First Day of School

The boys got up this morning READY to go!! We implemented one more step in our morning routine ... making your bed! Yes, I know most have been doing this for years but we would shower, eat and dress in as few minutes as possible to allow for maximum sleep ... this year things have changed. I am doing a neighborhood "boot camp" at 5:15 a.m. every morning and have plenty of morning time to make lunches, shower, etc. It has been so refreshing to start the day out early. Anyway, I added five more minutes to the boys' routines and it went perfectly!!

The first day of school is always such a roller coaster of emotions!

I am sad that yet another year has gone in the blink of an eye but I am excited to see the kids grow into the people God has purposed them for ... I love the organized pace of the school year yet I miss the laid back-swimming-reading-breakfast at 9-days of summer.

Yesterday, we met the boys teachers and got all of their supplies/desks/books in order to start school year. This is a great method our school has before school starts to make the first day of school seamless BUT I was sweating (literally, the 24-hour-prescription-strength-Secret did not stand a chance). Kate was attempting to empty the pencil bags that we were trying to organize like the teacher had instructed (pens and pencils go here, ruler and glue go there, this here and this there -whew). I was desperately wanting to appear to these new teachers that we handled our family of 3 kids beautifully, perfectly, calmly ... the sweat began to drip when 48 crayons came out of the first completed zipper bag ... and we still had Josh's classroom supplies to go!! I know by the time we left someone was sighing a deep breath of relief besides me (teachers, principals, etc)!!

Really, it all went well and sonehow Kate quite endeared herself to both boys' teachers with sweet "hi"s and hugs and kisses.

here is Mrs. Shields, Josh's first grade teacher

and here is Mrs. McClenny, Caleb's 3rd grade teacher

to school, to schedules, to early mornings, to sweet teachers and mostly I give this day to God and thank Him profusely for the blessing of allowing me to parent these precious ones and for giving me the strength to graciously allow someone else to teach them for 8 hours a day ...