Happy Monday!
On Thursday, we had our very first day of school and today, I’m sharing the pics.
Without a doubt, this year, our family is the most excited and has the most peace going into a schoolyear. I’ve shared on here before, but some years just seem harder than others…I’m worried about one of the kiddos for some reason and/or the end of the year before was just so dang tough that I’m nervous about the start…but I can say that this year, I feel the most peace about starting the new year. I’m trying to soak up the moment because I know it might never happen again. We are so excited about all four kids’ schedules, their teachers, their classes…it’s just all so good this year and as a mama who has started the year off nervous too many times to count, I feel SO GREAT right now. I hope you’re excited about the beginning of your kid’s schoolyear, but if you’re not…please know, I feel for you too. It’s hard when you begin the year anxious.
Okay…on Thursday, I woke up, got ready and made our traditional first day of school breakfast…
…green pancakes 🙂 .
Everyone was excited to get up and get going on the first day. Don’t we all wish that enthusiasm lasted all year long?!
After breakfast, it was time to get ready and take our official First Day of School pictures…
…Miss Madeley is so excited about first grade!
Ashby was so excited about starting third grade too! She gets two teachers this year and is halfway through her dyslexia program, so she’s really excited about that as well! She’s also the “oldest” Shull kid (finally!) at our school, so that made her extra pumped about going.
Smith was R-E-A-D-Y for middle school! This kid has been looking forward to middle school since the third grade. He’s excited about all of his classes, not having to walk in a line, not having assigned lunch seats…all of that freedom that comes with middle school. At the end of the day, he told me it was best first day of school EVER! I’m the most excited for him because he really was just so ready for this change.
And sweet Kensington was also so excited to start 7th grade! Now that she has the hang of middle school, knows her way around, knows the teachers, coaches and has met all of these new friends, she was extra excited to head back. This year, not only is she cheering, but she’ll be able to play volleyball for her school for the first time. She signed up for theater this year too…I’m telling you, she was beaming about all the fun she’s going to have in seventh grade.
My mama heart misses them so much during the day, but I’m so excited for each and every one of them!
One big group pic before we headed out to take the little girls to elementary school (it starts 45 minutes before middle school begins).
Gang’s all here!
It’s been four years since I only dropped off two at this elementary school. It’s so crazy that I’m halfway done! Didn’t we just do this…
…oh my heart!!
Madeley was excited because she gets a locker this year. #bigtimenow She and Ashby both couldn’t wait to hop inside their classrooms.
After dropping off the little girls, we headed back home for a bit and then, it was time to take the big kids to middle school.
They cooperated for their picture…
…they were both just SO excited!
After middle school drop off, it was our traditional back to school breakfast on our town square with my girlfriends. I didn’t take a single picture of my friends, but I did take a picture of…
…my spicy bloody Mary. It was really good!
I took the entire day off from work to enjoy myself and our first day back at school. After breakfast…
…I visited Hobby Lobby where I got #allthefall feels and…
…came home with this amazing gigantic pumpkin (that weighs next to nothing) for my house. I also leisurely strolled the aisles at Trader Joe’s before coming home and…
…making our traditional back to school cookies to enjoy after they got home.
I picked up the little girls from school and they were so chatty about their first day!
While we waited for the big kids to get home, these two girls changed out our mudroom area chalkboards…
…to make them all fall 🙂 .
I stopped taking pics at this point, but the big kids and Andrew came home. We talked all about school and then had lasagna for dinner. It was a great first day!
To see all of the recipes from our day, click HERE!
That wraps up the first day of school for the Shull kids. Sending all of you teachers, parents and kids lots of love who are going back today!! xx
Erika Slaughter says
YAYYYYY!!! I’m so glad they had a great first day! It’s gonna be an awesome school year!
Elspeth says
What a great first day back! I love all your traditions! Ive been following you since Kensington and Smith were going into first and second grade and it’s crazy to see how much they’ve all grown!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Mix and Match Mama says
Awwwwww! Thank YOU for always being SO SWEET!
Mindy Tierney says
So fun. My baby girl starts 11th grade in two weeks. Already an anxious mess. Last year our area was virtual for most of the school year. Finally back in person this year (with masks required). Soak up these years. I only get two more first day of school pics before college.
One question – in the past (been following for a very long time!!), you always did a picture of all the backpacks. Which ones did the kids pick out. My girl is still into the Vera Bradley ones. We get them at the outlet store for a reasonable price.
Carrie says
I am so glad my kids will be returning with masks required. Our district isn’t exactly following CDC guidelines but for now I am ok with it. They are making masks mandatory until cases are considered in the low transmission range and then they are highly encouraged. We are in the substantial range and they start 2 weeks from now. Last year our district was virtual until Oct, then hybrid, then full in person in March. I am also a teacher! I do worry about all these districts dropping masks, it’s nearly impossible to keep the younger kids 3 ft apart!
Debbie says
I’m glad things started off so well! I love the girls apple outfits and also missed the traditional backpack pictures.
Mix and Match Mama says
Well, Ashby’s hasn’t arrived yet, so she was very insistent we not take them 😉 . Once hers arrives (it was backordered!), we will!
Jill says
Such a great first day of school. Here in Canada we don’t go back until after labour day but we also had to go to school until the 25th of June. So still a few weeks to go!
Does Kensington wear a cheer uniform everyday? She looked adorable in it. We don’t have a cheer like that in the schools here in New Brunswick, Canada where we live so I am always so curious about it in the US schools.
Mix and Match Mama says
They wear it on the first day of school and then game days 🙂 .
