Back to School 2014-2015

I do love the change in seasons and events in our lives. I love summer, but there comes a point where I feel like it's time for a more strict routine and more serious pursuits than summer offers.  There was only one problem this year, my baby would be headed out the door too.  WAH!!!!

Honestly though, I just think of it as daily preschool. It's 3 hours every day, and then we get our time together before the other kids arrive and it's ok.  I did shed a tear or two though as I walked home alone.

Chloe is a sophomore at Westlake High School. Her bus comes at 7:00 am, and so we realized she would have to be up at 5:45 am! Yikes! She was all ready to go when I discovered the breaking  news that her school was cancelled for the day due to a bomb threat! Welcome to High School.  I forced her to have her picture taken anyway, before she got back in bed. She has an honors math, honors history, honors english, seminary, ASL 2, fitness, biology, and girl's conditioning. She is looking forward to trying out for the basketball team.

Asher is a freshman at Vista Heights Middle School. His bus comes at 7:30, which means he could be up at 7:15 and still make it. Ah, boys. He was hoping his school was called off on the first day too, but no such luck. (Even though their schools are right next to each other?) Anyhow, he enters this school year without his sister at the school with him and as the oldest grade in the school.  I think he's a bit nervous but also excited.  This year he will be taking Spanish 2, World Civ, computer tech, Intermediate percussion, Honors biology, Seminary, English, and Secondary Math 1.  He is really excited to excel in percussion and join the Drumline again.  

Aidan is a 6th grader at Saratoga Shores Elementary.  I cannot believe this boy is wrapping up elementary school this year! He walks to school with Cole every day.  I always feel better when my kids have a sibling at school with them.  I guess because I felt better growing up with a sibling at school with me.  If things were really bad, you found them. Aidan has Miss Cook and I'm planning on him excelling at all he tries and complaining about things that are "unnecessary". He loves to use his creativity at school, but doesn't like busy work.  This boy is an amazing friend with a kind heart.

Cole will be a 3rd grader with Miss Durfee this year. Aidan had her in 3rd grade so that's awesome that we already know and love her.  Cole is such a social bug and has many friends at school.  He always comes home with the most dramatic stories, "GUESS WHAT MOM?! There is a group of kids at school that I think might be bullies."  He has so much energy and love for life. 

Grace started Kindergarten a week after the other kids.  She has Mrs. Ashworth, as have all of our children.  She was so excited to start and kept asking if they'd think she was smart.  I think she will just take off on her reading this year and I'm so excited for her.  She can be a bit shy about friends and I think school will really help with that.  Oh, I love this girl.

Oh Summer....

Tomorrow is the first day of a new school year.  We will have ourselves a child at the high school, a child at the junior high school, 2 children at the elementary school, and 1 in Kindergarten at the elementary school.  I am wondering if I'll be able to keep it all straight! 4 different start times, 4 different end times, etc. etc.

But really, it all just feels like my little people are growing up. Time keeps marching forward. I really to love watching them grow and learn and become, but it's also a bit heart wrenching to let them move further toward independence.

Motherhood: Phase II

I went to the library with Grace this week.

We were just going to run in and grab some books on hold for Cole. You know, Ricky Ricotta and the Jurassic Jackrabbit from Jupiter and Ricky Ricotta and the Mutant Mosquitoes from Mercury. Deep stuff.

While we were there we heard singing in the back.  Grace wandered back to find a shake, rattle and sing class going on. They were blowing bubbles.  The class only had a few minutes left, but she grabbed my hand and I followed her back.

She insisted I blow the bubbles.  I blew the bubbles to the much loved, "Let it Go", and started to take notice of the others attending.  Young mothers.  4 of them pregnant.  Some with an infant in it's car seat and their 3 year old sibling chasing bubbles.  All of them with more than one small child. By small I mean under 4. Grace was obviously the oldest there at 5 years. (Although, sometimes it's hard to tell, because she's really tall for her age). Nearly every Mom had a simple ponytail. They were cheering and clapping for their children who danced around the room with toddler abandon.

I had a flashback to snotty noses and diapers and potty training. To fevers, and cutting teeth and pacifiers.  To first steps and lugging awkward carseats around and chubby faces.  To brushing their teeth, fixing their hair and wiping their bottom and hoping I might find time to do the same for myself.  

I am not in that stage anymore.

The song ended and the perky leader of the group handed out streamers on pencils and turned on Chubby Checker's hit "The Twist".  As she extended a streamer to Grace, Grace anticipated her approach and held up her hand in a "stop" motion and said to the lady, "I'm not into that."

We took our books and left.

9 years

Yesterday marked 9 years since Scott's brain surgery.  My Mom pointed out the other day that there have been more years since the brain surgery than before the brain surgery in our marriage. I immediately argued that, but then realized she was right. How could that be?  I think our pre-surgery marriage is kind of on a pedestal in my mind. It seemed carefree and easy. It is still hard for me to realize there are some very important people in my life now that did not know us then.  I still long for a hike in the mountains with my whole family. A lot. One day we will.

My husband is a patient man. My husband thinks of his family before himself.  My husband sacrifices and works hard and faces disappointments, but continues to move forward.

On Saturday he crawled around the basement working on leveling the concrete floor. Then he came upstairs and kneeled outside on the driveway cutting pieces of wood with his saw for hours. His entire day was full of doing his best for his family's comfort. His knees are black and blue. He is a good man with a desire to better himself and do the best he can with what he's got. He deserves the world.

I've Missed it...

I haven't posted for a long time.  It's not really the "in" thing to blog anymore. Instagram and facebook are taking over.  However, I looked through my blog the other day and read about things I'd completely forgotten. I remember now why I loved this. It's a wonderful way to journal your life and feelings.  I like to see people's instagram photos, but I LOVE to read people's deeper thoughts and feelings on their blogs. So, I'm starting again, and what a great day to start.

Yesterday, Scotty had his first day as an intern working on researching growth patterns, and community planning. He was dressed so nicely in dress pants and a beautiful blue button up shirt with his new hair do that he calls the "Beeba do".  I was just really so proud.  He hasn't been in the workforce for 8 years.  He's entering it now as a different person. He has some concerns about what accomodations he will need to do his best; a quiet space to work his voice recognition typing, a desk that his wheelchair can fit under, an office with space to move a wheelchair around easily. I too have concerns and the unknowns make this even more nerve racking, but this I KNOW.  He has pushed through uncomfortable circumstances for years and he has learned and grown. He has looked and looked for an internship and felt turned down before even being considered because of his speech.  He has worried about how he'll get to and from work.  He has wondered if anyone would be willing to take a chance on a guy in a wheelchair starting over.  I prayed for him to have what he wanted.  I prayed that people would see him for who he really is and look past the things that can be uncomfortable or different.  And guess what?  He was accepted as an intern in a place that is easy for him to get to, with a quiet office of his own, with a boss who endured a traumatic injury due to a skeleton accident (you know the Olympic sledding).  I am so proud and grateful.