First Day of School Through the Eyes of the Purce Family

Just yesterday, the Purce family was celebrating a birthday and enjoying the last weekend of Summer.  But by 7 a.m. today, "school-year" mentality had already set in.

The Purce kids, Fiona, 12, Jack, 10, Sean, 8, and Catherine, 5, sat at the breakfast table eating breakfast while their mother, Sharon, zoomed around the kitchen preparing their lunches for later that day.

Before long, Joe Purce was walking out the door with his oldest child, Fiona, to drive her to her first day at the Junior School. He paused at the doorway and snapped a photo before dropping her off for another year of school.

By the time Joe had returned home, the other children were finishing breakfast and their lunches were nearly packed... and once again, they were heading out the door.

After another photo-op at the front door, this time with the boys, the family started the trek to school. Joe's camcorder was rolling as he documented what he referred to as Jack's first day of being "the big man on campus" as a fifth grader.

Soon, however, the family had arrived at the school and Jack and Sean were ready to scamper off to meet friends.  As they started off, more photos were taken and Sharon managed to sneak a quick kiss on Sean's cheek.

And then they were gone. Another school year had began.

Once Catherine began kindergarten several hours later, for the first time, all of the Purce children would be spending the next eight months in school.

Joe had to go into work late and Sharon said she was frazzled tying up loose-ends from the summer. But, from the smiles on their faces while they soaked in the walk to school with their kids... it was worth it.