Back to School - 2019

FOUR kids, SEVEN schools.  And me - 4th semester Grad School.  Between us, we had EIGHT First Days Of School.  Spanned over a 3 week period.  It was INSANE - and here we are well into September and I don't think we have it all figured out just yet.  So many new routines, new class structures, new BUILDINGS!  I would have never dreamed the LAST first day of school for my Twisters would be so incredibly new, different, and hard to manage.  I plan to break it down kid by kid, but first, let's look at the calendar:

8/12 Monday      Emma    Redland Community College concurrent classes start
8/14 Wednesday Emma   Meridian Tech Year 2 Metal Fab starts
8/16 Friday         Emma    Mulhall-Orlando High School Starts (Senior Year)
8/19 Monday      Lara       First day Stillwater Public Schools (Senior Year)
                            Jake       (7th grade)
8/20 Tuesday       Lara       First day of OSU Concurrent classes at the high school (on MWF, She doesn't have "school" until 1pm)
                            Mom       Grad School classes start
8/28 Wednesday  FINN!     FINALLY gets into his brand new school for 2nd grade! (after 2 false starts and delayed meet the teacher and lots of traffic, transportation, and logistical hurdles)

Dream Weaver Prints

EMMA

Emma.  Class of 2020.  This girl is all over the place.  Redland Community College for online concurrent courses, Meridian Technology in Stillwater for Metal Fabrication Year 2, and her last few high school credits at Mulhall-Orlando High School.  She is wild and fierce and takes no crap from anyone.  She loves big and draws a deep line in the sand.  She is still driving the old 1996 Ford F-150 truck to get her to and from.  And as of right now, she wants to go to Oklahoma State University and major in Mechanical Engineering.  Here's to a senior year that flies by because we know you are ready for the next step!


LARA

Lara.  Class of 2020.  This girl is loved by so many.  We call her "Momma Lara" and she cares so deeply for her family, her friends, her babysitting clients, and her "boys!" She is taking concurrent classes at the high school through Oklahoma State University and has ONE credit each term at the high school.  The rest of her time she is tooling around in her silver 2006 VW Jetta and working athletics!  She is a manager/trainer for Varsity Football, Wrestling, and Baseball again this year.  She is planning on going to Oklahoma State and majoring in Sports Management and joining a sorority. 

JAKE

Jake.  Class of 2025 - 7th Grade at Stillwater Middle School.  My gentle giant.  He stands 6'0", and depending on shoes and time of day, he is taller than me!  He spikes his hair up for added effect, too.  Still just 12 - doesn't turn 13 till January.  He is a shoe ADDICT (I think we're at 16 pairs - mostly Nike basketball shoes with crazy names) and ready for school basketball to start.  He is still working out and playing travel ball out of Oklahoma City with the AET 2025 team. He is in 2 pre-AP class and his electives are PE, Art, and Musical Theater.  We can't wait to see him in the school musical this Spring.  He is a Renaissance Man!

FINN

Finn.  Class of 2030 - 2nd grade at the BRAND NEW and finally open Westwood Elementary School.  We had a few false starts and didn't find out his teacher until the evening before school started.  But we're off and running now!  He has THE BEST second grade teacher on the PLANET!  Mrs. Fox had 2 of his older siblings (the other one's teacher is no longer teaching), and we are THRILLED she has Finn as well.  He loves video games - Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite, and dozens of others.  He plays on his iPod (old iPhone) and our desktop computer.  He also loves Netflix and YouTube.  He sings non-stop and LOVES to tell a good story!  He can read at a 4th-grade level and is also advanced in math.  We're so excited for his second grade year!   

We are off and running.  So many classes and teachers to keep track of!  And it will go by very quickly.  We are looking forward to all the milestones this year.  And a bit somber about the first of the LASTS that are already happening for the girls.  This school year will fly by - just as they all do!

(I am still doing the weekly 2020 Project blogs counting down to the girl's graduate as well.  You can see those posts by clicking here!)

