Back To School

Lil' Spitfire, can it be you're already old enough to be going to school in the big big world? You are so incredibly excited, you've been waiting patiently the whole, long two years since your big brother started.

Summer has flown by and I can't believe today is already the first day of school, and the first day ever of school for Spitfire. Last night I asked him "What is Mamma going to do without her big helper?" and he said "The baby will help you." "He doesn't know how to help yet, not like you." "Don't worry Mamma, you'll figure it out." So sweet! While getting ready this morning he kept saying "I wonder what it will be like." in the dreamy voice.

Before bed I asked the boys what they were excited about and if they were nervous about anything. When Spitfire realized he wouldn't have recess with Big Brother he had a moment but Golden Curls stepped up and was so encouraging, "It's ok, you'll have so many new friends to meet and play with." Melt a Mamma's heart!

Mr. Golden Curls was far more reserved and harder to read. Very calm about it all. He's in 2nd grade this year and was very proud to be moving to the upstairs hallway but I think he's also big enough to get a little nervous at the start of the year.

This has become his picture taking face. It makes him look mad but I think it's what he puts on when he wants to look like a big kid. I can't wait to pick them up and hear all the reports. It's awfully quiet in the house today. My Little Mister is napping and all I hear are house noises and Pug snores!

Up, Up, And Away

Mr. Golden Curls is finally done with first grade. We had about a week and a half tagged on to the end there for snow days. Wednesday was his last day and he got to ride in a hot air balloon, sweet! He's such a nervous Nelly sometimes that we weren't sure he'd want to go once he was there but he's getting braver in his old age and not only rode it but loved it.

When I saw the picture of him above he looked so big to me it broke my heart just a little bit. I know a lot of parents dread summer break and having their kids home all day every day but I eat it up, especially since Spitfire will start Kindergarten in the fall! We're already getting into the swing of summer, staying up later, sleeping later, keeping the freezer stocked with frozen treats and living in jammies and bathing suits. Even the Little Mister is getting in the spirit and has been sleeping through the night for about a week, this morning sleeping until a blissful 7am! All is feeling right and balanced in the world, it's summertime baby!

Celebrating Big Kid-ness

My Lil' Spitfire isn't so little anymore. This morning he had his Kindergarten evaluations and he'll start up in the fall. He's so incredibly excited. I have to be really careful how I word things. I've psyched him out several times, unintentionally leading him to believe that it was the day he was starting Kindergarten, oops! After his eval. we headed off to Starbucks for a big kid celebration.

Life's A Stage...

Not being angry, just being a pirate!

...lately anyway. When your kid goes to a magnet school for the arts the end of the year is all about the stage. Right now we have two after school tap rehearsals and attend two dance recitals, same with violin. Next year that doubles with Spitfire starting...along with the cost! It's completely worth it though, and honestly the price can't be beat. The whole year of dance and violin costs what one month of lessons in each would be in the real world, we could never afford it. I L.O.V.E this school!

Golden Curls is in the middle.

All the scurvy little pirates tapping away

The grand finale brings all the K-1st grade tap and ballet students up

And now he's a violinist! He did such a fantastic job! For as easily distracted as he can be he sure turns it on while on stage.

The grand finale, yep strings do them too. He's right up front, behind the music stand.

On the far left. He has terrible form but he makes it work for him. I'm so proud of all the work he's put into violin, with practices at home and after school rehearsals, it's been a lot for this first grader! And a lot for this Mamma, I'm ready for summer break!

Homeschool Test Drive

'Round the table from the left: Lil' Spitfire, Mr. Golden Curls, Princess, Baby JW, and Warrior.

There are definitely benefits to having a fantastic older sis-in-law who has a similar mothering style and slightly older children. Other than just enjoying said sis-in-law's company, I get to watch her do it all first and learn through her experiences! Homeschooling is something I've considered off and on over the years. I know our public schools are pretty lacking in many areas. Anytime someone said they were homeschooling their children my ears would perk up and I started to wonder if maybe this was something I should consider. I was so glad I had the chance to watch Sarah homeschool the week we were in Texas because it helped me solidify the decision I had mostly already made, homeschooling simply is not for me!

My sister-in-law is a fantastic woman, one of those who is clearly born to be a mother and a homemaker. I'm more like the long lost, less impressive, product of a secret love affair, half sister of June Cleaver. Some people are born with the gifts of motherhood and household, others have to struggle with their nature to survive. The second is me. I struggle to stay on schedules that I know will work and bring balance to my life. I often have science experiments growing in the kitchen and bathrooms. And I can cook and yet so often run out of groceries that I call the Bohemian to pick up a few tv dinners on the way home. I also am not a teacher. I went to college to earn an art degree and tried the art ed. thing. After half a semester of the ed. classes I wanted to run away screaming. Well, I basically did and landed in the welcoming arms of graphic design after a life long mantra of "I will not work behind a desk all day banging around on a computer!"

More importantly I am not a patient person. I so wish I was and strive daily to achieve that goal. Sometimes I'm down right volatile. I've worked hard at becoming a person who doesn't throw things and stomp out the door when angry, which I thankfully got worked out as a newlywed, and struggle to be one who can be patient while her children learn life at a snail's pace, also getting that handled. I've come a long way but I know enough about myself to know I haven't come far enough to school my own children. I have 100% confidence I could pick good curriculum, schedule out a beautifully well balanced week full of education, hands on learning, art, music...I also know with the same amount of certainty I couldn't carry it through for a week without pulling out every hair on my head twice over. I do believe successful homeschooling can be achieved, just not by me.

So in a mere 7 months my first baby will begin his trek into the big big world and his trek will start with public school. And I will still be his Mamma: his teacher, his doctor, his chauffeur, his cook, his maid, his mentor, his shoulder to cry on but I'll also get to be the emotionally stable, often crafting, coffee toting mom helping out on the occasional field trip...and I'm ok with that.