First Day, The Ugly Cry and Santa

*two posts today! I had to catch you up on yesterday and I'm excited to share another vacation picture!*

The first day went really well....as far as we can tell. He's not saying much, only revealing small details like *someone threw rocks at me* and *raising two fingers means I have to use the restroom*. I haven't received an email from the teacher yet so I'll count this day as a success.

Uncle Robert went with us to see Erick off. I think it's possible that he was the only uncle that cared so much and that we looked like a reverse polygamous family.

My tears didn't come right away...mostly because I was growing irritated with my husband's driving and had to keep barking orders at him. He's going to have a tough time at drop off against these mini van ladies when he's driving 15 miles an hour.

I had him so rattled when we got to our parking spot that he accidentally forgot to turn off our vehicle and left it running the whole time we were taking Alex to his classroom! Oops!

Saying goodbye to Alex was hard.  I waited until the last possible moment because he looked like he was about to cry.  I walked to the door and turned to take one last picture and he was sitting with his head down.  As I stepped out into the sunshine....I started the ugly cry.

Keith and Robert decided that I needed coffee STAT so they drove me down the road to The Village Roaster and I ate some gluten and drank coffee.  Then I opened a little baggie that had been handed to me as I was leaving.  It contained a cotton ball, a tissue, a tea bag and a note.

Here is a little gift for you as you leave your precious one with me on the first day of school.  As you hold this cotton ball in your hand, the softness will help you remember the gentle spirit of your child. After you've gone home and dried your tears, make yourself a hot cup of tea. Put up your feet and relax. Remember that together you and I will work for your child to be the best they can be.

Thank you for entrusting your child to me for the coming year.  I will do my very best every day to be your child's guide in learning and exploring this bright, new world they've just stepped into.

Of course I started crying again until I made iKeith read it to me with the voice of GRU from Despicable Me.   And then Santa appeared, handed Mallory a coin and said he caught her being good.  She just about passed out and fell off from her chair!

We went to the Belmar Mall, walked around, found the cutest outfit in the whole world for Mallory at Baby Gap, put Mallory on the naughty bench for being a brat, went to my new favorite store...Charming Charlie and then to Sur La Table where I bought a new vegetable peeler. Retail therapy?

I made iKeith take me back to the school 20 minutes early....because I was anxious to get my kid back and he made me sit in the car without the AC running.  I joked with him that he did it earlier...why not now.  He said something about gas mileage.

The bell rang and all of the kids came out and lined up against the wall.  Except for my kid.

I started to panic and then he came sauntering out! Taking his time....like he always does.  He walked slowly to me and gave me a hug.  whew! That umbilical cord hurts when it gets stretched!

We took him out for a special pizza lunch with root beer AND dessert!

I told him that I was probably going to spend the afternoon hugging him....and he said that would be okay!  I love that kid!

What I Wore:

Seafoam green t-shirt sweater from Down East Basics.

Jeans from White House Black Market

Wedges from Tommy Hilfiger.

White purse from Target.

Yes, Denise.  I wore jeans and a sweater on a 97 degree day.  Cardigans are my security blanket.

Question!!  What color accessories do you think I should wear with my green sweater?