BACK TO SCHOOL!

***YES THERE IS MORE SUMMER TO POST, BUT I HAD TO INTERUPT SUMMER BECAUSE THESE PHOTOS JUST CAN'T WAIT!!!!***

Cause we are BACK TO SCHOOL! The first part of August I took down the Patriotic decorations and decided to do this display in our front room. To be honest, it added some excitement and some complaints. Summer FLEW by, just as it always does. By the time the big day came, the kids were ready!

Zach just about ready to jump on the bus...can't you see the excitment!

Zach is starting 5th grade! Getting bigger everyday, happier than ever, and just an all around great kid!
Liberty just as the bus is driving up. Yep, she complained about being the only girl who had to wear a skirt on the first day. Oh well, deal with it! (that's what I told her!)

Liberty is starting 3rd grade. She is my social butterfly, loves to play with her friends, loving doing crafty things, and as she grows up, she reminds me more and more of myself.

Caleb leaving for HIGH SCHOOL! McKinsey (cousin) is kind enough to pick him up everyday. This was quite hard to watch him walk out the door and drive away. He is growing up! Next year he'll be driving himself! YIKES!

Caleb is now a HIGH SCHOOLER!!! WHAT???? HOW CAN THAT BE??? He is starting his Sophmore year. Hard to believe. He is growing up so fast. He is a great athlete, and hilarious (just ask him!), and just like his brother a great young man!

(side note: Last Saturday night he asked me to take him to the Stake dance. This shocked me cause he has been old enough to go for over a year and hasn't gone. When I asked him what changed his mind he said, "I'm in 10th grade now Mom, I am a new kid!")

Brit officially started school at Kids Village. Last year he came with me but didn't attend a class. Here he is with his cute apron on, he was pretty jazzed, until I left and had a rough first day, but he did great his second day! Keep your fingers crossed.

Brit thinking he is pretty hot stuff posing by "the tree" for back to school pictures. He knows the drill from watching his siblings! Look how cute this kid is. He puts a smile on everyone's face! Man, I love him!

When everyone was out the door and things calmed down...I found myself organizing bedrooms and listening to music while Brit played. The song "Slipping Through My Fingers" from Mama Mia came on...I sat on Lib's bed and tears just started streaming down my face. The words hit home!

"School bag in hand, she leaves home in the early morning

Waving good-bye with that absent minded smile

I watch her go with a surge of that well-known sadness

And I have to sit down for a while

The feeling that I'm loosing her forever

And without really entering her world

I'm glad whenever I can share her laughter

That funny little girl

Slipping through my fingers all the time

I try to capture every minute

The feeling in it

Slipping through my fingers all the time

Do I really see what's in her mind

Each time I think I'm close to knowing

She keeps on growing

Slipping through my fingers all the time."

I sat there for a while, then had to pull myself together! My kids are growing up...that's what they are supposed to do. Why is it so hard? But hard or not, I couldn't ask for 4 better kids! I love them to pieces! Good luck in school Caleb, Zach, Liberty & Brit! Make a difference!