Try as we might to hold onto summer forever, eventually it had to come to an end. The kids all went back to school at the end of August, and while I'm not sure they were all ready, they all went with smiles on their faces.
Starting with Leah, who is in the 6th/7th grade middle school this year. She was so excited to start at a new school! And it's the real deal- A/B days, 45 minutes classes, 3 minute passing time, lockers with combinations, gym uniforms, the whole grown up bit, and she loves it! Each grade is divided into three teams and she didn't have a single friend on her team, but she took that challenge in stride. She has been making new friends and telling great tales of her new classmates (like the boy who shut himself in his locker on the first day of school, and the girl that she was friends with in kindergarten that is now in her lunch period).
Leah is participating in band (clarinet) and choir, and she's been working toward auditioning for state honors choir. She is diving right in! Her classes include Spanish, French, Space Science, and Ancient Civilization, and she's loving it all. There's definitely a learning curve that comes with a new school and schedule, but I've been so proud of how well Leah is handling it. 
She's continuing on in the AELP gifted program, and in the Des Moines youth symphony orchestra, and is starting a drawing and painting medium art program in a few weeks. She rides her bike to school whenever the weather allows it, which was a bit tricky at first with all of the stuff she had to get there.
Poor girl! I think she won't mind when the subzero temps set in and she gets a ride to school.
Poor girl! I think she won't mind when the subzero temps set in and she gets a ride to school.
Next up is Adam! Third grade is serious business, but he's ready for the challenge!
Adam thrives in school- set the expectation and he will meet, and even exceed it. He has a good group of friends and a love for learning, and I can always count on him to bounce out of bed ready to go in the mornings.
Adam is super excited to start up two STEM programs this fall- one that is LEGO based and one that focuses on computers and 3D printing. He's continuing on in the AELP gifted program, piano lessons, and loves his Cub Scout troop and meetings every week.
He's in charge of helping get Emma to and from school every day, and he only forgets that when his buddy Mason comes riding by and he tries to catch up.
I'm so glad these two have each other at the elementary school this year!
Emma is in first grade this year!
This year always seems to start out rough- kindergarten is full day here as well, so it's not a longer day, but I do think it's hard to go back when you know full well what 180 days of the school year looks like. It's a lot of work!
But Emma is doing great and, despite a slow start, seems to love her teacher more each day. She's starting an art program this fall and is so excited to be my newest piano student. Her days are still largely filled with playing dolls and setting up shops and running around with her friends, and I love it. She's a happy girl and I can tell she's going to have a great year, and grow in leaps and bounds with reading, writing, and math.
For a few days Noah and I got to have some extra days of one-on-one fun together,
and now he's off to preschool too.
His class is four days a week for two and a half hours each time, which still gives us plenty of time for naps, quiet time at home, and adventures whenever we can. He's at the elementary school too, and I have a feeling that it's going to be a great year for him. He'll be five next month, so this program is a good fit for him. And I'm fully aware of the fact that he'll be heading off to kindergarten next and I'll be in a whole new season of motherhood, but for now, I'm happy to have my little buddy with me every day!
