Back To School!

And just like that, Summer is over. Or did it even truly come?  Seriously, our Summer was about a week long.  We managed to fit in a few fun things like Calaway Park, a trip to both Grandparent's homes, Tucker, and a weekend of camping.  Not bad, but not near enough trips to the beach or splash park.  Oh well.  School is here and I'm not looking back!  A small part of me is always ready for this time of year, but I will miss my kiddos.  I will also miss sleeping in and not making one lunch!

Jackson Grade 7.  Junior High!  I have already cried my tears over this.  So this morning I feel like I did pretty good.  We had school blessings last night and I think Joe cried out all the tears in one day that I have collectively cried all Summer!  Our boy is growing up.  For all the talk that Jackson doles out about not liking school, he seemed pretty excited this morning.  I think with a new school, choosing options, and not having to take care of any little siblings to and from school, grade seven will be a great experience for him.  Volleyball try outs are next week, so fingers crossed!

 Ellie Grade 4:  I asked her to brush her hair.  She said she did.  Twice.  This picture proves her wrong.  She said it's her "look."  Hmm.  Ellie has the same teacher this year that she had in grade two, Ms Szuromi.  She LOVES Ms Szuromi!  When we arrived, it was not Ms. Szuromi.  Hmm.  She could not have had a more disappointed face!  I get it!  I like to know exactly what to expect and apparently Ellie will have Mr. Milford for at least the first month (due to health reasons I guess).  I just hope she can be brave and still enjoy her first day.  Will this be the year that shy-baby talk is gone for good?  She has definitely come a long ways this past year, but this morning with such a big curve ball thrown her way she went right into shy-baby mode.  I reminded her to be big before I gave her a hug and left her with her class.  Poor girl.  She did put on a brave face for me though.  Hopefully she felt brave on the inside too!

Zoe Grade Two:  Wait.  What?  This little girl cannot possibly be old enough for GRADE TWO!!  Grade Two is for big kids, not my little Zoe!  Zoe has Mrs Anderson this year and is in the same class with some of her bestest and dearest friends, Cru Taylor, Talia Adams and Miriam Steed so when the bell rang, she went right on into her class without a problem.  In fact, I even had time to get Ellie situated first and THEN came to check in on Zoe.  Zoe didn't even know she missed me until I came in.  THEN she got all clingy and didn't want me to go.  When I told Zoe it was time for me to go, she really surprised me.  Zoe last year would have cried and made a fuss, but the Zoe of this year put on a brave face and said, "okay Mom."  Wow!  Maybe my little Zoe is a big girl after all.

Noah Grade Six: Noah has now taken on the new title of the leader of the Burnham Elementary School pack!  Will they all make it back home?  Time will tell.  Haha!  Before everyone broke at school, I made sure that they all knew where to meet, so hopefully he remembers to wait for the girls!  And let me just say, no, I did not have any say in the outfit choices, and I also didn't care that Noah has been wearing these same sweat pants all week long.  Whatever.  He looks cute!  At least he did his hair.  I can only pick and choose so many battles.  When we got to school, he was gone, so I have no stories.  No idea where his classroom is and no idea how he settled in!  Sounds about right!  He found his friend, William Moore, right away and off he went!  But not before I gave them both hugs.  I have been Will's Mommy Number Two all Summer and have loved it.  Will even  said, "Bye Mom!" this morning.  Haha!  So glad they are in the same class.

It is very quiet here.  I could get used to this.  Tucker definitely misses his people.

Zoe is SEVEN!

 My birthday girl!

 Since we were having a puppy-themed party, Zoe really wanted some pictures with her own little puppy.

This is how most of them turned out....

Zoe.  My sweet, lovable Zoe.  Is this girl already seven?  Yes.  Last week.  Although it has felt like she's been turning seven all Summer long because that was all she could talk about.  What are we going to do?  Where should we have it?  Beach?  Home?  Calaway Park?  What kind of cake should we have?  Should we do cupcakes?  How many friends will come?  These were the conversations we had all Summer long and each answer would change each night as I laid down beside her in bed.  She always wanted to "talk" in bed once the lights were out, and this was often the topic of conversation.  Once we got Tucker, it was clear to her that she wanted a puppy-themed party.  So I got each kid a little stuffy puppy and they did activities around the puppy they "adopted."

We decorated "homes" for them.

  We made them collars.

 Ellie was the "vet" and set up a whole thing where she checked all the puppies vitals.  It was really cute and she did a great job!

We played musical chairs with our pups, which totally brought me back to my childhood!  I think we did this every birthday.

Before the party began, Zoe really wanted to help me with the cake, so I let her go ahead and decorate it with "puppy paw prints" and sprinkles.  She loves doing this sort of thing and did such a great job!

Not the biggest fan of the sparklers.  Haha!  I even put money in the cake, which also brought me back to my childhood.  Unfortunately it made for a few unhappy kids who did not receive any loot.  Whoops.  Thankfully birthday girl did.

L-R: Miriam Steed, Maci Hill, Ady Wilson, Cru Taylor, Zoe, Ellie and Jane.

 Another party come and gone and another little girl one year older and wiser.

Zoe, you are SO loveable!  There is not an inch of you that is unloveable.  You are such a precious and sensitive little soul.  You are very aware of your feelings and others, but you are also able to roll with the punches and laugh at yourself.  You love to be silly and make others laugh, and you are really good at it too.  You also really love to laugh and find joy in the humour of things.  Good thing, because your Dad is a big tease!  You have the cutest voice, too, both speaking and singing.  The best lisp and soft R's.  And you are ALWAYS singing!  I love it.  One of your favourite things to do is listen to music (or sing along to it) while you draw.  Sounds a bit like your Mama!  This Summer has been filled with probably way too many video games and not enough swimming!  We had a bit of a bunk Summer, but boy, on those hot days, we could not get you out of the water if we tried!  You love helping me cook or bake.  Anytime I am in the kitchen you are always asking to help.  Your favourite thing to make with me are chocolate chip cookies.  You have a very artistic eye too.  I know I already talked about how much you love to draw, but you decorated your entire cake too.  I may have shown you my plan, but you executed it beautifully AND you added all the sprinkles you wanted just perfectly.  I love seeing you create and progress in your abilities.

Zoe, you are a wonderful friend, sister and daughter.  We love you so much!  Happy seventh birthday!