Back to School

I am sure this was an emotional time for me, but let's be honest I am over a month behind in my blog and have really adjusted to having both kids in school! We ended the summer with a family round of mini-golf.
It was an awesome summer full of swimming, friends and family time and England but all of that fun has to lead to school! I think the kids were ready but a little anxious too. Grant had kindergarten round up and we met a new family who happen to have a daughter in Elizabeth's class and a son in Grant's class. I am thrilled with the teachers that they got and they both know kids in their class. All good starts. Grant announced at breakfast he was so thankful he didn't have to go to that baby school anymore!

They requested breakfast pancakes Aunt Sandy style!

Two days later he was crying at the bus stop and thinking pre-school sounded pretty good to him. A week later he asked if he had to school in the winter. A month later I still struggle to get him out the door happy. He says he doesn't like school (although there he does well academically, behaves well, and has friends), there are always wrinkles in his socks and there is always some other major complaint each morning. Needless to say he is having a harder time adjusting than I ever thought he would, but each day we make a little progress...then it is the weekend and we start all over again on Monday. On the days that he seems to be holding it together in the morning is when Elizabeth decides to fall apart. They do a lot of assessments (that's a fancy word for testing - we don't use the word "test"). It seems she may have a small case of test anxiety. She continues to do well also but she works really hard at it.  They will both be fine and one day I know we will have a perfect morning complete with rainbows and butterflies...it just hasn't happened yet, but I am forever hopeful!

My sincere apologies for not checking this picture and only taking one

The million dollar question...what do I do with all of my time?! Well, it doesn't feel like a lot of time, as I was warned it wouldn't! I signed up for pretty much every volunteer opportunity at school. I am there 3 days a week helping with literacy centers, library and art cart. I have found a friend to play tennis with, which still amazes our husbands! We have a great time and we have fun, which is all that matters, because neither one of us is really very good. Auggie is getting lots of walks. I get to grocery shop kid free and can aimlessly wander down aisles with no purpose, judgement or nagging. I am able to get organized and put a decent meal on the table for my family. Apparently, I let the house go all summer and deep cleaning and organizing is on my list. I have the landscaping and mowing and pool maintenance. The laundry never stops. I am able to be productive and get things done so when the school day is over I can give all of my attention to the kids which is a the best part. I have accepted that I will never have a regular routine like B and kids. My days are always different, but that flexibility is a treasure. Yes, I even have time for the occasional girl time.  But they don't even know me by first name at the local coffee shop...(yet!). So that lump that I had in my stomach about having both kids gone all day only lasted a few weeks. I still think about them all day. I still worry about them all day, but the day does go by amazingly fast. It's not even October yet and I am almost caught up on the blog!!