Libby's 1st Day of K I N D E R G A R T E N

I have to admit I wasn't AS emotional about Libby starting Kindergarten. Well, at least I thought I wasn't. But then the night before her first day, came and I was a hot mess.

I think I just wasn't nervous for her.  It wasn't a new school.  We already knew the routines, the staff, many families, Libby knew 10 out of the 17 students in her class.  The para in her classroom was the para in Sally's 1st grade classroom, so it was less NEW, so I didn't have the terrible nerves of the anticipation.  She wasn't going to climb on a giant bus all by herself, she had her big sister.

But then reality hit, I was losing another little.  Headed in to the big big world.  So, as I tucked her in and we sang our usual bedtime songs and prayers I got really choked up.  I had to wrap it up quickly so Reid could finish up, his eyes weren't dry either...I made it as far as my bathroom before the ugly cry came, I didn't want Libby to see it, I didn't want her to think she shouldn't be so excited to begin her new adventure.  The last thing she should be worried about is her mom.

Sally however, saw me.  She as about to sprint to go get Daddy, before I quickly caught her to tell her No. He knew, he already knew I was doing the ugly cry.  Sometimes you just have to let it all out.  It was also kind of good to have Sally witness it.  The raw emotion of a Mother's love.  She got to see how much I really care, that I want to hear about all the details of her day, and since, she's been a little more forthcoming when I ask about her day :)

And then I got it all out and I only had a few tears the day of, happy tears mostly.  She was SO ready! What a great feeling that is, to know your child is ready for their next adventure in life!

Gosh is she cute or what?!

Of course God granted us a few quiet moments to ourself that morning.  Her siblings seemed to get the hint to sleep a few extra minutes to allow us to have a few minutes to snuggle and pray together before she started her new chapter in life

Not a tear from Miss Libby, just a few butterflies of excitement!

"Dear Lord,
Use my eyes to see new friends.

 Open my ears to hear my teacher.

 Open my mind to learn new things.

 Let my heart remember You are near, when I'm afraid.

 Help me to love others like you do.

 I want to shine your light so bright in my school.

Amen"
-Courtney DeFeo

 So thankful Daddy could be flexible and go in late to work twice in one week!

 My Sweet School Girls!

 My favorite picture!!!

 She couldn't WAIT to ride that bus!

 So excited

[VIDEO]

 Love that Reid is reflected in the bus doors

 We did our 1st day tradition of following the bus to school to give one last hug before they begin the school year!

 and then timehop decided to kick me while I was down...5 year ago, then an now...

 People aren't joking when they say it flies right on by!

 What a blessing Mrs. Arnold is to us.  She sent me pictures throughout the day, Libby's locker is right next to her room.  "Of course I'll send you pictures throughout the day, she'll be just fine."

"Oh, I know she'll be just fine, the pictures are for ME :)"

Thank you Mrs. Arnold!!

 Prepping the special chocolate chip cookies and milk in real tea cups, for when the sisters get home.  Emma enjoyed being able to lick both the beaters!

 Love love love!

 Love that genuine grin!

 and then they got home and Mama's heart rested a bit.  We made it through the first day.  Grandma was even here to join us for our Cookies and Milk and Dinner!! She got to see the new craze of bus drop off until bed :)

3 years ago, when Sally was a new Kindergartner sitting down, telling Libby all about her day :)

 Beautiful sunset the other night as I was driving home.  Love the start of Fall, and getting settled in to a new routine

 School pictures!! LOVE LOVE LOVE

 Yesterday was Libby's 1st school Mass.  They have a tradition called Kindergarten Mass March.  The school lines up and cheers for them as they enter Mass holding a candle to be placed in a cross.  They will do it again in 8th grade during their last Mass.  Great tradition!

 Just beaming with Joy!

 Fun to have Daddy AGAIN!

 Fun extra Libby got with her pictures.  Shine Bright Sweet girl, you make us all so proud!!

Prayers for a WONDERFUL School year!

Mason's 6 months

These were taken on time, just never posted

Happy Happy Happy Chins Chins Chins

I'm posting alllllllll of the pics I took because I love them all and I'm lazy :)

Stats:

Weight: 17 pounds 9 ounces (47%)
Height: 27.5 inches (80%)
Head: 18.25 inches (99%) No wonder we have such a hard time getting shirts over his head, and he's still a little top heavy to be sitting up on his own...at least when he turned 6 months he was...he's starting to master it now

We've had a handful of nights of 10-11 hours straight of sleep! Still 3 naps a day! 1 1/2, 2 hour and 1 hour.  6-6:30pm bedtime 6-7am morning

LOVES his sisters, his dad and his Mama, each in different ways.

