School has started

It doesn't seen right that school here in Georgia starts so early! In Michigan, we wouldn't have started for 4 more weeks, but here in Georgia, despite the 95* temperatures everyday, the kids have gone back to school. Unfortunately, none of my kids who are in elementary are in class with their best friends, but Mikayla and Micah both got the teacher they wanted! Katelyn didn't know hers but seems to really like her. I can't believe that Seth is starting 7th grade! Where in the world does time go and am I really old enough to have a 7th grader??? I remember 7th grade like it was just yesterday....I remember my 'boyfriend', my first locker. I remember teachers and the excitement of switching classes. For him, he started at the middle school last year, so we are used to that routine and so 7th grade isn't quite the same for him as it was for me when I started "Junior High". Seth was just glad to be in 7th grade and not be the low man on the totem pole anymore. He was joking about teasing the 6th graders, telling them they need to see the school pool (which they don't have) and telling them the wrong hallways for their classrooms. Typical 7th grader!!!! He didn't even want to go to the bus stop a few minutes early because it was all 6th graders standing and waiting. haha!

Here are a couple pictures from the kids first day. They are getting so big!!!








Day 2. The kids love their new clothes so wanted pictures again.

They're home!!!

After a LONG summer, the kids are finally home from Michigan. A little taller, a little older, and a little more independent. For those of you who don't already know, we took the kids up to Michigan on Memorial Day weekend to visit family for the summer. We left 4 of the 5 there and brought just Jacob home with us. The last week of June, we went back up to visit for a week and then left Jacob there with the rest of them. He was so lonely here without them that it just seemed like it would be better for him to be with them instead of with us. Tim and I came back to Georgia and spent the summer studying for boards, which we will take in just about 6 more weeks! It was a crazy time without the kids, but there was also some enjoyment to it too. It was nice to be able to 'date' my husband again, something that is difficult to do with 5 kids in tow. We were able to go out to dinner several times, went to a few movies, went to bed late and slept in even later!

But I'm so thankful that the kids are home safe and sound. It's hard having them gone and feeling totally helpless if something were to happen. It's hard when one of them calls you to tell you that they got grounded or lost a privilege, when it's not something YOU would have grounded them for. Even though it's family, it's hard having to trust someone 100% with your children.

The kids all start school tomorrow, bright and early. I know they are ready to see their friends again and to get back into a routine. Tim's parents are going to be here for the next 3-4 weeks to help out while we continue to study for Boards. Boards is a VERY scary thing for me, but I'm starting to feel a bit better about them. We will need to stay out late a few nights a week with study groups and will be having 'Board Review" start in a week that will be Friday night, all day Saturday and all day Sunday, for 3 weekends in a row! Talk about a crazy life!!!

So, while I took the summer off of blogging, I'm hoping to jump back into it now that the kids are home and I'll have more to talk about. :)