september is here

I wasn't really ready for school to start.  But it definitely feels good to be back into a routine.

We've finished 3 whole weeks already.

This guy acts like he's been going to Kindergarten for years. 

It was hard on my heart (but still fun) to look back at his "first day" pictures.

 And this little miss has had the best start to a school year yet.  Every other year there have been some emotions and tummy aches and tears.  But this year she is so happy and we are SO thankful.

I just look at her and think to myself how unbelievably blessed we are to be raising this girl.  She is pretty amazing.

 This was 2 years ago this week, Mason's first day of PreK and Taylor had been in Kindergarten for a few weeks.  I am loving the TimeHop app on my phone.  But I kind of hate it too.  Nothing like a daily reminder of how fast time has flown.

One of my favorite parts of the day is picking Mason up from the bus stop.  This was the 2nd day of school, and the first day he rode the bus.  He sprinted into my arms with the biggest smile.  My heart pretty much exploded.  Even 3 weeks later, he still runs to me.  I'm guessing it may stop eventually.

  

And then I got the dreaded call from the office that one of my babies was sick in the office, less than a week into the year. {insert big humongous sigh}  It takes me 15 minutes to get to the school, and those minutes seem like forever when I'm trying to get to my littles so fast.  He was as pale as could be with hardly enough energy to walk to the car, but he wouldn't let me carry him through the building either.  He fell straight asleep in the car and an hour later was fine.  We figured out he overheated at recess.  Thankfully we dodged that "sickness" bullet.

 And now a week of September is over already.  My favorite month of the year for so many reasons.  

But this year, September brings memories of news that our sweet niece had cancer. 

2 years ago this month, her parents heard the word cancer for the first time,

and 1 year ago this month, they heard that word again.

This past week, Sydney started 5th grade, FULL time.  Something most 10 year olds don't think is a big deal.  And on top of that, she's back on the soccer field too!

So thankful we serve a God who is bigger than the horrible monster that cancer is. 

So thankful this September for our niece, Sydney!

first day of school {2014}

I guess our summer got too busy for me to stay caught up on posts.   So let's just pick up right where we are now.

Today was the first day of school.  I have no idea where summer went.  But it's gone.

 

We sent our 2nd baby off to Kindergarten. His sweet teacher had the kids bring their mamas a "kissing hand" sticker to put in our hands before we leave. That part always makes me teary eyed.  We love that book and we always read it the night before school starts. 

Mason was brave and excited and more than ready.  It definitely made it easier on mom and dad.
Poor Gavin was completely convinced he would be going to school too.  He brought his backpack along (full of diapers and wipes) and wasn't exactly sure what to think when we left the big kids at school.  We have a big transition ahead of us trying to get used to it being just us two. 

 Kindergarten boys with belts and tucked in shirts. Quite possibly the cutest thing ever.

 And our little lady started 2nd grade.  It's crazy to see how grown up she is getting.

She was a tad nervous, woke up at 5:40am, and they were both silent on the 15 minute ride to school. But once she got there and was surrounded by friends she came alive. 

 

 Tomorrow they are ready to get on the bus together. 

I wish this growing up thing was as easy on me as it was for them.

They are doing it so well....and so fast.

off to PreK again...

Of course my intentions were not to post Mason's back to school pictures almost a month late.  But it has seemed like ever since he has started back to school also, we've hit the ground running.

We celebrated the night before with a Back-to-School dinner just like we did for Taylor.  He sure eats up any time the attention is on him, he was so darn cute.

We had a really hard time keeping Gavin out of the pictures.  He loves his brother soooo much.  Seriously, those two have such a special bond.  Gavin wants to know where "Bubba" is all the time.  He wants to show him what he can do, and wants to do everything Mason does and say everything Mason says.  He got to go into the classroom when we dropped Mason off, and he had a super hard time leaving.

This boy melts my heart. 

 He's grown up a lot this past year.  Being a big brother is the perfect role for him.

His creativity is beginning to bloom, he loves to sit and color and make up his own crafts.

But I'd have to say the highlight of this little guy's days lately have been that he's finally old enough to go to work with Dad. Those are the best days.

He'd go to work with Dad every day if he didn't have to go to school. 

I told you this guy wasn't very happy to leave his big brother behind.  He wasn't happy at all when we drove away.

 And just for fun so you can see how much he's grown up in a year...

So now Mommy is having to re-learn how to entertain an almost 2 year old with no other playmates at home.  We are adjusting to this new season, and filling the time with playdates with his neighbor buddy Brahm, going to bible study and we'll start Library time soon. 

But Gavin's favorite time of the day is definitely going to pick up "Bubba" from school.

off to first grade

Well, it's here.  Today we sent our first kiddo off to school all day. 

How thankful I am for a half day Kindergarten last year that eased us in to this all day long gig.

She's been excited but nervous.  Lots of questions, and needing to talk through things over and over.  Very unlike her.  She was worried about lunch, and getting tired, and who'd she play with at recess.

What comfort in knowing that the Lord goes before her, and is by her side when we cannot be.

 

We kicked off last night with our 2nd annual back to school dinner celebration.

 

 We love this idea I found online last year, and I think it's one that will stick and be a tradition for as long as the kids enjoy it.  It is so fun making them feel so special on this night and taking delight in their promotion to a new grade.  She got to pick what I made for dinner, and we picked up an ice cream cake as a treat. 

 

 

She woke before her alarm, at 6am.  Partly thanks to the little baby next door who decided to bang on his door and think he wanted to be up for the day.  Luckily I got him back to sleep while Taylor and I got ourselves ready for the day.

 

I drove her out this first day, she'll ride the bus tomorrow. 

As we walked in, I snapped a few pictures with my phone.  I had no clue what I was really getting in my shot, trying to be discreet about it, I just snapped twice and didn't look at them till I got home.

It's moments like this captured forever that are the most precious gifts.

 

Her first real desk.

And then just like that, it was time to wave goodbye and walk out. It was a different feeling than Kindergarten, not as emotional, but yet still hard.  Maybe that's just how every year is...letting go a little bit more each time.

 

 

 

The boys and I picked her up and she was all smiles.  She loved the crispy chicken salad for lunch, she decided she did want milk for snack (after she told me she only wanted one milk at lunch, and then she'd do water at snack), she saw her Kindergarten teacher a whole three times, she learned to jump rope for a loooong time by just doing little jumps, not big ones, and she can't wait till her job is the "messenger" who gets to take messages to other teachers.

 

Bring on tomorrow.

 

For a look back, you can check out her Preschool and Kindergarten favorites.
I got the back to school printable signs here.