First day of school

Right before we left for the States, we tried to get all of the kids school supplies together so we wouldn't have to do it when we got back. Part of that was buying Caleb a new backpack. That was quite a process because the majority of the kids carry backpacks like the ones in the picture. They can cost up to 200 Euro!! That is almost 300 dollars!! We did find one that was not that expensive, but I still think that he will be carrying it all the way through college! 

Monday was the first day of school. Carli started 3rd grade (hard to believe) and Caleb started 1st. Here is Caleb in his classroom...
This is a picture right before he (and I) started to cry. I think he was a little overwhelmed at all of the newness.
Lets back up a little. Before he went to his class, we went to the bakery with his good friend and got a Krapfen. It is like a giant donut filled with apricot jelly and covered in powdered sugar. They are yummy!

In Vienna, starting 1st grade is a big celebration. Each of the kids get a Schultüte (which is the cone shaped thing in the pictures) and they bring it with them on the first day of school. The parents fill them up with all kinds of goodies and after school, they get to open them. It is really cool how they make it such a special day. 
This picture is after school so you can see that Caleb has his smile back. His was only overwhelmed for a short time, and then he ended up having a great day! Carli has a new teacher this year and she really likes her. Normally, the kids have the same teacher from 1st-4th grade, but hers retired at the end of last year, so now she has a new one. Cotter is loving Kindergarten and being with all of his friends, so we are off to a great school year!