Two Wear Em Out Days

The first wear em out day was on Friday, we had a small reunion of sorts when we got together with ALL 14 siblings on Milo's dad's side. It had been almost 3 1/2 yrs (in my calculations anyway) since all of them had been together and it was fun to pull it off (remember most of the thanks goes to Shaila for getting it started). We went to the pool during the day (no photos from there) and from there we ended up at a park just out of town.

Dane was so, so tired. I took this on the way out to the park when we were stopped at a stop light. He was just begging to go to sleep. The next time I looked back I found him like this...

Crashed out! I left the car running (it was right next to where we were) and he took a good 30 minute nap. Which he totally needed. He is one of those kids that when too much is going on he will not eat. So I'm estimating here but I'm sure he burned off 5,000 calories while only consuming 500. Too bad my body doesn't work that way. I'm just not that active, ha!

{a little blurry but in all the other ones someone is 'acting' out, =)}

It wasn't easy getting all 14 people to look at the camera and look at it normally! We did it last thing of the night so everyone was tired and silly. Most of them are like that anyway so it was a double challenge. The big kids (aka MILO) were just as non cooperative as the little kids. But hey, at least there is a photo to document they were actually together right?! It's so confusing to explain the hows and whats of the sibling arrangements in this family so just trust me (and don't ask), Milo was raised with most of these guys.

The brothers.

The sisters.

We left the park after dark, it got dark so fast I was hoping we weren't leaving anyone or anything behind. It was such a long day but worth it in the end. I crashed when we came home.

Today I made the trek to my grandma's house (an hour away) to pick peaches from the orchard behind her house. I guess you could call it our second wear em out day in the last 4 days. It went so fast I can't believe we picked 5 big, full boxes. Many thanks goes out to my aunt and to Nathan (he actually learned which ones were ripe and only picked a couple rock hard ones). No thanks to Kathryn (she was playing with the dog and picking dandelions) or Dane (he ran through the sprinklers and jumped on the trampoline) but I'm glad they had a good time. We were back home in 4 hours and that is saying quite a bit since 2 of those hours were spent in the car. It's hard to visit my grandma (she's 83 and lonely) because she wants all day visitors and that is hard in her town (very small) and house (nothing to do). I was dying of heat in there (she thinks her house is cool at 78^!) and couldn't wait to leave. It sounds rude, I know. I'm blaming the raging pregnancy hormones for all the sweating. I started my van early to cool it off so I could drive home without the heat! Glad that's over. I'm not totally crazy. Only 2 boxes are for me. The other 3 I'm sharing. I couldn't possibly can that many and stay sane the first week of school. I'm pushing my luck with 2. I'll let you know how it goes.

Tonight was meet your teacher night for the kindergarten kids. In the first 5 minutes I could tell without a doubt Nathan had a better teacher than Kat did all last year. I'm so happy about that. Our school started every day all day kinder and for Nathan I think it's great. He is old and had to wait (his bday is Nov 6th) and he is beyond ready. I wanted this program, requested it and in the last couple weeks have been really dreading it. I'm happy he is ready but I'm so nervous to send him away from home all day! I question myself and if I've done enough to prepare him to be away from me (I think I have). With Kat in just half day last year I felt like she still came home and ate lunch with us and spent the afternoon playing so I still 'had' her. I hope it only takes a couple weeks to get used to it. For me, not him, I'm sure it will only take him a couple days he is so excited! (Am I the only one with these irrational fears, it is the pregnancy hormones or is this a totally normal I'm sending my kid away for 8 hours fear?) Just tell me it is OK?

We have Kathryn's back to school (grades 1-5) tomorrow and her teacher comes with great reviews (she sent Kat a darling letter and sounds so happy to be a teacher). We start school Wednesday so life as we know is will be officially over. Or starting which ever way you look at it.
So far I see it both ways. Bad for the mornings, perfect for errand running with just Dane!