I have so much to write about that my head is spinning!  And this has nothing to do with the Solar Eclipse!  In fact, I didn’t even know about the solar eclipse until my neighbor mentioned it to me last week!  Look, I’ve got back to school stuff going on, I don’t actually give a hoot about what is happening in the solar system right now.  Go ahead an make fun of me now…that’s totally fine.

Today all the kids in the Olathe school district went back to school for a full day of fun and learning, right kids!?!  Our neighborhood kids now range from 10th grade all the way down to Kindergarten, and each year I beg and plead for everyone to join us in our driveway for donuts and pictures.The only person that complains about the pictures every year is Drew.  Drewy – you have to know by now that this is going to happen no matter how many mean faces you give us.  It’s absolutely required to document the first day of school!  The new backpacks & haircuts, the shiny new shoes, the cute new outfits, the braces, no braces, & lost teeth.  Seeing the difference from year to year is so much fun!

This year, all 4 of my kids started on the same day which is rare.  Yesterday was a half day for elementary kids and kids moving up to middle and high school.  It was a rainy morning of excitement, nerves, and sadness all at the same time.  I’ve actually been dreading this ever since January 1st when the new year started and it hit me like a ton of bricks that I would have kids in three schools.  My 1st baby girl going to high school, Jake venturing into a new world of middle school, and Drew being the oldest at Manchester Park…it’s a lot of change and a lot to keep organized.  I now have 3 different school start times, 3 different dismissals, 3 buses, and 3 school newsletters to keep up on.   I’m pretty sure a nervous breakdown is on the horizon for me and I’m certain I’ll send a kid or two to the wrong school or pick them up at the wrong time.  It’s guaranteed.  

It was still dark outside when I was trying to take pictures and very rainy and humid which doesn’t make for the best picture taking!  Plus, Reece lost a front tooth the night before.  She’s already fretting about being a ‘snaggletooth hillbilly’ in the upcoming school pictures!  Frizzy hair and snaggleteeth – yikes!Ugh….High School…are you kidding me!?  There is no way I’m old enough to be a mom of a high schooler am I!?

Morgan & Emma – Freshman at Olathe Northwest High School!  There are 457 new Freshman students going to orientation today!

Look at these two rushing into school…they are either really excited or so embarrassed to be dropped off by a mom in a minivan that they break into a light jog to get away from the vehicle.  Either way, you two are absolutely adorable and you are going to rock this high school stuff…

And last but not least, the elementary kids get to go…hope this bus driver is ready for this crew!

Today 2000+ students will fill the halls of Olathe Northwest High School.  Morgan, I know that has to be nerve-wracking, but I’m so confident you will catch on to the routine quickly and be up and running in no time.  Although, I will tell you that I haven’t stopped thinking about you for one single second!  You actually might need to help me cope with this change more than me helping you!  Always be your awesome self and trust your instincts.  There will surely be bumps in the road but you will succeed!  Your family is always here for you!  And you have these two cuties who have already been in your shoes once…

Sorry Ava and Brooke, I was stalking you this morning to get your picture!  And your brother too.  His bus comes at 6:45am so I had to be on my toes this morning!

Jake, Drew, and Jack Dearmore (Freshman at Olathe West – the new high school)

Jake, don’t you worry, I’ve been thinking of you non-stop as well!  Wondering if you are getting your locker open, do you know where your next class is and are you making it on time, do you have someone to sit with at lunch.  You know…this is an endless list of worries that flow through my brain.  But, by the end of next week, you will be cruising through those hallways without even looking at your schedule!  I’m sure you’ll forget your school ID card about 800 times, so I’m already expecting that phone call!  You are going to love middle school and success is coming your way, bud!

With a backpack that cool, there’s no way you can fail!  Jake’s been begging me for a Nike Elite backpack for a year or two now.  My standard answer is…wait for Middle School.  He helped me find one online that was on sale and I really appreciated that.  The back to school process costs an arm and a leg!  I even considered returning these new Converse for Reece because she has a million pairs of shoes (remember…I have a shoe fetish!).  I’m glad I didn’t, because they turned out to be her favorite and the hit of neighborhood.

And my girls are using the same backpacks and lunch boxes from last year, so I guess an extra pair of shoes is ok.  See how I justify that!? 😉

This is one great looking group of kids!  Wishing all of you the best school year ever!

The Falcon Valley Boys

I feel some straight A report cards coming our way…