Last Day for Lilo's

On Saturday we went to Lilo's (our shaved ice place) for the last time this summer. Even though school started a couple of weeks ago, it has still felt a bit like summer. Sadly, Lilo's closing for the season makes it really feel we have to let go of summer for this year. I asked the boys what their favorite parts of summer were and both said Jamaica. Henry first said his very favorite part was the swim up bar, but then changed his mind to all the family time we had while we were there. They both agree that their various ailments in Jamaica (puking on the plane and mystery rash) were the worst parts of the summer. 

For me, Jamaica was definitely the highlight, but the four precious weeks we had at home were a close second. We had two weeks in between the end of school and camp, and then two weeks after camp before school started. I intentionally kept us at home during those four weeks. We filled our days with sleeping in for the boys (late, like 9:30 most days!), playing outside with neighbors, and just being together. I have always been happiest when the boys are home (and even happier when Nathan is home too) and they are just playing. They are still in the precious part of childhood when you ask them what they're going to do today and they just look at you and answer, "Play". 

Our driveway and front yard have been the site of countless hours of fun since the time they were little and this summer we got back to that, if only for four short weeks. They rode scooters, hung out on the hammock, pulled all their Legos out and took them to the front porch to trade with neighbors, chattered about Pokemon, played Four Square, celebrated "Frozen Friday" at a different ice cream place each week, and every night we took Poppy on a walk after dinner. 

I have an app on my phone that tells me how many weeks we have left with each boy before they leave for college. We have 360 left with Jack and 516 left with Henry. This summer we spent four of those weeks at home and while I'm sad to see them go, I'm so thankful for the driveway days we had and loved this summer. 

1st Day of School - 3rd and 6th Grades

Henry started school almost a month ago and I think this is Jack's third week of school. Their years are off to a great start!

The night before school I made them read The Kissing Hand, just like we do every year. Instead of sweetly listening to the book, they now interject with helpful comments such as, "This is a baby book", but then they settle down and listen. We have listened to this book every year on the night before school since Jack was starting his first year of preschool. That's nine years of The Kissing Hand. So it's not going away anytime soon.

Henry - 3rd Grade

Henry's teachers are Ms. Thompson and Ms. Baker and they are awesome. So far his favorite activities at school have been taking care of the 3rd grade gardens, independent reading time and recess! He's read the entire Percy Jackson series just since school started and loves it. It rained on the morning of the first day so we had to hurry to get pictures in before we got wet.

Here he is at his cubby on the first morning. He told Jack and I we couldn't go in with him at first and then he said he guessed we could come in, but just to take a picture. He was pretty happy to be back at school with all his buddies. His best friend since preschool switched schools and now goes to EPiC -- they are happy to be together again!

Jack - 6th Grade

After we dropped Henry off at school, Jack and I headed to the Big Biscuit for breakfast and then we were off to his new school -- Liberty Middle School. That day was orientation and he got his schedule and locker. After failed attempts by BOTH of us to open his locker, a teacher saved us and showed him how to open it. In my defense, it is a hard locker to open! He was excited to put a few decorations up, including pictures of Jamaica and Poppy.

After orientation day, he still had an entire week before school started! We had a great week together and soon it was time for WEB Day. This is another transition day just for 6th graders and a few 8th grade leaders. After WEB Day we met up at Culver's with all of his EPiC buddies for a lunch with familiar faces. These guys have been together in the same class since 1st grade. I'm so glad they got to see each other because they all got split up and went to different middle schools.

He is riding the bus this year, so he walked to the bus stop with our neighbors. I couldn't wait for him to get home to hear about his day. His first day was great! His favorite classes are Orchestra and Industrial Tech, he sits at a lunch table with all of his friends and he's enjoying all of his new independence. The other day he came home and said he and his friends noticed a boy sitting by himself at lunch. So they all got up and moved from their table to sit with the little boy who was by himself. I am so proud of him and his friends for showing kindness to someone who needed it that day -- especially in the middle school cafeteria. We are so happy, but not surprised at all, that he is loving middle school.

He was very excited about his new laptop after the first day.