School's In

Well, I survived this long summer! It was a challenge to keep the troops happy, as they did not have many friends and I didn't have a solid network of moms to swap and share the load with. (oops, I ended with a prepasition...I guess I need to go back to school) My kids spent a lot of time playing with each other and I think, in many ways, this pulling in as a family was good for us. Still, you better believe, I was very excited for some structure and some calmer days with fewer personalities to appease.

Getting Prepped:

Making lunches. (Yes, I have my kids make their own lunches. Jason thinks I should make it for them, as his mom did for him, but I find that their are many important skills to be gained by them doing it themselves. ie. how to spread peanut butter, learning to make a balanced meal, and cleaning up after one's self. I'm sticking to this one :)



admiring the new supplies


"good luck" calls from the grandma's


At last, the big day!!! Yes, they got up at 6:00am, yes, they were ready by 7:00 and yes, we had to find ways to entertain them until the bus came at 8:24. Elijah's preschool didn't start for a few more days, but he was right in step with the big kids, even packing a lunch for his back pack.









And they were off. Jaxen to third grade and Madeline to first! They were so excited, I love the rush of a new school year. All of us were beaming with anticipation...





everyone, but the left-behind bro. He watched as his two playmates loaded up and left his with his boring old parents.



His sadness only lasted until we got back home. He suddenly realized that he was the king of the castle, with two guilt-ridden parents ready to appease his every whim.

A week later, it was his turn. Two days a week he will be going to his "pony school". It is the greatest little school, and yes, they do give the kids rides on their miniature ponies.



Mom going overboard:
After looking at the pictures from the first day of school, I was a little freaked out by how old my kiddos have gotten. How does it happen so fast? When Jaxen was a baby, I felt like he would never be old enough to go to preschool, much less the 3rd GRADE!!! Feeling a bit nostalgic, I decided to also document the second day of school, because hey, who remembers what they wore that day??? We will remember now.