A right of passage: School Bus!

Admittedly, we've been spoiled.  Six houses from our elementary school since the kidlets started there.  No need to drive, park, slug through (too much) snow.

New city, new adventures:  the kids are now riding the bus to school!  Something tells me they won't be clamoring to ride the bus at home after their smooth ride here.  Yet another way the Italians got it right!

Schoooooool!

Ahhhhh!  The school year is underway!  So many changes, but one constant:  6 hours a day of instruction, like it or not.  Thankfully, they're on the 'like it' side of that equation right now :)

We had orientation last Friday.  Tours of the school, meeting teachers, checking out lockers...both kids give it two thumbs up:

Huge green field!  Tennis courts!  Hooray!

Dance Studio?!

Gym.  Like, real deal gym.  This thing is *huge*!

All smiles at ASM!

Danger Man at the rock wall.  This spells trouble...

Monday (Labor Day, gasp!) was the real deal.  I drove them, bought out the school store  got them settled, and went out for coffee with fab moms from all over the world (Mama's gotta socialize too!)

(A side note:  how will we ever attain world peace if we can't even standardize on paper size?  Staples run at home, imported school supplies: complete fail).

The verdict when they got home?  Friends, good teachers, and big smiles.  Exhale :)