Yesterday by the Clock

At 8:22 I waved to my kids as the bus pulled away on the first day of school.

At 8:37 I said goodbye to Megan and her kids, the last of our summer visitors.

At 9:00 welcomed the first guests for our "The Bus Just Pulled Out Breakfast for Moms."

At 10:54 the last of my girlfriends left after graciously tidying up my kitchen.

At 11:05 I put the baby down for his nap.

At 11:09 I enrolled and funded my children's school lunch accounts.

At 11:30 I lay down in my unmade bed.  I listened to the quiet of the house and tried to sleep.

At 12:20 I gave up and did all the stuff my brain was telling me I was supposed to do: laundry and lots and lots of cleaning.

At 3:15 I picked up Griffin for gymnastics.  He reported his first day was "Awesome!"

At 4:02 I returned home just in time to greet Logan off the bus.  Despite not getting to share her bag of 10 things yet, she had a great day.

At 4:15 we walked over to our friends to see how their first day went where Griffin's little buddy broke the bad news that yes, even though Griffin didn't get a yellow card, he did get his name removed from the Respectful Rattlers list--whatever that means, but hey!  We'll take what we can get.  No yellow card?  Success!

At 4:46 pm we left to pick Griffin up from gymnastics. He was sweaty and gross and totally happy.

At 5:06 we stopped at QT for first day celebratory drinks: Diet Coke, Strawberry Fanta, and Strawberry Banana slush.

At 5: 20 we returned home and went through backpacks and finished up new school year paperwork.  (That in itself should be a deterrent to having any more children.)

At 5:32 Daddy came home and all celebrated!

At 5:40 the children took a dip in the pool.  (It is HOT and muggy here!)

At 6:10 dinner was served.  Over dinner we talked about and assigned morning chores.  After much haggling it was still determined that chores would be a requirement.

At 6:33 the kids continued swimming.

At 6: 52 the baby got a bath to distract him from Daddy leaving for mutual.

At 6:58 Daddy snuck out.

At 7:10 the baby got out of the bath and Logan and Griffin showered and bathed.  I am not entirely sure that Griffin used soap, but by the time of my discovery, he was already out and dressed.  Does rinsing count?

At 7:20 I put the baby to bed.

At 7:41 I blow dried and straightened Logan's hair for the morning.

At 7: 47 I insisted that Griffin quit screaming and running with the dog and go get a book to read out loud to us in the bathroom.  He chose Green Eggs and Ham.  Logan was astounded that I could correct him without looking at the book.  I know my Suess.

At 8:00 I told the kids to brush teeth and say prayers..repeating that phrase at least three times.

At 8:07 I rounded the corner just in time to kneel with Griffin who told me he was going to say his prayers to himself, but then changed his mind and said them out loud anyway.  My favorite phrase?  "...and please bless that we will know what to do...and when to do it...and how to do it."  The boy has his bases covered.

At 8:08 We read one chapter of Vin Fiz.

At 8:17 We read one chapter of Nancy Drew #12.

At 8:28 Daddy came home and joined us.  I breathed a sigh of relief.

At 8:34 Daddy and I gave hugs and kisses and turned out the lights.

First Day of School finished!

Favorite Quote of the Day:
When we were walking into Meet the Teacher Night the evening before the first day of school, Logan said, mumbling to herself:  "Okay.  Stand up straight.  Shoulders back.  Chest out.  Deep breath."  I nearly couldn't contain myself.

Misty Me

I got misty-eyed tonight. It's true. Even though over the last two days it has become abundantly clear that we could all use a little time away from each other, and even though our poor attitudes have inspired in my heart of hearts a countdown until school starts--despite all of this--I got misty-eyed tonight.

Tomorrow school begins, and tonight we packed the backpacks and laid out the first day school outfits, complete with their carefully selected new shoes. When all the business was done, Mr. Wicke gave Logan and Griffin father's blessings, asking our good Father to watch out for our little ones, to protect them, inspire them, and to bless them with goodness. And although I had a new little baby squawking in my arms, protesting his oncoming sleepiness, I suddenly couldn't believe my other baby boy was already following his sister's footsteps and leaving my little nest.

After his blessing ended, I called Griffin over, and with the beginning of tears in my eyes I said, "What am I going to do without you all day?" I hadn't expected to feel this sadness, having gone through this with Logan already, but there it was. That feeling of wanting to hang on just a little bit more; that feeling of already missing what I probably hadn't fully appreciated regardless of my best efforts. That stuff gets me misty, what can I say?

Griff put his arms around my neck, and I buried my face in his, swallowing hard at that lump in my throat. He held me longer than I expected, and when he finally let go, I noticed him wiping his own eyes as he quickly turned away.

Boy, can he get to me. I'm going to miss that little man.

Kindergarten Lesson #1: Life is Tough

Logan started all-day Kindergarten a couple of weeks ago. Letting your first child enter the real world is tough stuff! I wasn't sure either of us was ready, but she's doing great, and I'm adjusting. Here she is, backpack and all, ready to begin her life as a scholar:



And here she is waving goodbye as she heads into class:



Wow! Tough moments for a mom. But I found out the tough moments just keep on coming. Like Friday for instance:

I pull up through the parent pickup after school, and the first thing I notice is that the teacher is approaching my car instead of the usual aid.

"I just wanted to let you know that Logan was punched in the stomach by a little boy in parent pickup this afternoon," she says.

I look at Logan who seems no worse for wear. "Okay..."

"I mean it hurt. She was in tears. And I talked to the boy and his parents. I mean he was just being silly, but like I told him, that is not right."

"Well, thank you. You okay, Lohgs? Yeah, those boys are like that sometimes."

I was going for the breezy, take-all-tragedies-in-stride kind of mom. I didn't want to seem nutty to either Logan or her teacher, but I have to admit I have thought about it at least 48 times since. My cute little baby in her sequined jeans and cowboy boots (Yes, she chooses her own clothes, and she does have a fashion sense) innocently waiting for me to pick her up, and she gets sucker-punched in the gut?!

As for the boy, all I can picture is the bully from my own grade school days. The angriest kid I ever knew: Warren Hunt. He and I traded punches on a regular basis until the fourth grade. Everyone in our class traded punches with Warren. The memory is not a comforting thought.

"Logan, who is this boy?" rat-faced, punk I add in my own head.

"I don't know."

"You've never seen him before?" Like maybe holding up a liquor store? I can't seem to stop the running commentary in my head.

"He's in my class; I just don't know his name."

"Did you do anything to him?" After all, I wouldn't put it passed her.

"No. I was just standing there. Then he said, 'You want a piece of me?'"

"What?" He is quoting DeNiro? "He actually said, 'You want a piece of me?'" That made me laugh.

"Yup, and then he punched me in the stomach."

"Well, okay...I wouldn't hang out with that kid much."

I realize she's tough enough for these tough moments, but I'm not sure about me. Letting go just ain't easy.