Back to School 2017-2018

The week before the kids go back to school is always one of the hardest weeks of the year - for ALL five of us.  We LOVE summer - L.O.V.E. every minute of it.  So that week before school starts, we all have a little anxiety about the strict schedules; we are all sad about the time that we will lose together; but most of all, we are all always amazed at what we all accomplish each summer.

For me, summer is the only time during the year where I feel like I am the all around person that I want (and frankly NEED) to be:  I feel like a great mom, a great wife, a great friend and an overall healthy person.  I can work late without feeling guilty, I stay home every Friday with the kids without worrying about work, I see friends and family all of the time.  I love it that the kids can stay up late and sleep in - I love it that we can go boating until 9:30 at night and go swimming as the sun sets (while the kids take "showers" in the lake).  When school starts, it feels like someone puts on the brakes and the stressball mom appears...you need to get to bed on time.  Did you do your homework?  What about lunch tomorrow - taking or hot lunch?  Do you have your uniform ready...crap the laundry hasn't been done for a week!. and so on and so on and so on!

 This year I have made a promise to all three kids to try to stop the pressure of time during the school year.  I have made a promise that we will all communicate expectations and feelings of being overwhelmed.  I just miss summer...already...and its only the first week.  I love my time with these kids who are growing up way too quickly for my liking.  So here they are my second grader, my fourth grader and my preschooler.  They are all in school now and Jason and I are starting a new season.  Even though I am sad and my heart aches for more time with them...I am so excited to watch them as they grow even more and become the person God wants them to be!

See Drew is SUPER excited!!!

Conner...trying to act excited!

Our Party bus riders!

And little miss on her very first day.  She did so well all through drop off.  When we came to pick her up (she goes Mon, Wed and Fridays for 3 hours), the principal said she cried most of the day!  Brenna said she cried because she missed us but only cried for SIX hours!!  Her favorite part of the day was that Fr. Glenn let her splash everyone with water!!!  I am so proud of her.  She is more than ready but sad to not be home and playing all day!

My heart broke as she left my sight...our baby!  It was just Jason and me.  He tried to take me to McDonald's to kill time :)  I told him I would like something a little more sit down!