When we're helping......

...Mom's so happy and we sing as we go.

This week was much better.  Chores still took up most of our Saturday but, everyone helped.  AND I was not at Walmart at midnight any night this week.  This is a step in the right direction.
Jake and Emily are running cross country.  Tara has been very happy and successful with her first week of grades...and she attended the 6th grade social.  She waited loyally with her other "non cell-phone" friend who's parents hadn't shown up to pick her up.  Tara entered a piece of art in the knox county fair.  That was awfully brave (didn't know that's why she asked for canvases last weekend-thought she just wanted to paint)
As fast as weeks go, Christmas will be here before we know it. 

And it begins....

So, here we are .....it seems like just a blink of the eye and we are back in the thick of it.  Everyone is smiling and so far happy to be back in school and seeing friends, playing on new playground equiptment, riding the bus (for some), using new supplies (there is something about using a brand new pencil and notebook that's no the same as the old ones at home.)

I have started back working in the CDC Pre-K room like last year, only there weren't any part-time positions. So, I'm now working full time.....off at 3:15 (on a good day) We have 16 special needs kids.

It's going to be a busy year.  I realized this at Walmart last night at 11:45pm while I was doing my weekly shopping....we need to find a good, organized system. 

Tara has been brave in her beginnings of middle school.  It's a whole lot more responsibility and  a much longer day (she still gets up with all of us early).  Mom is so happy because there is everything on-line in middle school...grades, attendance, assigments, activities....The down side is having to make new friends while watching last years BFF's in the distance with their new friends and WE are the ONLY one without a cell phone.  These things are terribly important and we are still working out how to deal with it all. 

Emily is in heaven....a new teacher who's room looks like a jungle, with a huge reading center (zebra carpet) and Emily's new job is being the class librarian....and she's only 2 doors down from Mom's room!  She's begun rolling her hair herself in rollers overnight after a shower....looks like an adorable goldie-locks bouncing happily down the hall.  Everyone has jumped in to help with chores at home (since Mom isn't home doing them during the day) but, Emily is the one on the look-out always asking "how can I help?"

Jacob is adjusting....has a great "hands-on" teacher who's great interest is hands-on science.  They've already planted flowers outside the classroom and had alot of fun.  Once we get bedtime under control....the rest should be easy. The new rule of "no tv in the morning before school" has been hard for him, but great for the rest of us. He wants to start cross-country tomorrow. 
And off we go......