School Daze

The kids are back in school and have been for almost a full month now.  I feel so behind.  Sometimes I feel like I am running on a hamster wheel.  I can work and do laundry, dishes, and clean bathrooms all day, but then there they are again staring me in the face.  The work never goes away.  But the kids are growing up, so I feel like it is so essential to document it before I lose these memories.

Our school district started before most in this area and that is in part due to the two week Harvest Break that we will get for two weeks in September and October.  And I am not complaining.  The kids were ready to go back and we will be ready for a Fall break in a couple of weeks.

This handsome boy started First Grade this year.  And he really enjoys school.  I am so sad to have him gone all day as he was such a help to me last year playing with Charlotte and Bronson and helping with their needs last year.  We miss him terribly but are happy that he is having a good experience.  His teacher is a first year teacher so she is full of enthusiasm and fresh ideas.

This cutie started Fourth Grade... AAACCCKKK  are they really getting that old?  He and his sister requested to be in the same class this year and the school complied.  Their desks are even right next to each other.  They must be behaving because their teacher still hasn't separated them yet.  They have a great teacher who is a veteran of many years and she absolutely SPOILS them to death with candy and prizes.  About every other day they are coming home with stuffed animals, balls, and food.  He loves to read and we can't seem to keep him in enough books or get him to go to bed at night.  His favorite things to do at recess involve playing kickball and jump rope with friends.

And this sweetheart is of course also in 4th grade, (double aaaccckkk).  Her teacher had her heart when we went in to meet her on meet and greet day and she presented these kids with stuffed frogs (one of Ashlyn's favorite animals/ amphibians).  Ashlyn adores being in class with her brother and he is her best friend.  They spend every recess together and she has infiltrated herself into a group of boys who are all her friends.  She is doing super in school and always has a positive attitude about all aspects of school.  They are really getting these kids running this year and have them run 1/2 mile 2-3 days a week.  Ashlyn never complains but makes sure she has the right shoes on in the mornings and her hair pulled back out of her face so that she can do her best.  She is a good girl.

I take these little buddies to school in the mornings so that they have time to practice the piano.  But I make them ride the bus home.  They usually don't get home until about 4:30.  But in this district they get their Fridays off so it makes up for the time that they miss by being home earlier.

This princess was very sad that she STILL isn't five yet.  She decided to prepare a tea party for her brothers and sisters when they got home from school on their first day.  They were surprised and happy to see the snacks Charlotte had made them.

And this Buster doesn't really care where everyone is.  He is too busy ripping keys off my laptop, unrolling the toilet paper, and writing on EVERYTHING with markers, crayons, pens, and pencils.

I have had to come up with lots of ideas to keep these two busy and out of trouble while the kids are at school.

Thank Heaven for Pinterest and the abundant list of toddler crafts that it provides.

I also got together with a group of moms in our new neighborhood and started a rotating preschool for Charlotte.  Her need to go to school has been appeased and we are making friends and satisfying my need to teach.  It is win/win for everyone.

We are so happy to be back in school.