Hi. Sasha had a wonderful day. No problems what so ever!! Of course, since it is pet week, we had some furry animals visit today and there may be more tomorrow. I hope he doesn’t think this is what it will be like every day. :) The kids were excited to see him and Livia helped him whenever she felt he needed it. It was very cute to watch! Gracie wanted her turn to sit next. I think the girls may begin fighting over him. :) HAVE A GOOD EVENING.-TRICIA

WOW ... not only was our son not being kicked out of his first school, he's going to be a heartbreaker?? It was a great first day for Sasha.

They go to a pet store on Friday. I told Ms. Tricia that if he comes home wanting a snake, she's in trouble. I've spent my whole life trying to avoid snakes so obviously paying for one to live in the house with me is not something that will work well ('cause you know he'd get out eventually, right? Ah .. good blog fodder but it's just not worth it!)