10th day of 10th grade

Last month- August 30th! How was it last month?! That day I almost missed taking Savanna's photos! I remembered on the drive to school- and had a momentary thought of turning around to go back home and take them. But sanity won out and we just took them after school.

Having Savanna in 10th grade is much more of an adjustment than her starting 9th grade (for me.) I keep repeating that song 100 years to Live  and the line "caught in between 10 and 20."  I am excited for the years ahead of her, but want to hold on to right now.

 

If I asked Savanna how 10th grade is I bet she would say the same thing. That it is more of an adjustment than starting 9th grade. I think that she is excited about her future too, but I don't think she feels that she wants to rush it either. I'll ask her after school and see what she says.

I love my 15 year old girl!

 

Survey says ... back to school edition 2012-2013

I love the survey's we do on the first and last day of school. I just went through all of them- It is so fun to see how each child has changed over such a short period of time. Even their penmanship!
Here are just a highlights from the first day of school 2012 surveys.

Savanna-10th grade

What did you wear today? 

My red pleated dress from the Trunk Hippie road show. My dad really likes it. 

(I do too, it is like it was made for her!)

If I could change one thing about my first day it would be:

I would like to have had a longer lunch period. I wish I had more classes with certain friends.

My favorite thing about summer was:

I LOVED  getting to go so many places! I stayed really busy!

My least favorite thing from summer was:

I didn't finish my summer reading list or my summer bucket list.

When I grow up I really want to:

Be a music teacher and a photographer.

What do we need more of in the world and what do we need less of?

More friendly, outgoing people. More color! Less awkward silences. Less homework.

Jack- 7th grade

What is great about being in 7th grade?

Having a locker.

I think my favorite class will be:

Art.

If I could change one thing about my first day it would be:

Keaton being here.

(I'm sad for you too.)

My favorite thing from summer was:

Photos.

My least favorite thing was:

Chores.

When I grow up I really want to:

Be some form of artist.

What do we need more of in the world and what do we need less of?

Kinds of art          war

(I love how all of Jack's answers are very to-the-point-one-word answers.)

Luke- 4th grade

I think my favorite subject will be:

Science

I am not looking forward to:

Math

One goal I am setting for myself this year is:

More A.R. points.

(that is going to be tough- but I am sure you will succeed!)

My favorite thing from summer was:

Swimming

My least favorite thing from summer was:

Heat

What do we need more of in the world and what do we need less of?

More happiness, less unhappiness

Anything else?

I'm upstairs this year!

(I am so glad this is exciting for you- moving up!)

Tucker- Kindergarten

What did you get to do on your first day of school?

Got to have a tiny party and stay in school all day. We had lunch in the cafeteria.

What was great about your new classroom?

Our cubbies were hidden! (where were they?) I can't tell you.

I think this year I will learn:

When we get in our room we start playing.

(hmm- I think there will be some adjustments!)

Something I am looking forward to this year is:

Getting the playground in

If I could change one thing about my first day it would be:

Having the playground in

My favorite thing about summer was:

swimming

My least favorite thing was:

the hotness

What do we need more of in the world and what do we need less of?

I don't want any floods.

Anything else?

My teacher was going to call you. I was sort of mad in the middle of school. The helper was giving me a lot of orderings. My teacher should be the one to do it. 

(Oh boy.)

morning with mom/donuts with dad

The yearly mornings with Mom- Its tradition- I tried to talk the kids into just eating something with me at home. But they were not going to have it. How can you break with tradition?

Jay had his time with the boys the week before. It was so funny- he called me on the way to work afterward and said that the boys were such a mess. By the time they had gotten their donuts and sat down he had goo from his elbow down to his wrist. He walked Tucker to class and basically gave him a bath in the sink before he left. 

But really we love it. If they stopped having them I would be so sad. We joke and tease about not going and about how messy it is but we love it. (mostly we just love being with the kids)

the pit

(Two weeks ago) Friday we had our first of 2012 firepit night. Last year we hardly used it. It was way too hot, and when it wasn't there was too much wind or we were under a burn ban! It felt like it had been a long time.

We had the kids invite friends over in shifts- which worked out well. The younger and the middle group got along great and we even were able to have a few cousins in the mix.

Jay was in charge of getting the fire started- and I wondered why he was taking a while to get outside and get it going- he reminded me that the starting of the fire was more fun for these kids than actually sitting around it.

