First day of school

 It's that time of year again.  Usually this is one of my favorite days of the entire year, but not this year.  I am sad to see the summer end.  Our family has faced challenges over the last 20 months but our roller coaster leveled out this summer and it was a smooth and enjoyable ride.  My Jay is 15.  He's a sophomore today!  I tried to take a walk down memory lane with him this morning but he was having none of it.  Kids but especially boys don't care about how their mother feels on the first day of school.  Our hearts are full, our brains are going so fast we can't think straight but our arms keep trying to do the impossible task of holding on to our kids just a little bit longer.  If we were really honest there is a bit of unreasonable panic that sets in.  My panic starts the first day of school but eventually subsides as our daily routine and structure takes shape.  Every year the boys get older, wiser and it's been a joy to witness them come into their own.  All this is normal.  I long to see the boys as adults.  Who will they be?  Who will they marry?  How many kids will they have?  The boys were indifferent about starting school.  They weren't excited.  With them it's more of a "this is a part of life so we have to do it" attitude.  Plus I always joke I don't want them living in my basement as adults so they have to get an education.   

 Nick starts 6th grade/middle school today.  He was ready to make this big change.  Last night while I was in a meeting at the middle school the boys roamed the halls at the high school so Jay could find his classes.  It made me happy knowing the boys were back in the same building again.  Our middle school and high school are separate buildings but under the same roof, if that makes any sense.  They may not see each other often, but it still warms my heart knowing they are in the same vicinity.  It's a mom thing. 

 By the time I took this picture Jay had had it.  He was over humoring me, and it's written all over his face. 

 These boys!  They have had their picture taken together on the first day of school starting when Nick was going into 3rd grade and Noah was going into 1st grade and here they are today, Nick is going into 6th and Noah into 4th.  These friends will be in different schools until they reunite in 8th and 6th grade, another 2 years. 

These sweet littles!  Lilly is going into 2nd grade!  I'm thankful we live in the district we do.  I love our school and our community.  Here's to another great year!