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Tuesday
Sep022008

school: the first day


eve has begun her life as an official student. a pre-k student, but an official, full time student of the nyc public school system nonetheless.

the night before the first day i told eve i'd be waking her up in the morning. "oh, so you're gonna hit me in the face with a pillow? you can do that to wake people up." clearly i didn't hit her with a pillow. instead i made a liar out of myself, stayed sound asleep in my own bed and let the girls wake me up by "carefully" climbing on our heads to get to charlie. throwing pillows at a person's face, or stepping on that face. . . you choose, they both work.

once my eyes were open eve wanted two things from me: final confirmation that this day was the day she goes to the school with all her new friends and, second, that she see her new "super special school skirt." she was pleased, gave me a "check" (as opposed to an "x"), and we were on our way. we washed, we ate, we dressed, we grabbed the baby and each other's hands and flew out the door. eve bit her fingernails the entire 10 minute walk to school and once we arrived she met the flood of kids with wide eyes and more nail biting. but she was amazing. her two moments of despair were handled so maturely; the little well of tears didn't even spill over. so careful and sweet and attentive and such a big girl. . .

if she weren't so happy and ready for tomorrow i'd be dealing with my own moments of despair (and i wouldn't stop before the tears spilled- have i mentioned that i cried every first day of school through the SIXTH grade? emotional maturity has never really been my strength). . . but, if i were about to ball up and hide under my desk for thirty minutes (third grade), it is good to know i could take some real comfort in two things:

first, the fact that this little wrap number is going to fit her for longer than she'll ever want it to- move the buttons over, let down some of the high hem and it's a size 7. and then ruthie gets to wear it too! that feels good.

 

second, that i finally got to put that little apple button to good use. i've been trying to for over a year but nothing seemed just right until last night. apples! cursive! pleats! school!

 

Reader Comments (23)

I can't believe how cute she looks sitting at her big desk in her sweet little skirt. I love it!

September 4, 2008 | Unregistered Commenterinchmark

adorable!!!

look how long her hair is....... she really is a big girl now!

love the new site!

September 5, 2008 | Unregistered Commenterheather

So cute! I'm sad we had to leave without saying good bye to you guys. I'm glad we can keep in touch through the blogging world. Yours is always very inspirational and makes me want to get out my sewing machine and get going. Jackson started preschool this week and the extra year did the trick...he's doing much better than last year's joy school fiasco. There was still some thumb sucking involved though. Eve will have short nails and Jackson will have a calloused thumb. Such is life.

September 6, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterJen Skousen

Hi there,
First day of school..harsh isnt it..but she looked so cute..love the skirt..can I ask, where did you et that fabric from, I love it?

http://jogirlsjourney.blogspot.com/

September 6, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterJo Petrie

Love the skirt, your new blog and how I miss those girls (& Charlie!) and YOU.

September 6, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterDD

flove. flove the new katiedidspaces site, it looks sahweet. And your mast head is so so so (yes it needs 3 so's) dear to me because not only does it look cool it reminds me of my own opened, clothes hanging out, drawers (though truthfully they often don't even make it into the drawers. My couch is a testament to that, but that mess would not photograph so well as it would just be a pile of... enough about me and my inability to clean up after myself), my point was that I love your new mast head, it's delightful and it even has a alligator/crocodile/big lizard on it, (not suggesting you didn't know this, merely giving it another reason why I like it).

Oh my beautiful big girl Eve! She is so grown up. All going to school and looking so pretty. And I love, or flove, that she is a little nail bitter. So cute. I'm glad she not only conquered her first day she did it with style and some good old Rich grace. If that skirt is going to fit her longer than she'll want it... I will happily take it off her hands, it is beyond adorable. I know I wouldn't be able to pull the look off quite as well, but it's so darn cute, I'd want to at least give it a try (wait, size 7.. okay, I'm out of the running, but if I could be, I would want to be, yes).

Everyone is getting so grown up on me. One day I'm going to have to try it myself.

September 6, 2008 | Unregistered Commentertara

Hey, I am intrigued about the bribery and whole new blog thing....
Eve is so awesome, what a big girl, ack... all these little girls growing up and going to school, I don't like it!!!

September 6, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterJeanie

man, do i ever have anything new to say to you? your 'makes' are always so inspiring. i love your life through the lense of your creations. such a nice approach.

September 6, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterPam

her skirt is perfection... every time i read your blog i vow to learn to sew. i need to read it more, since as of now i don't even own a machine.

i totally cried the first day scout started school... luckily i turned fast and made it to the hall before she saw. travis was literally stunned... could not understand why i would cry on such an exciting day!

September 7, 2008 | Unregistered Commentersara

love it all. new space, new skirt, new adventures. more, more, more!

September 7, 2008 | Unregistered Commenteron-hand modern

How cute is she!!!

September 8, 2008 | Unregistered Commenterandrea

I can't believe how big they are getting. She looks so cute and grown up. Her skirt is adorable! Congratulations Eve!

September 8, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterHeatherann

I can hardly stand how darling this post is! Yay Eve! She's completely adorable. Love the skirt, love that she's entering the NYC public school system, love that your family walked to the first day of school together. Your new squarespace is terrific!

September 8, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterPatria

congrats on being a student eve! have fun!!

September 8, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterAnna & Geoff

Katie, this is about the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. I’m so jealous your girls will wear the stuff you make for them. Hope school continues to go well for Eve. H

September 9, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterHeather

That braid. I can't wait to see her!

September 9, 2008 | Unregistered Commenteralyshabean

Where did you get that adorable fabric? What a beautiful family you have! Good luck to Eve in pre-K.

September 9, 2008 | Unregistered Commentermelissa

hey jo and melissa-

i've had the fabric for about two years and can't remember exactly where i got it, but if you want to search for it, it is "mrs. nelson's 2nd grade" by two sisters for moda. good luck!

September 10, 2008 | Unregistered Commenterkatie

Are you kidding me? That is just about the most perfect 1st day of school outfit I have ever seen! She looks adorable. I'm sure she'll love school - how is Ruth coping?

September 14, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterTania

That skirt is my favorite thing I have seen this season!

(I'm Sara C's sis in law)

September 15, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterNatalie

Hi Katie,

I absolutley love the skirt! Very sweet. Can you tell me what pattern you used? I'd sure appreciate it. Thanks for all the inspiration!

Renee in Minnesota

January 5, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterRenee Sisterson

o my...your children must be the envy of all their friends....:) they have such cute outfits :)

December 23, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterLia

There is a myth that if you are fashionable you have a wardrobe fit for queens. This is far from true. Some of the best dressed girls I know make the most of their clothes by mixing and matching.

December 5, 2011 | Unregistered Commentergirls skirts

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