Friday, August 19, 2011

after going to school

 I'm gonna have one more current update for this week....and then I'm gonna start the flashbacks of the summer.   I've missed blogging about all the things we've went through/done this summer~and I'm gonna blog about them in rewind.  Well, not like backwards typing or anything.  Like rewinding ~as in ~going back to June.   

But today...I'm gonna talk about my lovies and their "after going to school" update.  I'm sure your on the edge of your seat.  



 These are the little honey's that get out of school first.  This is their faces as soon as I picked them up, after their first day.  When I asked about their days~William said, "It was good."  Suzy said', "It was awesome!!!!" 

And then later William said he had a little chat in the hall with Mrs. Beachy.  Hmmmm????  What for??? Well she told me her middle name is Lane.  Hmmmm???? Well why were you in the hall talking to her?  Well....I was a little sad, because none of my friends are in my class from last year. 

Later after we got home I got a call from his teacher who said he was 45 minutes sad.  Missing mom, missing friends from last years class.  Maybe missing dad who was away on a business trip.  She said it was just in the morning & then the afternoon was fine.  Since the teacher obviously has more than just William to take care of in her class, she had other helpers ready to help out.  A friend of ours also works at that school was walking through the halls looking for where she could help out on the first day.   (Thank you Jesus for that perfect orchestration & timing of events) After talking to Mrs. Beachy (the friend of ours) she said he was sad -as in almost ready to dry heave sad.  You know that ugly cry where you can't think of anything else except for what is crushing your heart?  So she did some smooth, quick talking about middle names and working at getting his mind off of his anxiety.  So amazing to see how God works when we pray.  Daddy was praying, mom was praying...and here walks in Mrs. Beachy to answer our prayers for William's breaking heart that morning.   She talked him off the cliff....and he did better.  Better enough to get back into class, and enjoy his day.  

Isn't that cool?
 When we got home Daddy called to say he was on his way home.  Little pink pants was giddy and so excited about her first day of Kindergarten.  Telling her daddy all about it.  Singing the songs she learned and making up new songs with only her teachers name as the lyrics in the tune of different miscellaneous songs.  Looking forward to already the 2nd day of school. 
 We then walked down to the bus stop....and waited to get this one off of the bus....
 Who also loved his day.  Except he was hot and it's such a long day.  And the bus seats were hard, it was a long time on the bus etc.    My typical "half glass full" kinda response kinda guy.  {note the heavy sarcasm}

So I talked to him about the "1/2 full" kind of stuff ...didn't you get to sit with your friend Jonathan (who lives in our neighborhood) on the bus?  Well yes, but the bus ride wasn't long enough to get to talk to him. Weren't you in class with your other good friend, Andrew?  Well...yes, but we had to listen to the teacher.

I sense an oxymoron here folks with the whole bus ride thing.  Which makes me crazy and laugh all at the same time.  I'm having the oldest 2 ride the bus, because both of them have like a 20 minute or less ride.  The younger 2 have a 50 minute + ride.  So they will get picked up.  BUT....Jack will be Jack and we'll just pray that we can teach him to use his strong will and bull headed-ness for something really awesome in the future.  But for right he make me re-evaluate every attitude I have.  He makes me so aware of what I say out loud and my attitude in everything.  It's one thing to tell a child what to do and say....it's a completely different thing when you try to model it for them.  Can I get an Amen?  Or a "what what"?  Maybe a high five?  Maybe just a comment....to let me know I'm not the only one.??  :)  Maybe advise on how you deal with it?
 This is 2nd day of school pictures.  What???? You don't take 2nd day pictures???  Crazy moms!!!  

{O.k. humor me....I'm empty nest during the day here folks.}
 2nd day picture for Isabella.  WHO starts school 1 hour after her siblings.  Which seems crazy to have my oldest home for a full hour after her sister and brothers leave.  Which I love. 
 And call me insane, but I snapped 2 pictures quick of 3rd day this morning.  I know...I know....I've got issues. I'm sure NO ONE takes "3rd day of school pictures" And now I feel even more guilty because I didn't get the boys pictures.  But before you think I'm partial to my girls and you may be thinking I don't even love my boys....Please let me explain.  Girls you primp.  I spent extra time on both of their hair at their request this morning.  And boys throw on a t-shirt & shorts and they go....if the shirt is a button down-they think it is a "church shirt"  But my girls...It does something to their self esteem when you comb them....spend time picking out their outfits, earrings, and matching shoes.  And boys like a little of this....but not at the same level the ladies do in this family. 
 This girl...I told this morning...."how is it to have your own personal chef, hair stylist, barista, and nurse as a mom?"  She responded, "pretty awesome!!!  With a smile on her pretty freckled face, while I was paining her toe nails and as she was sipping some coffee with  Caramel Macchiato delicious creamer in it.  {please don't judge me for giving my 11 year old coffee....please. I always said I wouldn't NEVER let my kids drink coffee when I saw my niece drinking joe at a young age....and now I find myself eating my words.}

And really when she asked me to do a little braid in her hair this morning...I was thrilled.  I had an hour.  To spend with her.  Just her.  Doing things I usually don't take the time to do.  I did a style I saw yesterday on a high- school -looking student at a store ...which I might of banged my cart into the banana display trying to figure out how she did her hair.  And this would technically be under the "awkward & awesome" section that I don't do anymore.  Thankfully I recovered awkwardly~~but awesomly figured out how she did it.  

