6th and 4th grade - Day 1

I'm going to jump on the bandwagon for a minute - The girls started school TODAY!?!?!?! - July 30th - It just seems so weird sending them to school in July! The 8 weeks of summer passed by so fast! When I was a kid [a long, long time ago], we didn't start back to school until sometime in August - like the 15th or so...

[jumping off the wagon]
I'm actually okay with them starting school today - it's just so hot outside! They don't even want to swim because of the heat right now. I'm not sure what the rules were when I was in school (during the dark ages as far as the girls are concerned), but they have 180 days of school these days. These 180 days are scheduled around numerous week long breaks which allow us to enjoy the cooler fall, winter and spring weather and several holidays with the family. That beings said, I like it!

Jon left the girls a little treat this morning:

The coolest school bus picked Gracie and Caroline up this morning - I love Instagram today! 

The girls with cousin Andy before getting in the Monte Carlo

Grandad with the kids and Andy driving them in their Daddy's car

You have to admit this picture looks way cooler with that aged effect 

I'm looking forward to a great year!

It won't be like this for long

Today, I took Gracie to her first day of middle school! As we were riding to the school, I was thinking of how fast we've gotten to this point- wasn't she just born? Didn't we just finish kindergarten? Ugh! Then, the song by Darius Rucker called"It won't be like this for long" came on the radio and my eyes started tearing up. I stopped it before I became a sappy mess since I had to actually go into the school and help the PTO, but it hurt my heart...she's so big!

I stood way off to the side as the principal handed out schedules and the kids talked with each other. It was difficult refraining from going over to check Gracie's schedule out and making sure she knew where to go and when. I did feel the urge but I also felt the need to let her be. I think I would have gotten at least an eye roll if I had attempted to approach the area.

The day went great and I think middle school is going to be so much fun!

Growing Pains

The past two weeks have been just short of a whirlwind around our house! Gracie spent 4 days at basketball camp and Caroline spent 3 days with a friend the first week. The second week has just begun and my big kids just returned home from three more days of fun away from home. I'm finding it tough to adjust to their busy lives. Part of me wants to keep them home where I know they're safe and I don't have to worry about them, but the other part of me that remembers being their age wants to let them soak it all in while they're young. 

Today, Anna Kate and I reached boredom! We are not accustomed to being home alone for such an extended period of time. The weird thing is that even though it's easier to go out with just one kid, I feel a need to stay home when the big girls are away - just in case. I'm asking myself "just in case of what exactly?" and I really don't have an answer... Is it possible to worry without knowing you worry? I think I do that...

I had one of those moments today when I thought about the future and what will I do when the kids are gone - it made me sad. Currently, I am a full-time mom. Yes, I have the job that thousands of moms dream of having and thousands more don't want. My sole responsibility in this job is taking care of my family - cook food, clean dishes, do laundry, give kisses, clean house, and repeat. Today, I realized that part of that is letting the kids go, and I see myself struggling with it in the future as the definition of "letting them go" changes.

Looking back, I can see how my job as full-time mom has changed over the past 10 years, and how it will be changing again within the next 10...I'm praying for wisdom for this next stretch.

Too bad they can't just stay little...time really flies!

January 2009

help a friend out

If you read my looooooooong post yesterday, you learned that I will be helping with computer class at the girls' school this year. Our theme will be "Traveling the World Wide Web" and we are studying about the continents and countries as we learn how to use the computer.

I am looking for items from around the world to aid in class. If you happen to have traveled to any other country and have any souvenirs that would be helpful, I would love to borrow them for a portion of the school year! Please let me know!