He was right- they were all diligent in searching around the yard for stuff to burn and getting it all ready to go.

 

The older boys decided to make a zip line using rope and some handlebars. I had to just turn my head and not watch after seeing them do it.

I drew the line with Tucker and his friend.

 The boys actually got it to work, and I only heard one person fall.  Luke got the wind knocked out of him. It was only momentarily, so I guess it wasn't so bad of an activity.

I loved sitting out back and ignoring everything that "needed' to be done inside.

 

 And the s'mores were yummy (and messy) as usual.

 

As the boys friends left Savanna's friends arrived.

We had a fun 2nd round after dark- and all those photos were with my phone.

We did another firepit two nights ago- and I tried out something I saw on Pinterest.
Oreo cookie s'mores. It was yum. So yum. Way better than a plain S'more. A s'moreo is the way to go!

I love having the pit that Jay put in the backyard. I love how for now it brings the kids together- and for the most part they get along. I love that we have used it a few times again this year, and am hopeful for more before it gets too hot.

Just because ...

the light was good- and I love them so very much.

1st day of school!

All four of them ready to go! There was so much excitement that morning. I don't know who was the most excited. Savanna entering high school, Jack entering middle school, Luke getting to have a brand new teacher in the middle of the elementary, or Tucker starting pre-K.


Savanna-9th grade- and finally carrying a back pack! (more on that later!)


Jack -6th grade- and his many faces of Jack shirt. Love that Jack (both of them!)


Luke-3rd grade- and two of his favorites on the shirt ... Lego and Star Wars. The only thing better would be to have had that with a mix of Harry Potter and a few books thrown in.


Then there is Tucker. Pre-K and proud as can be. He carries that school issued bag with pride.


We really did have a good morning getting everyone ready to go. We all got in the car to drive to school. As we got closer we started talking with Jack and Savanna about where they wanted to be dropped off. Or did they want to park and walk in with the rest of us? Before they could answer Tucker piped up "Hey- you can just drop me off." We all laughed. But he was completely serious.

Once we got inside we could hardly keep up with him. He owns this school, don't ya know? He wasn't trying to get away from us, he just knew where he was going and was excited to get there!

We love his teacher. She student taught in Jack's class when he was in 2nd grade. We were so excited to see his name on her class list! Tucker told us that she looks just like Cinderella but without "bright hair." He told her after a few days of school, "See, you look just like Cinderella, you even have "tute" (cute) shoes!"

(this one is blurry but so sweet- Luke was so happy for Tucker to start school, and I think just a little nervous for him. He gave him the biggest hugs before we left the class room.)

Insert crying mom photo here.
I was totally fine until I walked out the pre-K door. I got a little teary eyed, but got over it quick. I was feeling so thankful that Tucker was happy to be where he was and not crying, holding onto my leg begging me to stay, or take him home!

We had dropped off the youngest and already said good-bye in the hall to Savanna and Jack so it was time to walk Luke to class. I think he was a little mix of excitement/nervousness. I could feel his anxiety as we got him settled into the room. His teacher is new to the school (but not new to teaching) and I think Luke was not sure what to expect. We left the room with him just a titch unsure. I had to go back into the room to put his inhaler in his back pack (instead of leaving it with the nurse) and I was relieved to see his easy going grin.

That was it- in less than 30 minutes I had all of my children dropped off and in class. All my children. I was kidless for a few hours. (pre-k is just a few hours.)

Jay and I planned a Starbucks date- knowing we would be kid free. We were talking around our/my emotions of reaching this milestone. I was saying that I felt fine, things were good. And really I was. As long as I didn't really think about it.

A friend called to see how our morning went. I was fine telling her I was fine. Really I was. Until she mentioned that song by Taylor Swift. The one that had made her cry that morning as she dropped her new to high school daughter off. The song "Never Grow up." If you know what song I am talking about and you have kids that you are wanting to hold on to just a little bit longer then you might have a knot in the back of your throat. If you don't know this song- google it and read the lyrics.

Oh my- I was a crying mess.
Jay and I sat in Starbucks while I cried ... I posted this on Facebook/twitter- the day before:

"All of our kids will be in school as of tomorrow. My heart is bursting and breaking at the same time."

Then this while we were in Starbucks:
"Crying at Starbucks. 1st day of school- no kids date — with Jay Spear at Starbucks."