Here's to a FANTASTIC 2019-20 school 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???

 

Who needs sleep?

This week has flown by in a whirlwind of school meetings, work commitments, and personal chores, yet it has crawled by at the same time.  Lack of sleep, new routines, and the "second week of school" slump are to blame.  This week, I had a to-do list a mile long for myself and Dream Weaver Prints, as well as projects at work, and errands that never seemed to end!  It's finally Friday, but I still feel like I need 2 more days of "work week" to get it all done!  And it doesn't stop!  New after school activities start the next couple of weeks for everyone...

This week, we've had something ALMOST every night.  Lots of late night dinners, baths, and bedtimes.  Sure messes us up after JUST getting back on track.  I'm not sure when Jake had a shower last...

Tuesday night was Open House for the 6th grade families at the middle school.  We got to meet their elective class teachers, get a presentation from the administration, and then meet with their team teachers.  It was all very educational to me as a first time middle school parent, but it was also a bit overwhelming!  I learned that I have to sign stuff.  A lot.  I'm bad about --  in the hustle and bustle --  I kinda sign things by rote - not really knowing what I am signing.  I think my middle school lesson is to try harder at paying attention to paperwork.  Other than that, the girls are still liking it (even though a schedule change for Emma threw a small wrench in her week), and I think they are going to do very well there!

Wednesday night, activities started back up at our church.  We have SO missed our LifeGroup over the summer!  THRILLED to be back in the fold.  So, that means it was Emma and Lara's first night in Switch - the Youth ministry program.  I didn't have to check them in.  They didn't need name tags.  They just walked into the lobby, all made-up and perfumed again, and starting hanging out with the "big" kids.  So Weird.  And Jake is in Konnect+.  Again, while I did have to get him a name tag, he just took off for class.  No need for mom.  So glad I still had Finn to check into a room!  But, shockingly, he didn't even cry when I handed him off to one of our AWESOME Little LifeKids volunteers.  They are GROWING UP TO FAST!  All of them!  So thankful for LifeChurch and all they do to minister to and grow my kids in Christ!  And, thankful the kids get that, while I get fellowship with my AWESOME LifeGroup!

Thursday, not wanting to feel left out, had to have something, too.  Curriculum night in Jake's first grade class at the elementary school.  I think I may bee too old (or too cynical?) for these.  I was one of the "older" parents in the room, and I felt a lot of deja vu while there.  Haven't I done first grade before?  Like, 5 years ago?  And, some of the "young" parents questions and comments... Well, annoyed me a bit. LOL!  But, I really REALLY like is teacher and I am glad I went to represent our family.  Jake is going to have a great first grade year!

Have I mentioned Finn doesn't get enough to eat on pre-school days?  Yeah, he doesn't.  That makes for kinda cranky evenings.  And 3am HUNGRY wake-up calls.  I have tried to explain that he needs his milk and he NEEDS to eat (all 20 pounds of him!), but I know they are on a schedule and such.  So, Britt, my AMAZING husband, gets up with him at 3am and feeds him.  While watching Daniel Boone on ME TV.  Thankful he lets me try to sleep.  We will get through this, right?

So, the adjustment period is still in full swing.  Next week, dance for Lara and fall volleyball for Emma start.  Closely followed by Flag Football for Jake.  I had the others in gymnastics at this age, so I am contemplating that for Finn as well.  We'll see...

In the meantime, we are 29 days from Stillwater March for Babies.   I am happy to announcer that Team Finn's Fans is a little over 1/2 way to their goal!  T-shirt sales CLOSE NEXT FRIDAY! If you want to order a T-shirt or need more info, be sure and check out THIS POST for all the details.  Also, be watching next week as I start "26 Days for March of Dimes" here on the blog.  In honor of Finn's arrival at 26 weeks gestation, I will be posting each day with facts, stories, and other fun things about or from the March of Dimes for the last 26 days leading up to the March!  Hope you tune in!