school...

school has begun. i was less than thrilled, like every other year, for school to start. i love our time in the summer. sleeping in and no routines. not that i am even a big routine person but i loved no set bedtimes or wake up times. being able to go on trips whenever we want and stay up as late as we want. the kids were so fun this summer. everyone was old enough this year that everything was so much more simple. all our trips went off without a hitch. there wasn't a baby in diapers, no bottles or sippy cups to pack, no one needed naps, everyone could stay up late and sleep in, we could all play night games and go on hikes, they all understood the dangers around them and we didnt have to hoover (as much). i am loving this new stage of life we are in. traveling was easy, camping was easy, the cabin was easy, all of our swimming trips were easy. maybe that's what made it so hard to accept them starting school again. this summer was FUN. REALLY REALLY REALLY FUN. we stayed up too late more nights than i can count swimming, having fires and watching movies. the kids played night games with their friends night after night. we all slept in until 10 or 1030 almost every single day. life was soooo good this summer. but alas, school has begun. the big kids are now gone for 8 hours every single day. ayla and i are now home alone 90% of the time, an adjustment for both her and i. but we are adjusting and finding a new normal around here. i just wish i liked this new normal more. having one kid all day is strange and feels weird, but i wouldnt wanna spend my days doing anything else. i love hanging with ayla and we will survive until next summer comes and we get to party all together every single day, all day again!

the kids were thrilled for school to start. they loved being at mary mcpherson last year for a few months so being able to be there for an entire year this year was even better! they wanted to ride the bus to school on the first day but mya wanted me to drive to the school and meet her when they got off. there are 29 kids at our bus stop this year! and the neighborhood isnt even built out yet, talk about instant friends. anywho, the boys didnt care to have me around once i got to their school, they said hi, gave ayla a hug and kept walking. tegan kept telling me he was fine and he didnt need help with anything and that i didnt need to come to his classroom with him, and burke, well in typical burke fashion just basically ignored the fact that i was even there, but showed ayla off as if she was a trophy. mya was excited and wanted me to follow her everywhere. thanks mya for not joining to too cool group quite yet. they love this school year so far! ... but let the countdown to next summer begin.