First Day of School 2017

August 17, 2017.  The First Day of School is always an emotional roller coaster.  For everyone involved!  Who is my teacher?  What should I wear?  I don’t want to be late!  When’s lunch?  Do I need my backpack?  Do you have a pencil and something to write on?  I can’t believe you are in (insert grade here) already!?!  Do you know how you are getting home?  The list goes on and on and on. And this year, honestly, was no different.  I know I experienced about 25 emotions – all at once and then over and over throughout the day.  Here is a glimpse into how the day went.

I’ll start with the boys.  They get up early and go to school early and start early.  For #3 child, this is fine.  He sleeps hard and is ready to get up and go when the time comes.  For #4 child, this is not OK.  Lots of repeated trips to the room with back rubs, and bright lights, and bribes.  And that’s just to get him out of bed.  This ritual repeats for getting dressed, ingesting SOMETHING for breakfast, brushing the teeth (this is actually the easiest part) and combing/styling the hair.  And, I wanted them ready a few minutes early for pictures!  But we made it!  Then, Britt and I walked the boys the 4 blocks to Westwood for their first day of 5^th grade and Kindergarten.

Once we were there, Finn said we should go to Jake’s class first.  Easy enough!  He is excited to have Mrs. Stuever for 5^th Grade, and he has several friends in there.  After a selfie with mom, we were on to the Kindergarten hall way.  Finn had been in a good mood since he finally woke up “fully.”  He did great with pictures, loved walking to school, was a perfect little brother as we got Jake settled… And then as we neared his classroom he dug his heels in, and I basically had to drag him to class.  The next 7-8 minutes of my life left me sad, frustrated, and extremely sweaty.  With Dad’s help, and the Mrs. Edward’s (not the same Mrs. Edwards from last year – a different one.  That’s not confusing at all!) help, we were able to leave him in the classroom for circle time and go on about our day.  It was TOUGH.  There were tears all around.  I even texted my friend in the office 30 minutes later to check in.  She sent the Vice Principal on a re-con mission for us, to find that (of course) he was fine and happy and doing great.  WHEW!

After we got back home, it was time to take the #2 child to her first day of OFFICIAL High School!  I had told her if she would get up early for a quick pic with her brothers (at the top - no make-up), I would take her to get breakfast on the way to school.  She chose McDonalds.  After a quick stop there, we were off to Stillwater High School for her first day of Sophomore Year!  Drop off was a bit chaotic, and this is the pic we snapped as she stepped out of the car.

Later when the boys were dismissed for the day from Westwood, they came up to the 3^rd floor of the Student Union to see me for a moment and tell me about their days.  It was SO MUCH FUN to hear them talk about the first day.  I would say both days were a success.  Jake said he was ready to go back for Day 2.  Finn, well, he’s Finn.  Not only are Jake and Finn complete opposites, so are their first day of school end of day emails from their teachers!  See below…

Emma and I texted a little bit early in the morning as she prepared for her school day.  She promised me a picture or 2, which I *FINALLY* got around 2:00 in the afternoon! LOL!  She did her ½ of the traditional Emma and Lara back to school pic.  I, however, had forgotten to do Lara’s!  So, we did Lara’s side after dinner (in her trainer clothes instead of her cute FDoS outfit, and I got to merge them together in the name of tradition!

Lara’s school day didn’t end until 5:30pm when Football Practice was over. #TrainerLife Finn had wanted to have dinner with Nana and Grandpa.  It was their 49^th wedding Anniversary, so we all decided to eat at Joe’s!  Eskimo Joe’s, that is.  The big kids got their traditional First Day of School Milk Shakes for dessert, and it was the best way to end our First Day of School in 2017!

Happy 49th Wedding Anniversary Mom and Dad

Here’s to a great year, Little Dream Weavers!

First Day of School 2014

Well, another school year has started with a bang!  It’s always crazy getting back into the routine, getting all the school supplies purchased, getting everyone to bed on time, coaxing everyone out of bed on time.  But we are 4 days in.  And we made it!  2 7^th graders, a 2^nd grader, and Year 2 of preschool for the little guy! He is going 3 days a week this year instead of the 2 he went last year.  Trying to get him caught up to his peers with language and social skills!

