2013 Blue Jeans week 33

Big week this past week.  School started for the kids.  Ben started a new job.  Lots of changes, but good changes.  The house is sure quiet during the days now, and I have a 'to do' list a mile long.  This is the season of quiet days and crazy afternoons/evenings.  Early morning band practices plus after school volleyball and cross country practices will dominate our lives for the next little while--not to mention spelling tests and projects and all the crazy that school brings.  Welcoming our new season of change, here is a look at our week. . .

Our friends who recently moved couldn't take their fish tank, so Mr J inherited it.  He is so super excited about that!  Ben and Mr J took care of moving the tank to his room and getting it cleaned out today.

First day of Ben's new job.  He was not looking for a change.  The new job just fell into his lap, and we decided to accept the change and challenge that came with it.  Change is never an easy thing, but he is so good at what he does.  I know it is going to be a great thing.  He is just amazing!

 

Trying to get rooms and things organized before school starts this week.  Miss O and Miss A cleaning and organizing their bedroom.

First day of school for Mr J and Miss E!  3rd grade and middle school here we come!

So excited to get home after the first day!

Miss A and Miss O's first day of school!  They started the day after the younger kids and enjoyed one extra day of summer.

We had a church swim party scheduled for this weekend.  Normally our weather right now is very hot, and an evening swim would be extremely welcomed, but not this year.  It was 72 when we left for the pool, and 66 when we went home.  Quite a cool evening swim, but it didn't seem to bother these cute girls!

Hope you had a great week!

I am linking up with The Mom Creative.

Remembering on the first day of school

School is officially in session here.  

First day of 3rd grade for Mr J--our lone elementary student

First day of 6th grade and middle school for Miss E

Our high school sophomore (gulp)--Miss A

And our expert 8th grader--Miss O

So I am wondering if anyone else has this problem, but we cannot have the first day of school without someone forgetting something.  This little list is on our door heading out to the garage.  It was first put up after the first day of school when Miss A (my current sophomore) was starting 3rd grade.  She had gone to school the first day and . . . forgot her glasses, so I got a call.  She forgot her lunchbox in her dad's car, so he got a call.  Thirty minutes after dropping her off at school, both her parents had to return to school.  So, I said, 'We aren't doing that again, so here is a list.   Please check it as you go out the door each morning."  Well, it has worked pretty well, except for on the first day of school.  Someone always forgets something.  This year it was exactly 10 minutes after Ben and the kids had walked out the door that the phone rang.  I knew who it was, and I knew what she had forgotten.  I saw it behind the couch 5 minutes after they had left--her band instrument--her mellophone.   

She said, "Mom. . ." 

and I said," you forgot your mellophone."  

"Yeah. . ."

So, 20 minutes after dropping the kids off, I was at school dropping off the forgotten instrument.  

I am going to have to figure out how to add "instrument" to the above 8 year old list.  Maybe it is time for a new one :)  So here's to a new school year and for continuing the tradition of always forgetting something.  At least my kids are quick learners and don't seem to forget things after the first day, so I hope that tradition continues also! 

Happy First Day of School!

Miss A's First Day

Well Miss A gets her own post since she started school a day later than everyone else. Here she is ready for her first day of 7th grade! Unfortunately, it turned out to be a rough one. Her schedule was changed in the middle of the school day and teachers didn't know and things got confusing, teachers frustrated, and Miss A really upset. She isn't too excited about going back tomorrow, and it is only the 2nd day! But I keep reminding her it wasn't her fault and things will work out okay. Life goes on. This too shall pass. It is not that big of a deal. Look at the big picture, and all those other nice useful things we say when things go wrong. I just felt really bad it wasn't a great day, but now we can just go up from here right??? Anyway, she is super cute and the best girl. I love her to death! She is such a blessing in my life.

She made the cute green flower clip herself with me Thursday when we were just hanging out while the other kids were at school. She said she got lots of compliments on it. Super cute! Just hope this next week goes well! Life as a 7th grader is not always the easiest thing.

First Day of School

Well, we survived the first day of school. Mr J was a little bit nervous as I drove him this morning. "Can you come in and stay for a little while Mom?" No, I can't. "Why not Mom?" "I am a little bit nervous Mom." Then we got there and he kept whispering "Where am I supposed to stand?" But we figured it all out. Ben and I gave him a big hug and kiss and told him to remember his Kissing Hand (read the book The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn before you send your kids to school this year) then I cried as I walked out, but Mr J seemed happy and didn't even turn back after I kissed him and said good-bye, but I keep looking back to see if he was missing me already and looking for me, but he wasn't. My baby is at school all day now!

Here he is all ready to go--all themed outfit, shoes, back pack, and lunch box. The kid is coordinated.
Trains and Thomas, Thomas and trains. The kid is very consistent. Love the lunchbox.

Miss E all ready for her first day of 3rd grade! She wanted to wear her shirt from our trip.

And Miss O is a big 5th grader! The oldest in the elementary.

Miss A is an even bigger 7th grader and didn't have to go back to school today. Her first day is tomorrow because they let just the 6th graders have a day all to themselves without the big, scary 7th and 8th graders there. So she just got her locker decorated. Fun Stuff. She hung out with me all day and was a huge helper as we tried to figure out how to make crafts for Super Saturday. So, when we went to school to pick up the kids I was waiting outside the kindergarten door, and Mr J walks out behind his teacher, and I wave to him. He gets a big smile on his face and runs right up to me and says "I missed you so much!!!" as he gives me a big hug. Oh!! Make my heart melt and almost cry again! I said "I missed you so much too!" A great ending to a happy first day.