For at least the next 13 years

Yesterday (Tues., 8/4/07), I was finishing up the triplet's 5:00 am feeding when I heard it: the quiet whisper of a 4 year old, "Momma, is it time to get ready for school yet?" I couldn't believe it! It was 5:30 in the morning! "No, Zoe, close your eyes and try to go back to sleep. I'll wake you up in a little while." Figuring that would work, I got in the shower and got ready for my day. When I got out of the bathroom, I noticed a shadow sitting on the love seat: Zoe! "How about now, Momma? Can I get dressed NOW?" Sure enough, we no sooner got Zoe into her new outfit and she was skipping down the hall, bounding down the stairs & practically levitating into the kitchen for breakfast. I could barely get her to eat 3 spoonfuls of cereal before she grabbed her backpack and started for the door. Convincing her that her hair needed to be brushed, I was able to get her back from the front door. But that was it, I couldn't put her off anymore. By 6:30 am, Zoe was sitting on the front step waiting for the bus to come!!

Around 7:00 am, the bus driver walked down our street and met us at our house. Unfortunately, living on a dead-end street has some downfalls. Apparently, a 52-passenger bus can't turn around down our street and our driveway is too narrow for the bus to pull into. So, my little kindergartner is going to be picked up up the street. I guess we'll figure out how we'll manage that in the rain, snow, & during Shane's business trips later. And by "we", I mean "me". The bus driver said Zoe & I could wait at the curb in front of our house...when the bus pulled into the intersection and opened it's door, Zoe could run down the street and the driver would wait for her. Okay...I'm getting off topic...

Zoe IMMEDIATELY took off for the bus and barely stopped long enough for me to take a picture. I think you'll be able to tell from the picture just how excited she was to go to school.

She chose the seat right behind the door and buckled in. It wasn't until this morning that I found out why she likes that seat: "I can get off fast, Momma & I get to say 'hi' to everyone when they get on the bus!" Does she take after me, or what?

As the bus pulled away, there she went...my baby...off on the bus for her first day of school...waving at me out the window of her bus! And lo & behold...I DIDN'T CRY! Go me!!!!!!!!

5 hours later (yes...5 hours) the bus dropped off my little girl. Grinning from ear to ear, she stopped at the bottom step of the bus and asked if she could go back tomorrow. (Did she think we'd gone through all this hoopla for ONE day?) I assured her there were PLENTY of school days ahead of her!

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UPDATE: 9/5/07
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This afternoon, I was greeted by a 16 year-old that took over Zoe's body! She came off the bus all exasperated and dramatic, "Mom...it's been a really long day...I don't want to talk about it...and please don't give me any projects...I've had so many projects today..." Not even a "Hi Mom! What's for lunch?" How crazy is that? Then she called Shane and told him how "horrible" the library was because she had so many tough choices to make. I guess picking just one library book is a bit traumatic for a (almost) 5 year-old. Boy, this year sure is going to be fun...