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!

back to school

Yesterday school started for our kids. Everyone was pretty excited, except for one.
We got up extra early and met some friends at Essenhaus for breakfast...

and at least then~I got a little smile from Jack.

I am in love with Jack's teacher. She is super upbeat~energetic, and a great sense of humor. I like already how she relates to Jack and to me as his mom.
She is a good listener & loves to teach 3rd grade.

I was glad Jack's best friend was in his class this year~it gave him something to look forward too. I was also glad Andrew was waiting for Jack when we arrived. Jack needed a little pick me up~if you can't tell from the picture he was a little nervous.

Hardest thing ever to leave my guy there with his fears and nervous tummy. Hated for his friends to see his tears~

But after I dropped William off to his class and walked back by~peeked in to see Jack all better and having fun.

So happy to be on the 2nd day of school and to see him walk out the door this morning very happy and excited about going back.

Another great bonus this year was getting Andrew's dad as William's teacher. He teaches 1st grade~and with play dates and overnights between Jack & Andrew this past year we learned to know & appreciate Andrew's parents. I can tell William is super excited to have a male teacher and someone who he knows.

What a guy!!! He came home from school saying that school was kinda boring. He didn't even get to do any work on the first day. Ha ha ha...I'm sure we won't hear that complaint in about 5 years.

And no pictures of the big 5th grader with her teacher. She asked me not to ~which was fine. This mama understands she's getting older. So dropped off at the door & off I drove. Glad there was a back to school night on Wednesday this week so I could at least meet her teacher. She seems like a great lady who loves her job. Which I am thankful for. Isabella also has a best friend in her class this year~which she was in class with last year. Thankful X 2!!

The worst part of the day? After dropping the boys off at their school, and then dropping off Isabella at her big school...the little lady in the backseat was softly crying. I heard sniffles and asked her what was wrong, "She just wanted Isabella to stay with her for the day." Big ol' crocodile tears streaming down. Awww....how sad. Couldn't believe it, I didn't think what an impact them going back to school would have on her.

It didn't last long though. We had a little talk and before I knew it there was a big smile & she was excited for it to be me and her.

Quote of the day:
Jack: "Isabella, why don't you fart at random times of the day? Come ON, JUST DO IT."

new things I like

Here is some recaps of our last couple of weeks. My kids started school on August 21st. Isabella started a new school and so far as adjusted well. Isabella started 4th grade this year! Here she is with her little friend Whitney who started 5th grade.

Jack is in the 2nd grade now. I love his new teacher Ms. Hughes. She seems like a really great match for Jack and his personality.

And William...ahhhh...the new kindergartner this year! He loves this school stuff. He has been waiting for years to follow his siblings off to school. On the first day of school he prayed at breakfast...."Thank you Lord I can go to school today!"

Taken that first morning of school. I'm so thankful for all 3 of my children's teachers this year. Each has such a great heart for kids and seems like such great matches for them. What a crazy thing to come home to Donovan and Suzy...waiting for me...and then Donovan off to work and just me and Suzy. Suzy and I almost didn't know what to do with ourselves just me and her that first day of school. Just kidding! Something new I love...just us 2. After we put the wash on the line that morning we went on a walk around the lake. Just us 2! Amazingly enough I don't think I've ever taken her on a walk just by herself! Suzy sang the whole way on our walk, it was so sweet. I think with this move to our cabin...she has been needing a little extra and now I can give her the one on one she's been needing.
And finally home from school. Poor Jack was in tears by the time he got off the bus! He was afraid that the bus driver didn't know where we lived, because it took so long on that first day. Jack and William were on the bus for almost an hour. And since we moved he didn't know our new address to tell her. Now the bus ride takes about 25 minutes.

Also over the last couple of weeks we've met some pretty sweet new little babies...

My friend Brooke had a little baby boy, Jaxon. Love this little pumpkin.

So does Suzy....Jaxon was 5 1/2 weeks early. Such a sweet little boy.


We also got to meet another new baby, a little girl.....

Luca Bella...sweet sweet blue eyes. I love how she has her hand on her chin...trying to figure me out.

Luca is my friend Sherri's little girl. It was so fun to see Luca and her big sister Kaiya last week.

Also here is a quick pic of the new project brewing.....

Things are moving along...more pictures to upload but it will have to come another night. It's been fun to check up on the building site evenings and see what works been done for the day.

Quote of the day...
today from Suzy
"Mom, I love being here with you."
melt. melt. melt.