First day blues

The first day of school for Rielyn and Ashlyn was a very emotional one for me. I thought I'd do just fine, but it hit me harder than I thought. Here they are before school. Rielyn started 1st grade this year and Ashlyn is in Pre-K. Ashlyn has been asking for about a year now when she gets to go to Rie-Rie's school...she has been very excited up until this point!

Ashlyn just seems so little to me... I don't remember thinking Rielyn was so little in Pre-k. Ashlyn hasn't quite figured out how to carry her tote bag by herself yet, it's a little ackward. Rielyn helps her carry it in.
Ashlyn and her AWESOME teacher, Mrs. Hopkins. She's going to have a great year!
They start off every morning in the gym for "rise and shine"...it kinda reminds me of church camp growing up! Anyways, yesterday when I walked them in, it was very overwhelming. There were a ton of parents and kids in the gym. Rielyn knew what to do and found her class on the opposite side of the gym and took off. Ashlyn stayed with me and looked up at me and said in a whimpered voice,"where do I go??" So sad. I took her to her class and made sure her teacher saw her, she got excited then. Everyone was singing the national anthem and Ashlyn reached both arms up for me to hold her. I picked her up and she laid her head on my shoulder and said "I can't see mommy, everyone is so big." That's when I lost it. I was trying not to cry, but I couldn't help it.
I am so thankful though that Ashlyn has Rielyn there to help her. She is a great big sister and is going to make this transition for her so much easier!
You can tell how proud and excited Rielyn is to be back in school!
She gets her own desk! All the other 1st grade classes have tables that they sit at, but her class gets desks! She's excited about that!
Ashlyn putting up her tote in her little cubby.
Me..having a hard time letting go!! :( After the picture, I gave her a kiss and said I had to go and Ashlyn looked up with her big puppy dog eyes and said "but where are you going?" It's not like she hasn't been in Sonshine school for the last 3 years...she's used to that. This is new...this is big.
I was able to snap a couple pictures as I was leaving the classroom. I peeked around the corner to get Rielyn, she didn't know I was still there. She was coloring a puzzle her teacher made with her name on it! She looks like she's really into it!

I left the school and got in the car and started bawling. I don't know why...I pick her back up in 2 1/2 hours, but still...I cried. When I picked Ashlyn up from school, I asked if she liked school. She put her shoulder on the arm rest, her hand under her chin...head down and said "no...I'm tired, they do too much stuff." Man, do I feel guilty! Did I put her in too early? I thought she was ready! I'm feeling terrible at this point. I asked more about her day and got basic answers. I asked if they sang songs and she said yes, but "I don't like this school because they don't sing God songs, I like God songs!" Man, we should've put her at OCA! Hopefully things will get better. I took her to McDonalds for lunch to try and cheer her up and it worked until we got home. She misses Rielyn. She sat down next to me and said, "when does Rie-Rie come home?" I said "in 2 1/2 hours," she then said "then I' m going to sit in this chair for 2 1/2 hours and wait for her." I guess it could've been worse...if Ashlyn wasn't in school half day, then she would be sitting and waiting ALL DAY!