Yesterday morning P woke Caroline and me up bright and early. And, in what will be the only time for the next nine months, we jumped out of bed ready to start the day and I cooked eggs for breakfast. Not that I’m opposed to making a delicious home-cooked breakfast. I’m just opposed to going to the effort so that someone can just move eggs around on a plate and tell me they’re full.
It’s really best for all involved parties if I just whip up a bowl of dry Honey Nut Cheerios.
I’d made Pioneer Woman’s prairie sushi the night before and I have to confess a little pride over how cute her lunch looked. I should have taken a picture but it was so early and my brain was still trying to compute what was going on.
Then she put on her first day of school outfit, put her hair in a side ponytail with a bow because “it’s what all the fourth grade girls wear”, and I made her go out on the front porch so I could take the requisite first day of school pictures.
(I know everyone on Pinterest makes you feel like you have to have one of those cute signs for them to hold, but we roll old school around here.)
(Which means someday I’ll have to look at the date of the picture and do actual math in an attempt to figure out what grade she was in.)
It’s a shame she hates to pose.
And then P and I drove her to school. Her only apprehension of the morning was over whether she’d be the only kid whose parents walked her to her classroom, which I assured her would not be the case as evidenced by the massive amounts of cars parked within a mile of the school. So she agreed we could walk her in and even held my hand for about three minutes before she realized what she was doing and that this is fourth grade and she may move out and get her own apartment by next week.
I helped her unload her box of school supplies, said goodbye and walked out of the classroom. For a minute I thought I might cry because FOURTH GRADE, but I pulled it together, NANCY, and drove home and poured myself a strong cup of coffee.
For the next few hours I worked on a few projects and then I went to lunch with Mimi and Bops. After that I decided to be super productive and go put gas in my car and get it inspected since my inspection sticker expired two months ago.
Unfortunately, the nice man at the Mobil station couldn’t inspect my car because my proof of insurance expired in May and he needed to see the current one.
I operate at a level of disorganization and procrastination that would put some people in a home.
So I drove back to the house but didn’t have time to try to remember my online password so I could print out my proof of insurance and get the car inspected before it was time to pick up Caroline. But I figured I’ve waited two months and what’s one more day?
After waiting in a carpool line that was more complicated and emotionally wrought than a journey to self-discovery, I finally managed to pick up Caroline from school. She announced that her day was great and everyone was happy to see her.
Of course.
I asked if she liked her prairie sushi for lunch and she informed me she didn’t really eat any of it because she wasn’t hungry. (See? This is why I don’t cook eggs.) But then I remembered to ask a critical question, “Did you buy anything in the cafeteria line?”
“Well, I bought one Slim Jim beef jerky. I tried to buy enough for everyone in my class but the cafeteria lady told me that wasn’t allowed.”
Yes. Thank goodness for the cafeteria lady.
I appreciate Caroline’s attempt at generosity but we really can’t fund an entire fourth grade class’s Slim Jim habit day after day.
We met Gulley and her boys for ice cream to celebrate the first day of school and then headed home to do homework before soccer practice because there is no rest for the weary. There’s no easing into the reality of the school year. It’s just like a headfirst plunge into ice cold water.
And it took about five minutes before we were arguing about her homework assignment like old pros. Apparently I know nothing about writing a summary. Even though that’s essentially what I do every day.
Finally it was time for soccer practice. P loaded her up and drove my car to soccer practice. And here’s where I need to tell you that our soccer practices are on an Army base.
Did you know Army bases won’t let you on base if your inspection sticker isn’t current?
Neither did I.
And so P had to call another soccer mom to drive out of the base and pick up Caroline and the other girls he drove to practice.
It’s really these types of moments that make a marriage great.
I’ll give you two guesses as to what I’m doing first thing in the morning.
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I’m so sorry I just snorted and laughed at that last part.
You’re girl looks adorable and ready to take on 4th grade!
Happy Motherhood.
I love reading about other people’s first-day-of-school days.
My children are all adults, but reading these “summaries” of first days just brings it all back, and I love the nostalgia. No matter what the styles are, or weather (my kids went to school in Alaska for the first 5 years, and believe me there were no shorts on the first day that I recall!) there is a common thread of letting go a little bit more each year, and simultaneously celebrating and mourning the fact that they are growing up, these kids of ours.
And yes, I snorted my coffee a little bit at the last part, too — talk about ironic.