I will let the pictures do most of the talking.  I am in just in SHOCK that these are my babies.  The time has flown.  When we went to meet the teacher for 2^nd grade last week, Britt remarked how it felt like we were just in Jake’s 1^st grade classroom last week!  So true.  And funny that we found his last report card of the year from 1^st grade still in his backpack after the first day of 2^nd grade!  OOPS!  Emma and Lara are ruling the Middle School as 7^th graders.  They are such wonderful young ladies.  Level headed, low drama, smart, dedicated, organized.  So proud.  And Jake!  MAN!  He is just a joy.  Somewhat shockingly, NOT the tallest kid in his class this year, too!  ;)  He loves his teachers and Westwood – such a great fit for him.  Sweet little baby Finn is almost 3.  And talking up a STORM!  I am so proud of how far he has come.  He’s still a nervous nelly, and has his funny quirks, but he is much more social this year and people can converse with him which truly helps.  He is going to have a great year in the Rainbow Room at FUMC ECC.

 

 

It’s strange to stop and think during the day that the 6 Dream Weavers are spread out all over Stillwater.  But it sure is nice to come home at night and we’re all cozy under one roof. God id good.

 

OH!  And they first Middle School Dance was Friday Night as well...

*sigh* Who ARE these girls???

 

State Night (and other news)

Lady Gaga, Swoosie Kurtz, Katy Perry, Tom Wopat (Luke Duke),  Bruno Mars, Dolly Parton, Michael Jackson, Miley Cyrus, Buddy Holly and 2 of Johnny Cash.  Snow White, Abe Lincoln, Henry Ford, Sarah Palin, and Hawaiian Princess Kaʻiulani.  Barry Sanders, Brandon Weeden, Tim Tebow and a skate boarder named Ryan Schekler.  Plus about 50 others I can’t recall.  What do all of these famous people have in common? They were all at Westwood’s 4^th Grade State Night last night!  It was AMAZING!  The kids did SUCH a great job, and we all had a blast going from booth to booth learning about each of the 50 states, the celebrity that was being represented, and getting snacks native to that state at some.  (You could bring snacks for the crowd for extra credit – my girls were ALL OVER this step!)  We really enjoyed asking questions and listening to the kids give their spiels, while Jake just went from station to station getting food.  He saw someone with fried chicken, a complete stranger, and then asked her where she got it, because he NEEDED some chicken!  LOL!  We also had grapes, cantaloupe, ice cream (thank you, Buddy Holly), wild rice, pineapple, dried cherries, blueberry muffins, sunflower seeds, and pickles- among other treats.

Emma represented the state of New York and dressed as a pop super star that is hugely talented and legendary for her strangeness, Lady Gaga.  Her costume consisted of a “bubble” dress, red tights, silver glitter high heels, a microphone (from our Wii) Gaga-esk wig, and outlandish make up.  She brought pizza bites as her snack for her station.

"Lady Gaga" telling Jake about New York

Lara chose to research the state of Nebraska, and her celebrity look alike was Swoosie Kurtz who is currently on the sit-com Mike & Molly on CBS.  He costume was an awards ceremony worthy coral dress, the highest heels she could find, and “show” make up – with a prop of an “award” and actress of Ms. Kurtz quality might have won.  Nebraska is the Cornhusker State, so her snack was popcorn.

Swoozie Kurtz posing with her popcorn

In other news, Finn is FIVE MONTHS OLD!  

He may be colic-y, but he sure is CUTE!

As of yesterday, he has been with us for five whole months.  It really doesn’t seem possible.  Time is going so quickly.  I would estimate his weight to be 10 pounds 10 ounces, and he is 21.5 inches long.  Pretty much right on track with his 2 month old peers.  We are weaning the oxygen this week – hope to be off completely by the weekend!  He is sleeping soundly right beside me with no oxygen assistance, and we shall see how the rest of the day goes.  He’s a trooper, for sure!