One Eighty {180}

Day 1 of 180.

I've said it before but I am so ready for a routine. The random days of summer were fun at first but have definitely lost their charm. I need to be accountable with a time constraint, I need quiet time in the afternoon, I need to run errands with only 2 kids and not 4. And almost above all else, I need time to blog! Really.

We started the morning with our traditional initial pancakes. It was a bit crazier than usual (Reed was screaming in the background) so you can tell which pancake I started with. By the time Dane's made it to the pan, it was too hot . Kat had a nice pancake with a slightly bloated K, Nate's wasn't too bad but it was huge and he couldn't finish it, Dane's was definitely burnt and he only ate a few bites.

They were all a buzz waiting to leave for school. I'm really happy with their teachers, Nathan has the same teacher Kathryn had last year. I don't want to do that every year but this woman lives for 1st grade. Kathryn is most excited for the classroom pets that her teacher has. A turtle and a hamster. I'm sure those animals wont know what hit them when she gets to them, she is a crazed animal lover.

Oh these guys are getting so old. Life was so hard when they were both young and while I wouldn't call it easy now, it's just a different kind of hard. My mom reminds me that's how every stage is. You trade your old 'hard' for a new 'hard'. I can attest to that and they're only (almost) 7 & 8. I love them so much and worry each day that I've armed them with what they need to have to be safe and happy in this world. It's not an easy job and as cheesy as this sounds, I wouldn't want any other one.

You can't tell by looking at this photo but Dane was in tears just moments before. I'm pretty sure he was feeling the stress of staying behind this morning. He turns 5 next Wed and so will have to wait another whole year for kindergarten. I'm really happy about that, it's just hard for him right now. He starts preschool next week and can't wait. I hope they're ready for him, ha!

On the way to school I realized Kat was in Room 8 and turning 8 this year.

Nate is right next door in Room 7 and he'll be 7 this year.

Can you tell they were over me taking pictures? Kat ran right off to the playground and Nate went to investigate the classroom until he found a friend. And then he was off and running to the field.

Since we've been home Dane has eaten 2 more breakfasts, a snack and insisted on calling his friend Kimble because he says buddies talk on the phone. Oh and he woke up Reed during his morning nap, claiming he was scared when I was in the shower. Bored seems like a better word than scared. He begged me to pack his lunch bag and while I was getting ready I just kept putting him off. Finally I told him, your school doesn't start until next week so we don't need to do that right now. He leaned into my ear with a serious look on his face and in a loud whisper said, 'Mom, my homeschool...'. Man, this kid has worn me out and it's only the first day. Thank heavens he's sleeping it off right now, he's had a busy morning, ha.