And so we say "Good Bye."

~ Goodbye ~

Last week 2 of 3 of the kids started back up at school.  Neither were terribly excited for the summer to be over, but gave me some smiles as they headed off to school for their first day back.

Sassy is beginning 7th grade.

This is the beginning of the (supposed) "dreaded" middle school years.  She started at a new school that is much larger than she is use to and she is getting up earlier than she is used to.  She gets on the bus at 6:45 am (for the previous 6 years it was 8:15am).  The thought of having to get from her class to first floor, up to second floor, back down to first and to the other side of the building (and so on) had her a bit  nervous, and for me to see this confident girl of my nervous pulled at my heart strings.  She has a full schedule, with what could be some tough classes:  S+ Math, Spanish, Woodwinds, Life Science, PE, S+ English, S+ Us Studies and FACs.

On top of that she is playing volleyball for the 9th grade team at the high school.  Meaning, everyday after school she is bused to the high school for a 2 hour practice.  Two nights a week she has matches, two nights a week she has fastpitch softball practice and every Sunday she has 2 softball games.  The girl is busy... thus making her parents busy :)  But, so far she is managing everything very well.


Action is in 4th grade at the same elementary school as previous years, but with a teacher who is new to the school.

His school also hired a new principal (thankfully!) and assistant principal.  They have been a breath of fresh air and it has only been one week.  For example,  last year the kids were "assigned" a group of kids they had to play with at recess (friends or not), then they could only pick one thing to play for the entire recess.  This year, that rule is gone.  They choose who they play with (size of groups are limited for safety) and they can play whatever they want.  So nice to see him excited about this simple change!   Anyway, week one went down as a success!  He is playing tackle football again this year.  Their first game is tomorrow night.


Smiley is once again in preschool this year.

She goes to school on Monday and Wednesday mornings.  Today is her first day back.  She was excited to get back and see some of her friends again and ready to make some new ones!  I think she was getting tired of just hanging out with me all day long now that the other two are back in school! :)


Like always, it was a bummer to say goodbye to summer ~ we tried to squeeze as much in as we could around all of the activities the kids were in.

The time they are home is fleeing and the memories we can make together are priceless (even if they don't think so now!)

Yes it can be trying to have all of the kids home all day long, every day in the summer, yes they bicker and bug each other.  Yes, I have begged for just a minute of quiet.  But before we knew it, it was already gone.  And only the memories are left.  Memories I will savor!

 I hope you are all doing well.  I am still here, and I hope you haven't written off my little blog.  I hope to get back to being more consistent again.  I have a list of blog post to write and I am looking forward to finding all of you and getting caught up.  I am so behind on my blog reading!

~ So Goodbye Summer ~

We've had a lovely time and look forward to seeing you next year and creating many many more memories.

Something to think about Sunday

BEING

Definition: living; being alive

I've been busy.
My mind has been racing.
I've been stressed, and yet  somewhat relaxed (huh?).

When life gets this way, I seem to get frustrated easily.  Which is.....    very frustrating.  And it leads me to unconsciously examine my life path and seems to amplify all of my downfalls.

I feel like I am a good wife, mom, friend and child of God.  I am loving, spiritual, helpful, and so much more, but it doesn't feel like it's enough, like I'm being enough.  I mean, I love my family, but am I showing it enough, in my words and actions?  I love my husband, but the spark that was there so many years ago is more like a candle now, I could be more romantic and spontaneous.  There are so many moments when I feel stretched  too thin, tired and short, moments I should step back, take a deep breath and relax.  And while I'm fun (I think ☺), and I love to laugh it doesn't feel like it's enough.


For some reason I feel like I need to be more:
Loving
Romantic
Patient
Spiritual
Health conscious
Fit
Fun
Relaxed
Spontaneous
Organized
Creative

Is it possible to stop trying to "be more"  and just accept who you are right now?


1 Samuel 16:7b
“For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.’ (NKJV)

28. For the smile on my Daughter’s face as I cheer her on
29. Cuddling with my Hubby in the middle of the afternoon
30. Unexpected flowers

Open House

Last night we had open house at school. The kids are giddy with nervous excitement. But I have to admit as I sit here and think about school and them, I am sad. I am wondering where have my babies gone?

I myself, remember having a difficult time sleeping the night before a new school year.

I remember planning how I wanted my hair fixed and what I was going to wear ~ never mind that I wore a uniform from Kindergarten through 12 Grade. (Although once high school hit, there was more flexibility. )

I was excited to see my friends, meet my teachers and gulp.... have homework (for the first few weeks anyway).

But now as school is about to start for Sassy and Action, my excitement and anxieties still exist for school, but are different.

Will Sassy enjoy school? Will she meet new friends? Will she like her teacher? Will she gain more confidence and learn new things?


And Action....

My little Mama's boy off to kindergarten. Will he be nervous or scared? Will he cry? Will he like his teacher? Will he make lots of friends? Last night after open house I asked him if he was excited and he said, "I wish there was no such thing as school." I noticed the glistening of tears in his eyes as we drove out of the parking lot (and then he turned and hid his head).

But...

As Sassy begins 3rd grade and Action starts kindergarten, I think my biggest questions and sources of anxiety are these:
* Where have my babies gone?
* Have I taught them the skills they need to be successful (I know it's kindergarten
and 3rd grade)?
* ARE THEY HAPPY? WILL THEY BE HAPPY?

Oh, where have my babies gone?

I must have blinked because it seems they have grown up so much ~ right before my very eyes!