I am SOOOO glad to see that darling child has not lost her joie de vivre as she has begun to grow up!
We had our first day of school last Monday, and this Monday we are waiting on a hurricane. I put a pic of my kids up in response to Beth Moore’s twitter request yesterday if you care to see my babies(@lisacovill). I mostly commented to let you know that there is at least one other person who operates at your level of “disorganization and procrastination” or worse. Seriously.
Your girl is a beauty! God Bless your early mornings. I hate them too.
Oh my goodness. I am so sorry, but I cannot tell you how much better you make me feel. I am SO with you on the inspection sticker thing, it is just really not my number one priority, and last year when mine was also two months behind, it was only discovered when my husband was driving my car. On our way to a surprise weekend away at a water park. I can’t even imagine it being discovered on an army base… because men love to drive cars that aren’t current on everything. I’m just envisioning the scenario at the gate and thinking it is the perfect storm for all the things that make my husband crazy.
(Had it been me at the gate I would have found it hysterical, but I’m guessing notsomuch for P?).
Hope the line is short at the mechanic’s today!
We begin our early mornings tomorrow. My daughter is also starting fourth grade. I’ll have to ask her if she got the memo about the side ponytail. I’ll tell her the From on the memo should say “From When Your Mama Was Young”. Here’s to a great year!
I’m just so glad I’m not alone. I majored in rationalization in college with a double minor in justification and procrastination. I hate — no, I abhor — details such as inspection stickers and mundane details like mailing things. Such a waste of good TV watching time. Here’s to hoping it all goes smoothly today!
Oh goodness! Being a military wife…I can so relate to the whole inspection sticker dilemma! They take all that stuff very seriously inspections sticker, license plate date etc…We let ours go for a short time without realizing it but was reminded by our friendly gate guard. Needless to say we like you got ours done that very day. I am on top of the ball this year and did one vehicle registration a whole month early which has to be some type of record. It’s just not good if your husband tries to go to work and they won’t let him on the base.
I cringed reading the part about P and the inspection sticker. I can just imagine that happening around here and someone named Mark might have been a tiny bit upset.
Try having a baby on an army base!! 3 times (we’re AF) and I’m just a little bitter!!
Awesome post! I love the idea of Caroline sauntering up to the cafeteria counter and shouting, “another round of Slim Jims for my friends!” That cafeteria lady has her head on straight!
I’d totally let my inspection lapse if I could get away with it because even though our swagger wagon’s in good shape, the suspense of “will they pass it?!” always wipes me out. However, VA police seem most eager to ferret out expired inspection stickers, so I have to keep it current.
And I think you do a great job of summaries.
“There’s no easing into the reality of the school year. It’s just like a headfirst plunge into ice cold water.” Truer words have not been spoken. Our plunge doesn’t happen until next week. I still have time to make those fancy first day of school signs, right? Yeah, that’ll happen.
Hahahaha! Great post!
stocking up on slim jim’s ?
I operate on a similar level of disorganization. But I still laughed. Sorry
Girl, you’ve got the summary D-OWNNNN!!! (Sure wish you could hear me say this, as well as see the white girl imitating a rap singer hand motion I’m making)
Your summaries? They make me smile.
I have no idea what this “inspection sticker” nonsense is? Maybe we don’t have that in Illinois…
Evidently the rest of the pack knows what this “inspection sticker” is also. But I do not. It sounds like a good idea though, but a giant pain. I live in MN and we have no such thing either. We buy a new sticker for the license plate once a year so that we can stick on a bright yellow 12 over the 11 from last year. That’s about it. It must be a southern thing. I assume you also have to pay for this inspection.
Good luck in 4th grade Caroline!
Hugs from Minnesota
Marie
Marie,
We are lucky, though since the Jesse tab relief ended it is expensive! I lived in VA and found out about this inspection thing and they ALWAYS say you need new tires or something else equally expensive. Then they hold the sticker hostage unless one complies. I do not miss this about VA.
No, it’s not a southern thing…they used to require inspections in Nebraska back when I used to live there. Basically they check tires, mufflers, windshields for cracks etc…I think they are in cahoots with the car dealerships because a new car is the only one that gets passed on the first try! Ha!
Oh, do I love your posts – and I’m guessing P found the whole army-base-sticker debacle about as funny as my dad found the tale my mom and I told about the hood flying up and bending the edges when we were running late for an appointment. Since he had just repaired the hood, he didn’t see the humor in it. To this day, I don’t think he does. We, however, still laugh about it.
