The kids started back at school this week. It was time. It seemed a week overdue this year. I've never said that before. I love taking my kids back and having them home but more than that I love that my kids get to see more of each other. I hope this wasn't the last summer that I'll get to witness them spending hours upon hours building a village where polly pockets and legos coexist. Or two hours spent in Jaden's bedroom preparing a magic show. I'm afraid that just as the youngest is catching on the oldest will want no part of it. Someone stop this train!
Ty was first out the door. No butterflies or nervousness. He's as cool as a cucumber, that kid. Reese and Ty are pretty close. Ty adores Reese, like hold-her-hand-while-she-sleeps adores her. He is extra sweet and patient with her. She started missing him after day two of this business and decided she's ready to go back to school too.
Ty told me after meet the teacher night that a certain girl, who had a crush on him last year, would again be in his class. He was minimally annoyed by it and the subject changed so we didn't talk about her again. When I picked him on the first day of school he walked right up to me, handed me a wadded up paper and said, "read it." I unwrinkled the small ball of paper to find it was a note to the nurses clinic. A note for said little girl. The reason for the visit? Skin rash. Oh, and scribbled at the bottom of the note . . . her phone number. I looked at Ty. He rolled his eyes and hopped in the car. And each day since, when I've picked him up, a story about her is the first thing he wants to share with me. Hmm . . . might the feelings be mutual? : ) No need to keep my ears to the ground on this one. This boy can't help but spill the beans to me. I love it.
Jaden was also ready to jump back into the swing of things, especially after having earned some extra cash this summer. She loved getting herself some name brand clothes and shoes that we hadn't planned on buying for her. That matters in Junior High. I get it.
Sis has had a particularly exhausting first week of school. Aside from the usual transitions she's had volleyball tryouts at 6:00 am these last 3 days. She's home by 4:45. Yesterday about mid-day, Reese and I dropped a coke to her. She was thrilled. I don't typically drop off carbonation to my kids. But we wanted Jaden to know that we are rooting for her and that if she'd just make it through the day we'd learn if she made the team that night. Yet we didn't find out that night if she made the team. Instead I sat at the parents meeting where they told us that they'd decided to extend the tryouts by one more day because they had over 60 girls competing for 24 spots. But beyond that, I learned that if she made the team they'll continue with early morning practices for the season. Lovely. Jaden is not a morning person. I think she could be if she didn't lay in her bed singing at the top of her lungs for hours upon end after finally hitting the hay around 10pm. Anyway, lots of good things to come this year for her whether or not she makes the team.
Update: Jaden made the team.
Reese and I are getting some quality time together again. She is ready to conquer the world in that outfit. But she'll start here, at the grocery store, mulling over the best choice of capri-sun. Oh, I love that girl. She'll start back to her Mother's day out program next week. She is really looking forward to it. All of her friends started school (or moved) and now with Ty and Sis gone she's getting antsy for her school to start already. Then I'll be picking out capri-suns on my own. She's such good company on outings. Sure there are outings that are better left done on my own but I can't think of very many. Below is hers and my grocery list. I love this little mini-me.
Ty's back-to-school goals. My favorite is in the sports category: 'smash or pancake someone.' That obviously applies to tackle football that he started at the end of July. So far Ty's been the one smashed and pancaked. But I'm sure he's going to dole it out before the end of the season, especially when he's written it down as a goal, right?
Jaden's back-to-school goals. Love the 'get in less fights with mom and ty!' I'd better make that a goal of mine too then. : ) I also like the 'make one really good friend.' All you need is one.
Update: Reese started pre-school today September, 6th. She and I packed up her backpack and lunch last night. Reese had plenty of opinions on which containers, lunch boxes and lunch items would be used. She even went as far as taking over my job when it comes to writing on napkins. She drew a picture and wrote "I love Reese." She loves herself, that's good. We then went to set out her clothes. She made piles of outfits and informed me that this certain outfit was for the last day of school. Umm . . . we don't have so many clothes that we can hold them aside until the end of the year, sister. She agreed and instead wore it today. And lastly, in all of the excitement and anticipation for the day she jumped on my bed while I was getting ready and fell off, hurting her neck and elbow. I had to leave caution with her teachers when dropping her on the first day. She seemed fine. And she was as giddy as a school girl today as she comfortably walked right into her classroom and waved goodbye. I'll see you at 2:00 for a trip to Cherry Berry, Reese.
Her friend Samantha who was in her class last year. They were both thrilled to see each other.
