2014 1st Day of School

Back to School Night. Jadyn was headed to a swim party afterwards. Pat hadnt gotten home from work in time to go with me and I was a bit stressed. As I got the stroller out of the car (my brand new expensive stroller I might add), the brake broke off in the wheels making it impossible for me to use it. It irritated me and made us run late because I spent 10 min trying to fix it. I finally gave up and carried Kep in along with the other 3 following like a train.  I felt like everyone was staring at us as usual. I know we get stared at alot. In Kansas a family of 6 is a Large Family. I can't tell if people think we are clowns, or maybe they just stare because they think we are a cute family. Either way I left feeling unusually irritated. Mostly because I had planned on Pat coming and he was still at work. And partially because I get tired of sticking out. I long to live closer to my family. By other familys who share the same faith. By other familys who have more than 2 children. Anyways.... Such is my life. "Come what may and love it."

 Jadyn and Maddux on the other hand for the first time all summer began to get excited about school! They begged me all summer to home school them. They even threatened me. I told them not a chance! I wasn't considering it one little bit and I made myself clear. By the end of this summer I was counting down the days til I could have some peace and quiet and a clean house. 

Maddux got the teacher I really wanted him to get. She is good! Jadyn got the supposedly "mean" teacher. But she saw some of her friends that she hadn't seen all summer and I saw her excitement. 

First Day. Mornings are hard. My goal this year was to be on time! And since I am blogging this a month later. We have been! So far we have not been late once! And we are actually early most mornings. This is a big deal for us. Especially since last year they sent a letter home letting me know my kids had been tarty more than 10 times in the 2nd semester. OOOps! My goal is to be on time the entire year. This is a big goal. I find myself yelling alot in the mornings... Mornings are hard.

I gave them a long speech in the car, mostly about making good friends, being a good example and choosing the right especially at school. And then I said an extra long prayer, (we pray in the car in the drop off line every day) it made me start to cry. After I dropped them off I came home and rocked Keppy on the front porch. And I cried and prayed a little bit more because thats what I do every year. I thought about how I wished they had received priesthood blessings this year. Then Kepner fell asleep and I decided it was time to quit my crying and go mow the lawn. So thats what I did. 

Bodey actually started a week before Jadyn and Maddux. Bodey was a pill all summer long about school. Every time I would mention it. He would go into a crying fit. All summer long I consistently told him he didn't have a choice. I was firm about the fact that he was going to go. I think this made a difference with him. We went to get back to school supplies and he would not pick anything out. His words "I don't need pencils or scissors, I'm not going to school."

I was super duper nervous about his first day and what it would entail especially since he was starting before Jadyn and Maddux. That morning I had to force him to get dressed. Actually I had to wrestle him and pull his clothes on him myself. Then I spanked his butt when he tried to take them off. After we got through the clothes dilemma, I made a big deal about going out for lunch. His pick since it was his first day! He choose McDonalds and turned into a completely different child. He was happy and nice and even smiled for all these pictures.

I could hardly believe I was walking out of the preschool building without leaving him screaming and crying. I was in complete shock. 

Here's to hoping for a great 3rd, 1st, and preschool year!