Clara's first week of school.

Clara and our back neighbor Clayson started school on the same day, so Rikki was so fun and bought donuts and milk to celebrate with everyone. We all gathered together and enjoyed the treat and chatted about backpacks, teachers names and getting the kids pumped up for their very first day. The donuts were delicious and it was such a fun way to celebrate with the kids.

We are grateful for our fun and kind neighbors who make all the difference.

She even made chocolate milk just for Clara.

Donuts for Erwin and me. Yum!

Tyler especially loved the blue frosting and sprinkles.

Clara enjoyed her treat slowly and savored every sip and bite.

Look at all the toys Wa'a brought out to play with. *facepalm*

After our treats we ran inside to get Clara ready for the school. She wasn't super thrilled to know where she was going and it was the strangest feeling to drive her and not feel nervous. After all, she was returning to the same school with the same teacher and a few of the same classmates. This has never happened before so the sense of calm was very anti climatic for us. Drop off was a little different with the temperate taking and making her wear a mask, but she went in just fine once she saw an old friend. 

She hates taking pictures and won't hold still.

She looks so big!

Later that same day we had to take Wa'a into his brand new built school to meet with his new teacher for an assessment. Even though we are doing distance learning, she needed to know where Wa'a was on all levels and test him to understand how to best help him from a distance. It was hard to wrangle Naao while we were there, but overall it went well. It was a little sad to see a desk and cubby with his name on it, but it made him feel happy and included and that is what matters. The teacher is kind and offered to meet with us once to twice a week to help keep Wa'a up to speed so he doesn't fall behind the rest of the class or tutor him with where he might be struggling. I really appreciated that and we will take her up on the offer, whether it's in person or through google chat. 

Naao wanted to keep the teachers stuffed frog. 

Clara opened her treat I had bought for her but left in the car during testing. It was a melted, so she was a mess.

The second day of school wasn't great for Clara and I was started to second guess my decision for sending her back to this school.

Stomped to the car in protest.

Stalled by looking at a caterpillar with brothers.

She came home bothered too. Clara has *never* told me how her day at school was. Ever. So imagine my shock when I asked and she told me "School boring". I wanted to cry because I was so happy she actually responded for the first time, and then cry because I then again felt guilt about my choice of school for her. It's a whole thing and my thoughts about the process of deciding schools will be documented later, but for now I'm trying not to doubt. 

Much happier and drawing. Which makes *me* so happy!

The rest of the week was uneventful and she's never said anything about it since or shown much emotion either. She's neither happy nor upset. Just kind of doing what she knows needs to be done I guess. I'm praying and hoping this year goes well for her, even with her small class of all boys. (who are mostly all much younger and more severe than her) I worry about her so much and am insanely protective. I cry at the drop of a hat thinking about who she is, her present and future and how I want to give her friends, communication, love safety and happiness. But I know God loves her even more than I do, and I love her deeper than the ocean, so I know He'll take care of her.