It was just two little braids from different spots in the front of the hair line, hair pinned back, and then a pony tail.  I realize this is not rocket science, & I'm probably behind the times on cool hair do's for the tween stage.  But here I am.  Better late then never.  And she loved it.  Sometimes little 11 year old can try not to hurt my feelings and wrinkle her little nose...when I do something new to her hair.....but this morning brought a big smile.  :)  Which makes me smile.

And did I mention I was personal chef this morning??  Making her favorite egg, ham, & cheese english muffin sandwiches.  I had to start a little early on breakfast...but I figure I got 6 hours to catch up on sleep today.  The rest of the kids turned their little noses up a little on the egg sandwich thing....but unless it's baked oatmeal or Lucky Charms I never get a good & excited response for breakfast.  It's called broadening your horizons folks.  I am mom, hear me roar.  It might of helped them to finish their sandwiches [that were sitting on their plates for 15 minutes] which on a school day is like a time bomb ticking, that I announced ~~"anyone who doesn't finish their breakfast will not be getting the 2 Oreo portion of their lunch today.  Did I mention they were double stuff's???   Might have been a bribe~I'm not sure.  

And the personal nurse thing...that I threw into the mix of my everyday duties.  Yeah.  Call me nurse.  I've got my first aide card to prove it.

  Whopps.  Did I leave off the AIDE part after my title of "nurse"?  My bad.  

So that brings you up to speed on our week.  Are you still awake?      

And if your concerned at all...I'm adjusting very well and fine to having the whole day to myself.  Thought I would have a little bit of  a hard time coming home to a quiet house....but now I have time to blog, have coffee with a friend, to have lunch with another friend, organize things at home that needed to be.  Devotions, de-cluttering my desk, throwing away nick-nack-patty-wack crap that accumulates on my sons desk...etc.  But more on that another day.  
Shocking how fast these days fill up. 
 





Wednesday, August 17, 2011

school bell

 Well it's back to school time for us.....this morning this was the view of the early morning start.  Dad had to be away on a one night business trip :(  But it was all bright eyes and happiness around the table.  There was some nervousness~but also some very excited people.  Even if the older 2 know it's so uncool to like school~I could sense they were very excited about going back to their friends & getting back into the swing of a routine again. 
 Got 4 lunches made....with help from all 4 of them. 
 And on the porch within the hour, dressed, combed, and ready to go.  I felt like superwoman really....I'm not gonna lie.   

 But as soon as I walked into the William & Suzy's school....here came the tears.  I know everything in my head {they will be fine, I will be fine, I will have all kinds of time for this & that, etc.} But my heart was breaking.  TO. PIECES. 
 [William starting 2nd grade]
 You see the littlest of our family started Kindergarten today.  My baby.  My little sidekick for the last 2 years.  The last one to start school.  Leaving an empty nest to me.  I have had days I couldn't wait for them to be all in school.  I have had days I wondered what it would be like....to finish a task with no interruptions, or to have the day to be creative, to finish thoughts, to blog again.  But many of the last 11 years has been livin' my dream....of being a mama.  Not that every day didn't present challenges, or frustration....at some point in the day~but this was my dream to be home with them.  I have loved being their mom.  AND I KNOW (for crying out loud) that I still am.  It's just different.  I am in a new season....to have them all gone.  Insert tears here~for pity sake I am.  
 But OH the joy on her face...does make it easier.  Can you tell Suzy has been waiting for this day for a long time???   Even though she had a little hesitation~she was so very happy to be doing what everyone else around this family has been doing for years.




Every night....she would ask~"How many more days until I start school?"  So finally about 2 weeks before school started, I made a paper chain showing how many more sleeps it would be until her big day.  Which helped a lot....until she started forgetting if she took a chain off or not....causing some days to get 2 chains off in the same day.  So we numbered them according to the day of the month.   

At one point last week I asked Donovan if he noticed how short that paper chain is getting and he responded, "YES!!  I try to ignore that thing every time I walk in the door."   



This one.  This guy warmed my heart.  Jack is going into 4th grade this year.  At a new school that houses 4th & 5th grade.  First of all....he appears to be posing in the above picture~which cracks me up.  And 2nd of all....On the way to school~just me and him in the van he asks, "Mom what are ya gonna do with all of us gone today?"
Me: "well probably go home and cry.
Jack: "Well I think you should have a girls day out.  Maybe go to Target or something."

Awwww...Now I know I must have done something right....He is concerned for my well being.  The one I thought the hardest to reach/teach.  The one that is the most stubborn~shows me his heart.






Here is my brand new Middle schooler.  Isabella is 11~and started 6th grade today.  <3 She was so excited.  So happy to be starting a new school.  So happy about her teachers and her new "pod" group.  So anxious to hear about their days....which reminds me to look at the clock!!!  WOW~how time flies...It's time to pick up the kindergartener and 2nd grader.  WHOO HOO!!!!

Love these people~They are my joy! 

Later taters!  I'm back on the mom clock!

Monday, August 15, 2011

Raise your hand if you like Target

Wanna win a $25 gift card to.....
 
Then go here and this just may be your lucky week!!!  BUT...If you win~you must buy me a treat, o.k?