I Will Survive

As of this writing we have successfully survived the first three days of school.   I will admit to a few very early mornings/sleepless nights that I devoted to worrying.  This year holds a lot of unknowns, new schools, new routines, etc., etc. and so I felt it my duty to obsess over them a little.   Regardless, these three cuties were up and ready to go on the first day.   (Well, Cooper wasn't exactly moving fast that morning....but he made it in time for the obligatory pictures.)

Who are these three, really?  I scarcely recognize these fast growing kids.  And surely I am not old enough to have a sixth grader?  They are way too cute for me to deny them though, so I guess I must embrace the times and go with it.

McKenna in middle school has seemed a smooth transition thus far.  Unless you're talking about the carpool and then perhaps it gets a bit more complicated.    In an effort to shelter her maybe a little longer I have decided not to put her on the bus with high school seniors.  Lucky for me, my neighbors have jumped on that bandwagon and we now have an elaborate carpool system that means I only have to drive a couple of days a week.   Sounds simple until the part where I tell you that when I pick Jimmy up, I drop Cooper off to spend 1/2 hour at the Bailey's until the bus comes so that I can drop Kinley off at daycare.  Or the days where Jessica drives and I text Kara to make sure she meets us at the bus ....anyway, you get the point...What's that saying again, "It takes a village?"     Thank god for my village.

Cooper came home the first day grinning from ear to ear.  He has some great kids in his class, really likes the teacher and is comfortable being back at school.   He's already back to reading with enthusiasm after a summer where it was a struggle to get him to read the 10 required books.   I don't know what this new teacher is doing already but it sure is working.

Little Miss Kinley had a wonderful welcoming back at daycare.  Before we could get in the room the kids were shouting, "Kinley's back, Kinley's."  It was such a blessing that they welcomed her in that way.  She hesistated for approximately .005 seconds when it was time for me to leave and then she was off to play, happily reunited with her friends.

As for me, I spent the day catching up with my friends, getting my hair done, cooking, and beginning to establish my "work at home" routine in preparation for my classes to start.   I still hate to see the summer weather end but I'll be honest that I saw pumpkins and Penn State football at Wal-Mart today and my heart did a tiny happy dance.   So, onward we go!