First Days of School

The kids started another school year about 3 weeks ago. We were all excited and anxious to start. We had an order of all new schools (again) this year, so there was quite a bit of nerves to go along with all our excitement as well. We also had a brand new kindergartener, which means a certain little guy misses all his older brothers and sister while they're gone all day.

Kelsie started 7th grade this year. She was pretty nervous about starting another school, but after we walked through her schedule a few times and made sure we knew where everything was, she was good to go. She has been able to see a lot of friends from church and has also made quite a few new friends as well. She is a great student and is working hard for straight A's again this year. Her favorite class and teacher right now is P.E., and comes home everyday with a new story to tell about it.

Brandon couldn't wait to see who was in his class when it was time to find out who his teacher was. He was so happy to find out that one of his best friends from church was in it with him! He loves his teacher and is making a lot of new friends. He has even made friends with the nurse within the first week of school after he tried playing football on the cement. Not his best idea. He came home with some pretty big bandages on both knees and hands.

Waiting to find out who Brandon's teacher would be. Caleb wasn't too sure about going to school anymore.

Caleb was so ready for school to start, that is, until it was actually going to start! He started school a day after Kelsie and Brandon did. He was nervous about meeting his teacher, but once he did and saw his classroom, there was no turning back--especially once he found the bucket of lego's! He did amazing on his first day, and there were no tears coming from him at all! I, on the other hand, may have showed my emotions a little more. He leaves every morning with a big smile and a wave as he gets on the bus and comes home just as happy. 

Getting ready to line up for his first day of school!

All in all, it's been a successful start to a new year. I still can't believe that Caleb is old enough for school and am getting used to having the three older kids gone all day! Isaac really is beside himself on some days. He is starting to enjoy this new found freedom he has while everyone is gone though.We have settled into a routine that starts pretty early now, but everyone is happy and learning again! Here's to another great year of school and happy kids!

Brandon showing some nerves, just before the bus came.

First Days

I guess I thought that after the kids started school again, I was going to have a lot of free time on my hands. I was right, the first day anyway, when I realized how much time I wasted on the computer and just doing what I wanted to do for the day. That day was short lived however. It's already been a couple of weeks since school started and I feel more busy than ever! Turns out, it's hard work to keep a preschooler and a toddler entertained when my at home entertainment isn't at home any more. Sitting on the computer, addicted to pinterest just doesn't cut it.

I still can't believe that I have a kid old enough to be in middle school. Kelsie seems to really enjoy it though, despite the crazy nerves that invaded her body and mind the few days before school started. She's been great since the first day and realized that aside from all the peer pressure and that middle school is just plain hard anyway, it isn't so bad after all. Along with a sudden interest in her hair (what's next?) she still seems to stay pretty grounded to her old self. Picture day is a really great example (in her own words):

"On our way to get our pictures taken, all the girls had to, like, stop in the bathroom to make sure they looked all perfect and everything. My teacher came up to me and said, 'Kelsie, don't you need to go to the bathroom and make sure you're all beautiful before the picture?' I said, 'I don't need to because I'm beautiful just the way I am!' Then he started laughing really hard!"

That's our girl! :)

I swear it was just yesterday that I dropped him off on his first day of Kindergarten, but Brandon seems to be enjoying 3rd grade (mostly). He's had more than a few stomach aches since school started and has gotten even more upset when I won't come pick him up early from school. That only happened once and it ended in something like,

"Mom, I really like being home, will you just homeschool me? 

No. 

Why not?

Because I don't want to."  

I finally got it out of him that he's having a hard time adjusting to his new teacher and class and even that his sister isn't at the same school as him anymore. He's doing better now and after going to back to school night, I think he will end up really enjoying this year of school, but we'll have to see what happens.

Nerves on the first day

Caleb can't get enough of his lego's and is building and rebuilding all day long. He also spends a majority of his time during the day protecting his creations from his little brother who likes to tear them apart and put those small pieces in his mouth. Caleb has gotten pretty good at the command, "out!" signaling his little brother to spit out whatever he's snuck into his mouth. Caleb has completely remastered his two wheeler again and I'm trying to convince him to move up to Brandon's old bike. Sometimes it is really hard to move out of comfort zones. I should know. I've also decided that we need to add a little more structure into his life and have been trying to figure out a schedule for him each day. So far, it's not working out so well. Hopefully soon.

See? No more training wheels

Isaac, on the other hand, is wondering what happened to everyone. I think he's liking his new freedom around the house without so many eyes on him all the time. He runs outside any chance he can if a door is left open and loves to follow Brandon and Caleb around looking for lizards or drawing on the sidewalk with Kelsie. At 15+ months now, he's all over the place and it is getting harder and harder to keep up with him. He likes to think he's just like one of the big kids and has especially enjoyed bike rides in the trailer up and down the street we live on.

Another victory catching another lizard

Don't let that sweet little face fool you. This kid is a little spit fire and demands a lot of attention when he wants something. Oh, and Sunday's? They're pretty much a joke now at church. Only three more months before nursery...

He also needs a haircut. That's got to go on my to do list ASAP. He's sporting a wavy fro right now and adds to it at each meal with whatever he's eating. I don't think I'll ever understand why it always ends up in the hair.

I often wonder how I am able to keep up with it all and still have my sanity. I've got a pretty great partner who seems to balance me out pretty good. We're constantly adjusting to little changes here and there in our lives, but we're happy. Just as it should be.

photo taken by Kelsie

 

The Dunk Tank

This was our last week of summer vacation. It rained for most of the week. And it's only 60 degrees outside. Which, I guess for August, isn't so bad, except I'm not quite ready for fall yet. Anyway, we tried to do some fun things this week like go to the beach on the one day it was dry and warm, play with friends and stay out of the wet weather. We were invited to our friends annual Back to School Carnival one afternoon and had a great time playing games and earning prizes.

The best part of the carnival, though, is the dunk tank. Especially since each kid gets a turn to dunk the hostess' dad. It's great fun had by all. Last year, by the end of the day (and maybe because he was tired of getting wet), he decided to let some of the kids who wanted to cool off give it a try. Kelsie got the courage and was dunked, clothes and all. This year, she came prepared. With her swimming suit under her clothes and a towel in her bag, she confidently (or at least was persuaded) climbed the ladder and sat on the little seat to wait out her fate. Brandon stepped up to the plate to have his sweet revenge, but unfortunately was unsuccessful in his objective. In the end, a much older boy (and one with better aim, I might add) did her in.

And I remembered to bring the camera.

Happy End of Summer and Back to School!