Yesterday was Alden’s first day of first grade. I tried to snap a photo of her posing in front of our house, but she was too excited to get going, and so I snapped a photo of her running away from me as quickly as she could, with little brothers in tow.

The little brothers were being brought along for a variety of reasons, not the least of which was Alden’s desire to show them her new school, which is significantly larger than the only school any of the three of them has known until this point, our beloved Friendship Montessori.

The brothers were also being brought along to sate their own curiosity. Kato, especially, was entirely skeptical that this new school could possibly be up the challenge of providing the educational necessities for his only sister. August expressed his concerns as well, but because he is almost entirely incoherent, we have no idea what they were.

Our journey took us up High Street and through Fountain Park.

Alden paused for just a moment, so I took the opportunity to ask her how she was feeling. She “answered” by jumping up and down in a frenzy.

I think it was a sign of enthusiasm.

We managed to convince her to pause a bit longer in the middle of the park, that we might pose for various family portraits in front of our very lovely (and recently restored) fountain.

These are the sorts of shots that will make us weep someday.

I remember when this thing weighed six pounds and felt so fragile I thought I would break her as I carried her across the room.

Now she is but the sturdiest member of our tiny band.

We walked a few more blocks and reached our destination. Henry Highland Garnett Elementary School, the very same building where Robbi spent her elementary years.

The doors were not yet open when we got there, so we stood by, basking in the excitement that ran through the crowd. There is something so earnest and hopeful about beginnings.

And then the doors opened, and we all streamed inside.

Alden knew where to go. She led us down the hall to the first grade wing.

August and Kato took it all in. “This place is pretty big,” said Kato.

Augie made an observation that might have been quite thoughtful. The world will never know.

A moment later, we reached her classroom.

A short search brought us to a desk that seemed to have her name on it. Alden confirmed the desk was hers, and August seconded the motion.

I cannot say with certainty, but I think the child was pleased.

We exchanged various hugs and words of wisdom and advice.

Mine was, “don’t bump against the tank, thus causing a minor avalanche of rocks that smashes the class newt.”

Fortunately, Alden’s classroom lacks a newt and thus also the possibility of her repeating my tragic mistakes.

The time came, and we prepared to make our departure. I stoically prepared for the tears, for the wailing, for the trauma of being left behind in a brand new place, forced to face the driving winds of first grade on one’s own.

Instead, we got a cheerful smile and the faintest suggestion that everything would be perfect if we would simply mosey on back home, thank you very much.

And so we left and returned to our desks and spent the whole day wondering what was happening a few blocks down the street at Garnett Elementary.

At 3:25 sharp (we had to ask a friend to let us know what time to pick her up, as we had neglected to ask this ourselves).As directed, we headed to the gym, where Alden was waiting in a small cluster of kids who do not ride the bus.

We asked her about school and she responded with an entirely nonspecific series of affirmative statements. School was no less than “great, awesome, and perfect.” And no more, apparently.

In an evident attempt to contain the overwhelming waves of enthusiastic energy that were at that moment coursing through her, Alden picked up August…

…and carried him right out the door. And halfway down the block.

Before joining her good friend Sidney (also a newly minted first grader) for a hand-in-hand serenade down Calvert Street.

During dinner, we got a few more details: she did an alphabet-based connect-the-dots, she made an autobiographical book, she learned the rules, she ate lunch in the cafeteria, she went outside for recess, she met a few new kids, and she had a good time.

She admitted that she had been a little bit worried because she had feared that first grade was going to be “really hard.”

But instead, it was really fun. Apparently, she is really looking forward to going back tomorrow.

Which is, I think, the most important measure of the day.