"Oldest started highschool, middle started middle school other middle is in the middle, and youngest started pre-k today. I was fine, really. Until that dang Taylor swift song "Never Grow Up." Now I am a mess."

It really is a funny thing. We want them to grow and learn and discover and we are so proud of them, and then the next moment we don't want anything to change. Couldn't we just have endless summer for a while longer?

Our cute barista was not sure what to think- they were out of what I ordered so she was coming out to talk with us and here we were a crying mess. We had to chuckle and explain that these were the good kind of tears. We are happy to feel the way we do.

I saw this on Pinterst and it summed up my emotional state well-
Crying doesn't indicate that you're weak. Since birth it has always been a sign that you are alive.

I am living. Bring on the school year- tears and all.

Survey says ...

Hooray! We are done! Another school year is complete and summer has started! Here are a few snippets from the last day of school surveys. (along with notes from mom to her kids)


What was the best thing about being home with Mom? "Going to Sam's"
(Ahhh so glad I made an impact!)

What do you hope to learn next year when you go to school? "We will learn about dogs because I love dogs. I will ask my teacher if we can learn about dogs."
(Love dogs? That is a new one.)

What is your favorite color? "red'
(Always has been!)

What was your favorite book you read? " Curious George, sometimes I like my other books."
(Those were the only ones you would check out from the library.)

What would you like to do/be when you grow up? "A zookeeper, pet animals, keep the animals."
(Poor child that doesn't have his own pet.)

What do we need more of in the world and what do we need less of? "Jesus Christ/fire that are on grass not inside of bricks."
(Amen and Amen!)

What do you hope to learn next year? "Division"
(I am sure you will have that down in no time and will be asking for more problems to figure out!)

What are you proud of from this school year? "Reading"
(You earned every ounce of that pride!)

What was your least favorite subject? "Math"
(Really he put I don't know, but when pressed he put Math.)

What do you hope to do this summer? "go to Hawaii"
(Oh- that would be wonderful!)

What do we need more of in the world and what do we need less of? "Less city and more country."
(This just made me smile.)



What was the best thing about grade school? "3rd grade."
(I would have to agree.)

What was your favorite school field trip? "Camp Classen."
(I am glad Dad got to go with you!)

What are you proud of from this school year? "President Award."
(That was Awesome!)

What would you like to do/be when you grow up? "Remote Locator or gun designer."
(I look forward to seeing your designs!)

What do we need more of in the world and what do we need less of? "Kindness/trash."
(I agree!)


What was your favorite subject? "6th hour Honors English."
(I enjoyed reading some of the things that you wrote.)

Least favorite? "Algebra :("
(Of all of your classes that was my least favorite too!)

What do you hope to do this summer? "Redecorate my room."
(Let's do it!)

What would you like to do/be when you grow up? "A music teacher."
(You will be great- your brothers will give you lots of practice in the patience department!)

What do we need more of in the world and what do we need less of? "chocolate, cool socks, yellow stuff/ bad weather."
(I agree about the chocolate, yellow is your new color and a prayerful amen on the bad weather part.)

Goodbye 2010/2011 school year!

2011 morning with mom +bonus photos of years past

Another year has passed since the last Mornings with Mom. Thankfully this one passed without anything memorable. (Although I think we managed to get there this year as late as in times past, and there was the same discussion with Savanna about whether or not she could come.) The most memorable thing from this year was taking Savanna a few doughnuts to her first hour after we had finished ours.

Not to worry that I don't have anything memorable from this year. I always have the memories of THIS experience. I laugh more and more with each passing year. I laugh at the things that happened that I did not write about because I was too embarassed at the time. Like how when we left the cafeteria to drop Luke off in his class before the fieldtrip I sat Tucker on a table outside the door to give Luke a kiss goodbye. It was so humid and Tucker's diaper was so full that it left a ring of moisture on the table when I picked him up. Or how when I ran home really quick (I was meeting them at the zoo) to change Tucker I found poop wiped all over the white shower curtain. I can remember feeling so completely overwhelmed and grossed out. How could this possibly be my life? I don't know if things have changed much, or if I have just grown accustomed to the mess!

I went to find photos of last year ... and the years previous:

May 2010

May 2010

May 2009

May 2009

Pictures of 2008 Mornings with Mom - Savanna's last time to go!



May 2007

May 2007

2007 morning with mom- just Savanna and Jack!

Years previous are not documented in photos but in my heart. Before we went totally digital!