It’s Labor Day weekend and I’m completely thrown off. I have zero kids games or golf tournaments or commitments of any kind. Most families have their college kids home for at least a day or two and my Morgan is at the lake 😦 If this is any indication of what being an empty nester is going to be like then I QUIT! I just showed up at the gym to go to a class and realized I didn’t have my tennis shoes on. I was in Birkenstocks. This is another indicator that I’m just not with it! Send help!!

We are three weeks into school now already! Back to school time is always full of anxiety and excitement and well, in these pandemic times, uncertainty. And for our family, there is a lot of change this year. I no longer have any elementary school kids! Reece is venturing off to Middle School and she’s ready for the change. She’s grown and matured and I’m excited for her. Although it’s not a normal school year-no lockers (no cute locker decor), masks required, and various other covid related rules, we made it to school to walk her schedule and bought a lock for her to practice doing a combination for her gym class. I can’t believe this is the last time I will teach a kiddo how to do a lock combination! And these are the small things that come up in my head.

I’m pretty sure when I walked in the door with this crew, the staff wanted to run and hide. The boys immediately found Mr. Bussinger and started talking and running wild. At one point, Drew Conley’s name was being called over the loud speaker to come to the office. Meanwhile, Reece was all business and wanted to get that schedule walked and committed to memory. No time for fun and games. This girl is taking this next step into middle school very seriously – step aside boys!

Morgan is spending her last few days with her Johnson girls, whom she loves dearly and takes such good care of them. She runs a tight ship but also a very fun one, she plays and swims and fully immerses herself in their activities. We also have been getting her ready to move to K-State. What am I saying, I’ve literally spent all summer getting her ready. I lay up at night wondering if I have everything that she needs. Not kidding. I woke up in the middle of the night once and wondered if she would need safety pins. So I got up and made a baggie of safety pins. I’m just waiting for the day to come when she calls me and says, “mom, I used a safety pin today, thank you for packing those for me.”

We are still keeping up with traditions and did our annual bike ride to Price Chopper for donuts. Morgan was absent because it was her last day of Nannying. But I’m so proud of myself for getting Jake up and on a bike!! Look how cute he is on that little bike (we don’t have the best biking equipment in our family–it’s a hodge podge!)

We spent some time bidding farewell to friends as they venture off to their various colleges and it’s exciting but also a wonder if and when you’ll see them again and how friendships may change. I don’t have many pictures to share, but I hope to always keep up with the kids that have spent time in our home and how they’re doing!

Reece, being a new 6th grader, had a half day the day before the rest of my crew went to school-more of an orientation day. I let my other kids sleep in for the last time and we did our neighborhood breakfast the following day when all the kids were reporting to school.

It was a little rainy so we had to do it in the garage. We were missing the Dearmore’s (on vacation) and Stout’s had to be at school early. But Morgan was up and wishing all the kids well – she’s simply the BEST!

I was most excited for Drew’s first day of school outfit. I found his shirt when I was in Miami and Brian had it all ironed and ready. As soon as we went to walk outside, I noticed a brown stain down the front. ARE YOU KIDDING ME DREW!?!

So needless to say, he had to change quickly and this shirt will be saved for school picture day instead!

And…all of my pictures are blurry because I didn’t clean off my camera lens. I mean PULL IT TOGETHER mom! The first day of school is very stressful, I promise.

The day came (Sunday, August 15th) that we had to actually pack the car and get Morgan moved into her dorm. I’m quite pleased to report that we had everything packed perfectly and most of it fit in her car! We had a very seamless move in. I was expecting the worst but after we got their room arrangement figured out, we had that place looking great (the girls had a vision)! With our wagons and Scout storage boxes (highly recommend), it only took us 3 trips up the elevator. I remember it being a total disaster when I moved into my dorm so I was feeling great about Mo and her sweet roommate, Ava. I really didn’t have many tears! I was probably over quota on tears from the summer. I was a bit of a mess on a daily basis. A new chapter begins for Mo and I’m confident she’s going to fit right in. She’s such a gem and K-State is lucky to have her!

Ford Hall has come a long way! The rooms are reconfigured into suites and have bathrooms. Morgan and Ava live in a room together, connected by a bathroom with the neighboring room with Brenna & Ashley. All of these roomies were prearranged beforehand.

After all the hard work, we grabbed some dinner at Kite’s – everything in Aggieville was quite a long wait. We said our goodbyes and let the girls get settled. Sorority rush and the first day of classes was next on the agenda so we sent flowers to wish them well with school and recruitment. Who doesn’t love a surprise gift!?!

Happy Back to School! We can do this, right!? Give me some grace, I just sent my first born to college and that is HARD. She’s ready. She’s prepared. She has all the tools necessary. She’s going to be AWESOME!