School Daze

This past week launched a brand new school year for us! As sad as I am to see the end of summer vacation, it is refreshing to see my boys excited to go back to school. 4th grade and 2nd grade! I feel like we're in the heart of our elementary years now, and I'm REALLY loving these years! Friday night, August 14th, we enjoyed our school's open house. Music, colored disco balls, and friendly faces greeted us that night. Due to the way our school is structured, we are a tight-knit group. I admit it felt a bit like "coming home" when we walked through those doors. It does a mother's heart good to walk into her children's school and feel that way.

Checking out 4th grade at the open house!


Kaleb is so excited to have his own locker this year!

Monday morning came bright and early, and everyone got ready without any trouble. Aaron chose to sleep in, so when it was time to go I scooped him up and plopped him in his car seat. Only one more year of that. . . Of course I took pictures of my school boys on the front porch. These days really are special to me.

Backpack full of new school supplies for 4th grade

Looking good in his new shoes for 2nd grade

Back-to-school-brothers

After school, Aaron and I surprised the boys by bringing along a special guest in the minivan--Ginger! I felt like an all-American mom picking up my boys from school with my happy dog waiting to see her "brothers." An ordinary thing, I know, but it's new to us. :)

As we settle into our new schedule, I'm seeing life kick into high gear real quick. Curriculum nights, PTO meetings, soccer games, dog obedience school, homework, Cub Scouts, piano lessons, flag football, Awana...it all leaves me feeling dazed and confused. I want to enjoy what we're doing and not just get through it! Thankfully I don't handle this alone. God is bigger than my schedule!

Not to be left out, Aaron had his preschool open house on Thursday, August 20th. To be honest, he's never told me he loves preschool. Last year he complained almost every day about it. But when he's there, he lights up and loves it! Hmm. When I told him about his open house this week, he complained again. "Mommy, I'd rather stay home with you. Preschool is BORING." Well, as soon as we set foot in the church Thursday night he lit up with delight. An armoured knight stood in the entrance next to a table of special cookies with frosted crowns on them. The rooms are decorated in a castle theme, complete with a "throne" to sit in when he's the star of the week. He spent most of his time at the sand table, and I didn't hear one complaint all night. His favorite part was the "jump-a-roo" castle outside the back door. Aaron, his brothers, and his daddy jumped and jumped in there! What fun for Aaron!!!

All smiles

Camouflage shorts x3

To end this post, I've got more funnies from Aaron of course! He's really taken a liking to Capri Sun drink pouches lately. Every time he wants one he says, "Can I have my Sun Capri now?"

He came into the house one day and said this to me:

"God can make the world into a hawk. Did you know that Mommy? He can make a vacuum into an eagle, and me into a fingernail. That would be funny to see a fingernail walking around all day! He really can do that--He can do anything! And when I say anything, I mean EVERYTHING!"

Just a tiny peek into his mind. :)