HATES putting his arms into sleeves of shirts, but that's pretty much all that he fusses about.

DREAM BABY!!

Here's my Handsome Hunk:

Sally's first day of 3rd Grade!

**Hopefully I'm back on a more regular basis**

Sally's 1st day of 3rd grade, she's been ready since the last day of 2nd grade.  Girlfriend LOVES school!

She's looking forward to mastering her multiplication and division facts, learning cursive and losing and hopefully growing more teeth! We're excited for a great year, she's got a great teacher!

 We're so proud of our sweet Sally Ann! I can just see her potential and I'm certain she'll do great things in life!

Each family chooses what's best for them, so what's to follow isn't to make my choice seem like the best or your choice less than, but I had lots of feels today.

Here goes:

It was a great summer, a hard summer, a demanding summer.  So much of me at all times.

A nursing newborn, a stubborn 2 1/2 year old, a quality time lover 5 1/2 year old and a "disrupter" of peace 8 year old.

I don't mean to shed the negative light, because I absolutely love my children.  All 4 home for 3 months gets to be a lot.  But we did have a lot of fun and it was a good ol' fashioned summer where the kids go outside and play and use their imaginations and catch frogs and play with neighbors and become fairies and have a sale and make memories.  We slowed down and let the kids be kids, because how much longer can I get away with that?  Hopefully for quite some time :)

But we get to that point. We are ready for school and to have some of our own space back, each of us.

So I was fully expecting to do cartwheels as I walked out of school, down one child, and I was, but then we got home and Libby and Emma started playing so well together. Libby even helped Emma go potty :

I nursed Mason, which I love how it forces me throughout the day to stop and just be for a minute.

And then I got to thinking how fast it goes.  Sally's in THIRD grade, Libby's about to start Kindergarten.  All of the other beginning of school year's we've been preparing to add another member to our Crew, but now that we're done, I can actually see the end and it's getting closer and closer. I will never have 3 at home again.  Each year I'm one step closer to an empty daytime nest.

I quickly realize how fleeting these really hard days really are.  Then I snapped these pictures and sent them to Reid with the caption "thank you for working so hard so I can be home for moments like these":

and then the tears came as I remembered that I once was a teacher and how I loved that, but how I am SO grateful for my time home to raise our children.  That I can be here for the first day of school, to get them on the bus, make the extra special caramel rolls, follow the bus for one last hug and high five.  To greet them off of the bus with snacks and love and hear all the details of their days and all of the important moments in between.

As I was tucking Emma in tonight and we were doing her prayers I asked if there was anything special she would like to pray for? "ummmm I would like to pray for all of the people in Texas (pause) are you sad mommy?"  She knows this pulls on my heart, when she listens and is so aware and then she turns it over to God.

This morning during our morning petitions I got a little emotional when we prayed for all of the children in Texas who were excited for their first day of school, but may be quickly disappointed if their going to school was effected by the hurricane.

Moments like those when I get to be the one to feed them with information during the day and answer their questions and help them face their fears and then can keep Reid involved throughout the day too.

I am so grateful for the many many blessings in my life.  God has been so very good to us.  I'm excited to see where He continues to Lead us.

The end. Time for pictures and to wrap it up :)

Annual back to school nails

 Keeping Grandma Peggy's tradition alive with 1st day of school Caramel Rolls

 I think they were my best batch yet!

 Loving every bite!

 The first day of school Sally rides the bus and we quickly follow behind to send her off one last time.  I love how excited they get for each other!

Stay tuned for Libby's 1st day of Kindergarten coming up on Thursday!!

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More pictures that relate to the end of summer, beginning of school:

My last day trip to target with all 4 solo...we only did this a handful of times throughout the summer...there's no room in the cart, even if we get a "big dawg"

 Back to school, Meet & Greet and picture day.  Love that Libby was willing to wear her uniform for her picture, I wish I would have thought of that when Sally was in Kindergarten

 They're so excited to go to school together!

 Last day of summer treats! "Mom, you have to get Mason in the picture too."

 So I took him out of his car seat :)

We survived Summer of 2017!!! So very thankful for these ladies, it takes a village!!

CHEERS!

**Hoping to catch up on the pictures from August, but didn't want to miss 1st day of school post :)