I loved everything about your post today! What a great way to start off my day. I love that Caroline held your hand, even if it was just for a little bit. And oh, the irony of that sticker! Well, hope today is a good one. I think I’d limit the lunch money for your generous 4th grader…… slim jim’s one day, ice cream of everyone the next! But what a sweet thing to want to do. No wonder everyone was so glad to see her!
Funniest thing I’ve read in awhile.
Love the photos, she’s ready to go! I once had to get of the car wearing heels, in a snowstorm, to put my registration sticker on my car. I got pulled over because the policeman behind me noticed my expired (by 2 months) sticker. Luckily, I had the current one in my glovebox. Why I had been driving around with it instead of putting it on, I don’t know. That’s just how I am, I guess.
Is it weird that the main thing I took away from this story is wondering if Caroline’s adorable top comes in a grown up size?
Oh, my, my. I could feel how hot the water was that you were sinking in.
If it makes you feel any better, which I know it won’t, I would have done the same exact thing. I forget important things like when my license expires, where I put the insurance cards, and my anniversary. Yes, my anniversary too. This mind is a terrible thing.
~FringeGirl
I think I just laughed during every, single word of this post! Thanks for that!
Being a good mama isn’t for NANCYS!! You are awesome! Thanks for your post, hard trials for me today but you brought a bright spot!
I cracked up at the inspection sticker part! The hubs and I travel full time and are usually not in TX. Our vehicles are registered in Austin and we ALWAYS push the envelope on almost a year before we get it together for an inspection..and it is never in Austin. Typically Dallas at Christmas when I am so tired of hearing my father say..Melissa you better get that taken care of. You are going to get into trouble. **They don’t live in TX and understand our criminal ways! HA! Kidding but I am totally with you!
I homeschool our youngest kids and I REALLY wanted to post a first day of school pic of them snoozing away at 8:00 am. But I resisted. I want to keep my friends
Love your summaries!
“After waiting in a carpool line that was more complicated and emotionally wrought than a journey to self-discovery…”
This made me laugh. I just took my girl to kindergarten yesterday. I cried. A lot. I also experienced my first carpool line. It was something else. I think I’m going to stock my car with lots of magazines and a mini fridge of Diet Dr. Pepper to keep me happy while I wait every day.
It’s only day two and I’m already dreading that line, and I’m really tired. Kindergarten is hard work.
Mini fridge is DEFINITELY the way to go!!
Haha! At least you tried to get your inspection sticker earlier in the day. I love that Caroline thinks you have no expertise at summarizing. Parents…. they know nothing.
Love the pictures of Caroline! I’m so glad she had a great first day! Sounds like yours was ok too! Well until soccer practice!
I love it! Yesterday was my baby’s first day of school as well….a senior at Texas A&M (Whoop!). My last “first day of school”, at least on my dime! His day was wonderful too. And the professor that teaches that MWF class at 5:30pm says you don’t have to be there on Fridays….we’ll see when grades come out. Although my first days of school are now officially behind me, I loved reading that they really haven’t changed…apparently not even the hair styles. My 27 year old daughter says the side ponytails of the 1980′s scarred her for life. One day, Caroline will say you are to blame for that too.
I pride myself on always taking care of the car tag renewal, safety inspection sticker and oil change on time. My husband, not so much. A few months ago he took my car on a road trip to Oklahoma for a job interview and left his with me (because my car is newer and gets much better gas mileage than his 10 year old Ford Expedition). Well, come to find out his safety inspection was TWO YEARS overdue and I got pulled over on my lunch hour and got a ticket for his expired safety inspection sticker! Really – I was not doing anything wrong – just got pulled over by a motorcycle cop just for that. Then, a couple of months later I get pulled over for the same thing in my own car (so much for the pride thing) and my sticker had just expired by a couple of week. No kidding – a motorcycle cop again. Fortunately this time I only got a warning. So, if you ever take a notion to drive down a little further south to McAllen you better check your safety inspection sticker before you hit the road. Apparently, it is some pretty serious business in the valley to let your inspection sticker go…
Rule #1 — It’s an Army POST, not base. We in the Air Force have bases. The Navy has bases. The Marines have “camps” but don’t get all bent out of shape if you call them bases. But the Army? They will oh-so-quickly correct you that it’s a POST, not a BASE.