Natalie Lyles says
Her in her cheer uniform just brought back oh so many memories. We had pep rallies 1st day of school and wore our uniforms and loved every bit of it. Gosh seems those days were yesterday. So excited for her 😉 I tried to get my girls (5 & 10) into cheer/dance but they are into horse riding only.. lol so outta my comfort zone. Maybe my 5 yr old will have a change of heart in future. Anyways hope they all have a wonderful year!!
Sheaffer Sims says
You left out my favorite part of your day….Smith and Nixon running to school. Haha! I’m so happy everybody is so excited for the year and had such a great first day!
Mix and Match Mama says
I just lol. Again.
Becky Przy says
It looks like it was a great first day of school for all the kids! I am going to steal your idea and enjoy the kid-free day after I drop the kids off at school! I love summer vacation, but it wears me out just a bit;-) It’s my first year with all the kids off to school and I don’t work the first day of school, unless I get called in to sub.
Mix and Match Mama says
You go and ENJOY YOUR DAY!!! You earned it, mama!!!
Joanne says
That sounds like a wonderful first day!
Lindsay Miller says
This posts makes me not as nervous for my 4 year old to start pre-school for the first time in a couple of weeks. It sounds like you AND the kids just had the most perfect day!! Question (very loaded question so you might not be able to answer). . . When your kids starting going to school, how did you decide what school was the best fit? What certain qualities of the school were most critical to you? My husband and I are wrestling hard over here with school decisions. . . I’m not ready for these difficult decisions! How did I get here so quickly?! Xxx
Mix and Match Mama says
Our kids go to our local public schools that are in our neighborhood. We really love our school district (and especially the schools we’re zoned for), so it was an easy decision for us. I totally understand that’s not always the case, but for right now, it’s a really good fit for our family.
Amy says
Oh my goodness, Madeley’s face in that first picture! Lol! Glad you all are having a great start to your school year!!
BF says
Looks like a great first day! Did Kensington get braces again? Was that always the plan, to get them again? Just asking because my 9 year old had a consultation with an orthodontist and basically we have two options: braces now AND braces later for phase 2 when everything is in. Or just wait a few years until everything is in and do braces then. We opted to wait a few years. Any words of wisdom on this?
Thanks!!
Mix and Match Mama says
Yes! She was always going to do the two phase process (Smith too). She just got phase two put on last Monday!
Carrie says
We have an awesome orthodontist and she shared some research with us and told us that she only does 2 phase if absolutely necessary. I was shocked to read that the 2 phase is typically not a need at all! My 13 year old just got her braces on in June and my 10 year old still has a ton of teeth to lose so we are looking at likely age 13/14 for her. At age 7 our dentist suggested seeing an orthodontist for my oldest as she was biting the roof of her mouth. One orthodontist talked 2 to 3 phrase braces and the other (our current orthodontist) suggested a retainer to be worn at night. We did the retainer and 3 months after starting it, the issue was corrected and her teeth were straight!
Tina says
Oh how I wish all middle schools were like your middle school! Middle schoolers here still have to walk in lines and have assigned seating at lunch. Couple that with no breaks other than lunch and that means my kids don’t get to hang out with their closest friends at all during the day. My son, who is entering 6th grade, is dreading MS because there’s no recess. I can’t blame him! It probably goes without saying that we are looking forward to high school, where they will actually get that freedom. I hope both your kids have an amazing school year!!
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh I hate that for him too!! Smith was so ready for those little bits of independence and it sounds like your son is too.
Vivian G says
I feel emotional about Kensington being so big now. I feel like she’s my kid and she’s growing too fast.
Amie P. says
Any suggestions…my oldest went to Kindergarten this year and was so excited to not be at the ‘daycare’ anymore and to be a big kid. After only two days he says he doesn’t want to go to Kindergarten anymore and it was a struggle to get him out of the car. I know this is a big change for him and just hoping he will come to enjoy this new stage in his life. I love that you got a year of total peace 🙂 I am so ready for fall, give me all of the pumpkins!!
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh goodness, that’s super hard, Amie. I think there is nothing wrong with sending an email to the teacher to see if she knows of something specific that might make his day better. She might also be able to encourage you because, I know my kids do this, once he’s there, I bet he’s having the best time ever.
Laci Murray says
My kids were SO excited to go back to school last week! It makes my mama heart relax and just enjoy it.
Lisa says
What is the dyslexia program your daughter is doing? Interested to learn more?!
Mix and Match Mama says
Our school district uses the Take Flight program! She loves it!! So many of my friends’ kids have loved it too!
Danielle Chesney says
I’d be grateful for any information you’d be willing to share about Ashby’s dyslexia diagnosis/program.
Mix and Match Mama says
Our school district uses the Take Flight program! I’ve had so many friends whose kids have gone through it and loved it!!
Nancy Le says
So happy the Shull kids had a great first day! Been reading this blog for years and it seems like Shay always goes to Hobby Lobby on the first day! Haha
Mix and Match Mama says
Yes, I do 🙂 . It puts me in the back to school mood!
Nicole says
Love this! Heading to Trader joe’s myself, when you grab their wraps for lunch, do you typically eat half or both for a meal? Thanks!
Mix and Match Mama says
I eat half and save the other half!
Liz Thorson says
Darling pictures with such bubbling excitement evident on their faces!! Yay for everyone being so thrilled about their new school year!????
Julie says
We will be in Dallas in September and wondered what is a good hotel there. Cleanliness is number 1 and proximity to shopping and eating. Any thoughts.
Mix and Match Mama says
In Dallas or a suburb? We have so many amazing hotels. Since I live here, I never stay in them, but we have boutique hotels, major chains (Marriott, Hyatt, etc) and then, we have resorts like The Gaylord Texan and Great Wolf Lodge.
Kacy M says
They’re so big now!!