Yeah, whatever. //rolls eyes//
And yeah, they’ll turn you away if you don’t have current license and/or state-issued picture ID for everyone who looks to be 16 or above in the vehicle, if you don’t have registration, if you don’t have proof of insurance, if they’re having a bad day, the list goes on…. ;~)
And if you need a visitor’s pass, which you may or may not depending on whether there’s a civilian or active duty at the particular gate, or depending on the base/post, or the current FPCON, or the moon phase, you may need to park, go get in line, and get a visitor’s pass, which can easily add 10+ minutes to your already hectic & stress-filled day.
Ohhh, one more thing! If you hear the National Anthem in the afternoon (retreat), you have to stop your car — even in the middle of the road! — until it’s over. If you’re outside, everyone stops, looks for the closest flag or in that general direction, stands in parade rest (if in uniform), and is quiet until it’s over. It usually happens around 4:30 or 5p
Oh yes, the joys of military life! :~)
Thanks so much for the belly laugh today — I needed it! Good luck getting that inspection sticker — can’t wait to hear how that goes! lol
vehicle inspections!! Thank goodness we don’t have in FL. In 2 states where they’ve been required, they were a joke! What a waste of time! That’s what annoyed me about them.
Aww, I love this blog, it makes me smile
I don’t even do half of what you do on a daily basis and I am even more forgetful when it comes to things like car inspections. And Brendan, bless his heart, his third grade teacher comes to me each day after school to make sure he has not forgotten anything that needs to go home (because for one solid week at the first of this year, he seemed to forget something each day). I wonder how long I’ll be able to fool her by not letting on where he gets it from 
Love Caroline’s poses! She is so precious and apparently very popular since “everyone was happy to see her”. Too cute!
We used to have inspections in SC too but thankfully we no longer do. A bunch of bologna!
Caroline looks great. Love her love of life. Hope 4th grade is a great year for everyone and hope the inspection sticker thing went as well as possible today.
Priceless inspection sticker story.
You know, I love blogs. I have even attempted my own, but my 19 year marriage has apparently exhausted my capacity for commitment, because well it’s been a minute. Here’s what I love about yours. While your daughter is lovely, your front porch appears stylishly decorated, Geez you even managed to make lunch for the first day of school and put it in an adorable little lunch bag…how sweet is that???? You appear to be struggling with the same issues as this over-stimulated (I feel desperate isn’t an adequate adjective) housewife. I thought I was the only one driving around on an expired inspection sticker for for 2…OKAY, 4 months. Carry on my sister! You give me hope that I will one day also graduate from the dead hanging plants stashed in the corner of my front porch to decorative urns and such!!
“It’s really these types of moments that make a marriage great.” HAHAHA!!!
I felt compelled to forward today’s post to my husband this morning. He texted me after he read it: “You are my Big Mama.” Not sure if he meant that as a compliment…
I think you may be the funniest lady on the planet. Thanks for a good laugh after a busy day.
You might be envious to know that in Minnesota we don’t have inspections. I know, scarey, huh? Also, I don’t keep my insurance card in the car anymore like you are supposed to because someone broke into my car, stole the card and my garage door opener and tried to get into my house through the garage–but, surprise! People were home! Anyway, not keeping it in there anymore! Hope the rest of your first week is great!
Caroline is sooo stinkin cute! My goodness.
And I’m glad to know that I’m not the only one with inspection problems!!!
Caroline has such spirit. I wonder where she gets it? We just moved to Texas from Oklahoma. I taught 4th and 5th grade there. 4th is the best! The kids are getting so wise and yet they are still pretty sweet. I predict that she’ll have a great year.
Now about your insurance and inspection, I’m right there with ya!
You just made my day/night! I do the same exact thing to my husband
I had to read this to him, just so he knows that he’s not the only man with a procrastinating wife.
She is so cute! I love her new shoes. Thanks for the laugh.
I love, love, love how involved P is. Tell him that I said “good job.” And if he has any words of wisdom about raising boys that are involved with their children, send them my way.
Mom always took my first day of school picture with me holding up the number of fingers corresponding to the grade into which I was venturing…with my side ponytail and bow…although mine was worn considerably gravity-defyingly higher and conducive to headaches. But totally worth it in the name of fashion of course.
You never fail to crack me up, and honey do I need it! “I operate at a level of disorganization and procrastination that would put some people in a home”. We are sisters.